A giant advertisement on a building visible from the central Piazza Venezia may have to come down according to a recent court ruling. The judge has accepted that tenants living in the building could suffer physical and psychological damage because the fabric of the advertisement deprives them of light and fresh air. Until now publicity on facades all over Rome has been controversial only for aesthetic reasons.

The advertisement in question, for a French cosmetic company, has been put up to cover the facade of the Doria Pamphilj palace while restoration work is undertaken. The ruling sets a precedent for the owners of historic buildings in Rome, who have used the revenue from advertising on their buildings to pay for restoration

The owners of the Doria Pamphilj palace have declared that they intend to appeal against the judges decision.