Following the example of Tod’s Chief Executive Diego Della Valle, Diesel founder Renzo Rosso will soon be offering up a large sum to restore the historical Ponte di Rialto in Venice.
Della Valle made headlines and raised a heated debate about private sponsorship when he donated 25 million euro to restore the Colosseum. On a seemingly one-man mission to save Italian cultural landmarks, Della Valle also pledged an additional 8 million euro to fund Milan’s La Scala opera house.
The Tod’s founder called upon other businessmen to meet the gaps in Italy’s culture budget and Diesel jeans answered the call.
Renzo Rosso will supposedly cover the full cost of restoring the 16th century Rialto bridge.
Il Ponte di Rialto is the oldest of four bridges that span Venice’s Grand Canal. Under the weight of 60,000 tourists that visit the city daily, the bridge has begun to show cracks in the marble steps on either side. Its stone supports crumbled earlier this year.
Official details of the partnership are expected to be announced later this week.
