Documented since the 14th century, although their use started probably much earlier, the bricole are the triplets of wooden poles marking the paths in the lagoon of Venice where the depth of the water is suitable for navigation.  They are made from robinia, or pseudoacacia (also known as black locust), a tree very resistant to outdoor conditions.

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With the aim of reducing maintenance cost, a commission was established years ago to study the possibility of adopting some substitute material for the replacement of the bricole and paline, the latter being the single posts used to moor gondolas and other boats. 

Venice is made of 116 islands, connected by 416 bridges, and has 6170 bricole and more than 90 thousands paline. Total cost for the replacement is estimated around 50 million Euro.

Now time is approaching to begin works that will substitute the wooden bricole with new ones made of recycled plastic and being this Italy, another war just started.

The debate is generating a great deal of controversy and animosity, also thanks to the numerous parties involved, each one of different views and interests: purists of the aesthetics, scientists who are studying alternatives, producers of plastic poles not selected as suppliers, the residents and visitors of Venice and all the various public institutions (comune, provincia, regione, university of Venice and of Padua, the authority presiding the regulation of the waters).  

This is becoming another ground for endless discussions together with the recurring Venetian hot topics like the Mose (the artificial mobile barriers acting as dams to protect Venice from floods) and the 2020 Olympics candidacy.

The good news is the new plastic bricole should be cheaper, more resistant and environment friendly. But how much of the magic of Venice will they take away ?

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