There are monuments and public works that accompany us every day, sometimes we live with them or they simply go unnoticed, but there are some that have certain stories that are worth telling.

Each monument is different, from its purpose, its environment, the way in which it interacts with it, among other characteristics. Maintaining these sometimes reveals part of the history they share with us.

That is why we want to share some peculiar stories about the conservation of certain monuments and public spaces whose maintenance meant or revealed interesting aspects of each one.

Bridge of Arts, Paris

Paris has extremely famous tourist sites, such as the Eiffel Tower. The well-known Capital of Love had a popular place among couples in love, where the tradition of swearing eternal love was created by writing their names or initials on a padlock and closing it attached to the bridge.

The romance and magic would have to move elsewhere when in 2015, the Paris government decided to lift the nearly one million padlocks that meant an approximate weight of 45 extra tons on the Pont des Arts. This is because these pieces of steel already represented damage and degradation of heritage, as well as a risk to public safety, since the great weight that those promises of love reached compromised the stability of the bridge.

The lifting of the padlocks was just the beginning of a campaign to restore the bridge and invite tourists and other visitors to swear love to each other in alternative ways that do not compromise public space. Even the bridge's railings would be replaced with artist's work and glass panels to prevent locks from being placed there again.

Oscar Wilde's grave, Paris.

The grave of the famous Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, who lived through success and drama in London, only to die alone in Paris, was a famous place to visit in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, until its maintenance created some controversy among fans. From the writer.

In 2011 the only grandson of Oscar Wilde, Merlin Holland decided to clean his grandfather's grave to protect it from the erosion and wear that it suffered due to the love of his admirers, literally. The damage to the tomb was caused by the enormous number of lip marks made with lipstick. That's right, it was very common to kiss Oscar Wilde's grave and those who did it also used to write their names in marker on it.

Merlin Holland took action to restore and preserve the structure by erecting glass panels that now protect the sculpture. In response, some people argued that Wilde himself must have been happy with the tokens of love and that it was a big mistake to have erased them, but they could not stop the tokens of love from enthusiasts who continue to leave marks on the panels and fill the grave. of letters of admiration and appreciation, both inside and outside the boundaries that protect the tomb.

Trevi Fountain, Rome.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the money that is thrown into the fountains to make a wish? Well, the Italian Roberto Cercelleta knew exactly, since more than 800 euros ended up in his pockets after a few minutes taking out the coins that were thrown into the Trevi Fountain.

From 1968 to 2002, Cercelleta used either of the two methods he developed to get the coins into the fountain – such as “sweeping” the bottom of the fountain with a magnet pulled by a string – and making a large sum of money in the form simplest possible.

His fortunate activity would become risky and illegal since in 1999 a law was implemented that sought to protect the monuments and prohibited checking the sources. Cercelleta disagreed and protested, but his protest did not have much effect and he was simply arrested. The money that is collected from the fountain every morning means an annual sum of approximately one and a half million euros, which the City Council of Rome allocates to Caritas, who are in charge of distributing it to charities that have given goods to soup kitchens, as well as such as beds and shelter for the homeless.

Tower of London, London.

By Tower of London we do not mean Big Ben, but rather a castle located near the Thames. Rich in history and ghost stories, the castle also has a legend that to this day is taken as a severe prophecy that must not be fulfilled at all costs.

Said prophecy obliges those in charge of the tower to keep ravens living in the building and they cannot leave the place. The ravens are cared for, fed and watched over by a person who receives the post of Ravenmaster (Master Raven, or of the Ravens).

This is because, according to legend, if the tower ceases to be home to these birds, the tower will fall and with it the entire kingdom. Faced with such a fatalistic prophecy, no one wants to risk it, so since the reign of Charles II of England between 1660 and 1685, crows have been kept in the castle and are part of the various features that make visiting the castle attractive. castle. Currently, seven ravens are cared for and guarded by their Ravenmaster, thus caring for the stability of the entire country from the tower.

The Guardians of the Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg

The Hermitage is one of the most important museums in the world, located in Russia and made up of six buildings, among which is the Winter Palace, the former residence of the Tsars. In the basement of this, there are about 50 guardians who lead a life possibly just as comfortable, but more relaxed than the former monarchs.

These guardians are felines, specifically domestic cats. That's right, under the Hermitage there are approximately 50 cats that have lived there for generations.

In the 18th century, the founder of St. Petersburg, Peter the Great, brought the first cat to the palace, but it was his daughter, Empress Elizabeth, who ordered more cats to take care of the mice inside the castle. . Later Catherine the Great would grant them the title of "The guardians of the galleries".

Currently, the cats no longer have the job of catching mice and are cared for by volunteers who are part of the Hermitage staff. They live comfortably, receive food, medical care and care that are also funded by donations that go directly into the cats' bank account. They are considered an important part of the history of both the Hermitage museum and St. Petersburg, which is why they are preserved and cared for like royalty.

We know that there are possibly many other stories from other places, but we hope you have enjoyed this small list of places and monuments that have curious stories to share.