Last week's Throwback Thursday travelled to the cramped streets and canals of Chioggia, an Italian coastal town located within the Metropolitan City of Venice. The region — along with much of Italy itself — is marked by a mix of protected historic sites and vernacular architecture that is gradually crumbling due to its age. But while the public would normally support the preservation and restoration of significant buildings, the progressive withering of older structures is sometimes by design.

The elegant decay of Lisbon, image by Flickr user Stephen Robinson via Creative Commons

The concept of 'elegant decay' is the belief that buildings or structures become more beautiful as they fall into ruin, giving prominence to their historical, cultural, or architectural significance. The prehistoric, ancient, and medieval fabric of Italy embodies the concept of elegant decay, especially Venice, which is slowly sinking into the lagoon. Elegant decay has become a key element of a vibrant tourist industry in many Western European cities.

The concept of elegant decay has been embraced in Venice, image by Flickr user Pug Girl via Creative Commons

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