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Eh. Those look like anti-pee systems to me. I bet it was an official take "to reduce crime" - but those things are all slanted down, to push pee on your foot. And when I need to pee corners always catch my eye.

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"However, the "antibandito humps" had a second usefulness, so much so that it received a second name: that of the "pissotte" or "pissabraghe": in addition to preventing criminals from hiding from their prey, it's said that the inclined casts of mortar also had the task to maintain a certain public decorum and therefore prevent Venetians from urinating in the corners of the calli."

I suspect it was the primary purpose, and anything else sounds like cleaned up reasons for publication.

As it wouldn't be hard to stand on one in the shadows.

The article mentioned this was another reason for their existence.

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