Totems/Pylons
Totems/Pylons
are signs placed at the entrance to a town, administrative unit, region or country to welcome arriving people. This type of sign can take many forms, such as an information board, a decorative inscription, a sculpture or other architectural elements.
Totems of this type are often intended not only to greet people, but also to provide information about a given town, e.g. the name of the town, an advertising slogan, an emblem or crest, and other characteristic elements.
They can also be an element of tourist promotion, encouraging visitors to explore the area or take advantage of local attractions.
These signs have symbolic meaning because they reflect hospitality and friendly attitude of a given place towards visitors. They help too in building local identity and creating the first impression for people entering a given location.
