Pasquino the Protester

For better or worse, Italians have a reputation for protesting the powers that be. Romans in particular are known for their sharp tongues, and not even the Prime Minister nor the Pope remain exempt from critique.

The symbol of citizen dissent since the 1500s is a limbless and deformed statue affectionately named Pasquino. Pasquinate in Italian refers to an anonymous lampoon, usually written in verse.

Roman tradition (both past and present) dictates that the oppressed may lodge a written complaint concerning the government and religious authorities by posting an accusatory poem in Roman dialect on the base of the statue.

The real identity of “Pasquino” is unknown, but despite his anonymity he has managed to make some friends throughout the eternal city.

In fact, there are five other “talking statues” in Rome that make up the so-called Congregation of Wits, of which Pasquino is the undisputed leader.