Pasquino, the talking statues of Rome
Rome has always been famous for its myths and legends, one of them is that of the "talking statues." The most famous is Pasquino, along with Marforio, Madama Lucrezia, Abbot Luigi, the Porter and the Baboon, was part of the "congregation of the witty", the association between Pasquino and other "statues talking "of Rome. On the origin of the name Pasquino there are different interpretations: who wants it referred to a landlord, who to a barber, who to a school teacher and who is still at a cobbler, all logically named Pasquino. Piazza Pasquino takes its name from the statue, against the corner of Palazzo Braschi. In the past this square was called "square Parione" and was attended by booksellers, writers and artists so that has taken the name of "Square of the Booksellers." Probably by accident began to be used to expose anonymous biting satire against anyone, but by the time "specialized" in fierce political satires, mostly addressed to the pope, or at least towards the characters from XVI sec., so that this kind of "messaging" was called "Pasquinata". For this reason the statue several times ran the risk of being destroyed. The penalties for perpetrators of "Pasquinate" were very severe, and came up to the maximum penalty, the capital. There are many "Pasquinate" come down to us. Even to this day there have been "Pasquinate": when Rome was covered with cardboard and plaster to accommodate the leader of Nazi Germany, Hitler, Pasquino declared: "Povera Roma mia de travertino! / T'hanno vestita tutta de cartone / pè fatte rimirà da 'n'imbianchino" (literally: "my poor Roma made of travertine, they have dressed you all in cardboard, to make you gaze at a house painter")
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