Login « National Geographic Traveler Rome, Italy | Home | Lonely Planet Italy »
Rome's Spanish Steps Site of Protest
Brightly colored balls bounced down the Spanish Steps in Rome on Wednesday. Graziano Cecchini and several other supporters emptied bags full of red, green, yellow and blue balls down Rome’s famed steps and into the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain in the Piazza below.
Passers-by took photos and gathered up the balls as souvenirs of their trip to Rome. Officials had to cordon off the Spanish Steps while they cleaned up the mess. Cecchini and three others were detained. Cecchini told Italian TV newscast TG5, that he uses “art – if we want to call it art – to stress our malaise.”
This is not Cecchini’s first colorful political statement in Rome. Last year Cecchini dyed the waters of the Trevi Fountain red.
Normally you are allowed to sit on the Spanish Steps, but try to eat a snack and the local authorities will be quick to tell you that no eating is allowed.
Posted by Jackie on January 17, 2008
Trackback PingsTrackBack URL for Rome's Spanish Steps Site of Protest entry:
http://www.amoretravelguides.com/mt-tb.cgi/159
Comments Post A Comment Form
