The talking statues of Rome are six statues throughout the central city who expressed political views contrary to those of the leaders of the day, from the 16th century to the present. The statues don't actually talk, of course, but instead, when someone wanted to express a dissident opinion, they'd hang a sign on one of the talking statues stating their pasquinate, an irreverent satirical inscription poking fun at a public figure. Once discovered, the establishment would of course remove the sign as soon as possible.

The six talking statues are:

• Pasquino, in Piazza Pasquino, one block west of the southern end of Piazza Navona
• Abbot Luigi, in Piazza Vidoni, which runs along the east side of Sant' Andrea della Valle, two blocks west from Largo di Torre Argentina
• The Porter Fountain (Il Faccino), on Via Lata, just west of Via del Corso, two blocks north of Piazza Venezia
• Il Babuino (the babboon), on Via del Babuino, northwest of the Piazza di Spagna (at the foot of the Spanish Steps)
• Madama Lucrezia, on front of San Marco on the west side of Piazza Venezia
• Marforio, now on display in a courtyard on the ground floor of Palazzo Nuovo in the Capitoline Museum

• Listen to this episode of the GET READY FOR ROME! podcast for a deeper understanding of the talking statues.