Il Gobbo di Rialto is a marble statue in Campo San Giacometto, opposite the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto and close to the Rialto Bridge. Made in 1541 by Pietro da Salò, the hunchback figure recalls the square’s role in Venetian public life. State announcements and death sentences were once read from the nearby pedestal, and the statue later became a place for posting satirical messages. Stop to see the monument, take photos in the small square and refill a bottle at its public fountain.
Public announcements and satire
The statue stands beside the Piera del Bando, a small pedestal from which a messenger read important state decisions aloud. Death sentences were announced from there too, placing the monument at the centre of official public life in Venice.
The statue also became a place for anonymous commentary. People attached cards bearing humorous or offensive messages aimed at those in power, giving it a role similar to Rome’s Pasquino.
A stop in Campo San Giacometto
Il Gobbo di Rialto is opposite the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, in the small square of Campo San Giacometto. The square has shops on two sides and shaded steps on the others, with a public drinking-water fountain in its middle.
The monument was also part of a punishment ritual for people sentenced for minor offences. After being flogged, they were made to walk from Piazza San Marco through the city streets to Rialto. Kissing the statue marked the end of the procession and spared them further humiliation.
FAQ
Where is Il Gobbo di Rialto?
It is in Campo San Giacometto, opposite the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto and near the Rialto Bridge.
What is the history of Il Gobbo di Rialto?
Pietro da Salò made the marble statue in 1541. The nearby pedestal was used for public announcements, and people later posted satirical messages on the statue.
Is there a drinking-water fountain nearby?
Yes. A public fountain stands in the middle of the square.
