Perugia mural of Saint Herculan's head sparks political censorship row

A mural by artist Nic Alessandrini on the shutter of Edicola 518 in Perugia has ignited a political controversy. The work depicts the severed head of Saint Herculan, the city's patron saint, rolling down stairs, referencing a local legend. City councilor Margherita Coccia of Fratelli d'Italia filed a complaint, leading the municipality to request document checks that could threaten Edicola 518's license. Alessandrini, who moved to Perugia in 2023, created the piece as part of the project 'L'Edicola che vorrei,' funded by a ministerial grant. He describes the work as a lay religious reflection on the body as a symbol of pain and social injustice, using black, white, and red with sky fragments in the eyes as an homage to Georg Baselitz. The artist argues the controversy is politically motivated and stifles dialogue. Edicola 518, a decade-old cultural space known for community engagement, faces potential closure over the dispute.