Luigi Ontani's fountain vandalized by far-right group in Vergato

The fountain by Luigi Ontani in Vergato, a town of 8,000 in the Bolognese hills, was vandalized with manure after far-right group Forza Nuova protested its central faun figure with an erect penis. Senator Simone Pillon (Lega) had called the sculpture a 'Satanasso' and advocated for its cement covering. The attack occurred at night, targeting both the fountain and the Museo Ontani's door. The town responded with a silent march joined by mayors of Marzabotto and Grizzana Morandi. Ilaria Nanni, culture assessor of Vergato, called it an attack on the community's dignity, noting the area's history on the Gothic Line. In response, Ontani and Pasquale Piroso displayed a manifesto reading 'VIVARTE' at Ontani's Rome studio on May 10. The fountain, based on a 17th-century model, includes Greco-Roman iconography representing local topography. Some damage is likely permanent.