Painted Protests: Italian Graffiti as Political Art

During my Poly GIP trip to Italy, amidst the delicious food, warm people, and extravagant museums, I noticed the familiar presence of graffiti; however, graffiti in Italy isn’t just street art or random tagging—it’s often political in nature. From Rome to Verona to Venice, I found powerful messages sprayed on walls, calling attention to social issues, injustice, and resistance. It’s one of the most visible ways that young people, activists, and everyday citizens express their anger, solidarity, or hope for change.

Political graffiti has deep roots in Italy, especially tied to the country’s history with fascism. Under Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in the early 20th century, free speech was heavily suppressed. Following the fall of fascism in 1945, graffiti emerged as a tool of resistance and remembrance. Anti-fascist groups—mainly student and labor movements in the 1960s and 1970s—used graffiti to make political statements and push back against right-wing ideologies that were resurfacing. Even today, it’s common to see anti-fascist symbols, slogans like “No Pasaran” (They shall not pass), and references to “antifa” groups throughout Italian cities.

In modern Italy, fascist ideas still linger. Some political parties and far-right groups still reference nationalist and authoritarian ideas, which makes anti-fascist graffiti just as relevant now as it was decades ago. It serves as a public reminder that many people, especially the younger generation, continue to push back.

I saw a more personal and moving example of political graffiti during a visit to Torquato Tasso High School in Rome. On one of the school walls, students had painted the words “Sorella, ti credo”—“Sister, I believe you.” The message was written in response to the increase in rape and domestic violence cases across Italy. It was a statement of support for survivors and a challenge to a culture where victims are often doubted or silenced. What struck me most was that this wasn’t part of a campaign or assignment—it was something the students did on their own. That small act of writing on a wall became a clear statement of care, solidarity, and protest. It showed how graffiti, even in a school setting, can become a powerful tool for social awareness and activism.

In Italy, the walls talk. Whether they’re painted with anti-fascist slogans, feminist messages, or calls for justice, they tell the story of what people are really thinking and feeling, especially when no one else is listening.

Sources

Alagappan, Visala. "Italian Street Art Law and the Crime of Expression." Center for Art Law, 20 July 2021, itsartlaw.org/2021/07/20/italian-street-art-law-and-the-crime-of-expression/.  Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Nolan, Ben. "'The Writing on the Wall': Why Italian Politicians Should Listen to Graffiti." The Oxford Blue, 3 Sept. 2023, theoxfordblue.co.uk/the-writing-on-the-wall-why-italian-politicians-should-listen-to-graffiti/.  Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Penn, Roger. "The Phenomenal Forms of Political Graffiti in Rome and Buenos Aires: A Comparison Based upon Detailed Descriptive Analysis." Queen's University Belfast, Taylor and Francis, 9 May 2019, pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/170546077/GRAFFITI_IN_ROME_AND_BA_FINAL_REVISED_COLOUR_AUG_2018_TRACKED_CHANGES_OFF_Copy.pdf.  Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.