Monument to Niccolò Tommaseo

The monument depicts an upright figure with folded arms holding paper rolls against a carved stack of books, all fashioned from white Carrara marble. The statue occupies one of Venice's largest squares, surrounded by historic architecture and serving as a focal point in the plaza.

The sculptor Francesco Barzaghi completed this work in 1882 as a tribute to a prominent figure from the previous century. The monument commemorates someone who held an important educational position during Venice's liberation from Austrian control in 1848.

The monument honors a major 19th-century scholar whose work shaped Italian language and literary traditions. Visitors can sense how the local community values and preserves the memory of its intellectual figures as part of daily city life.

The statue stands on an expansive open plaza and remains visible throughout the day without restricted access. Its location makes it easy to visit at any time, as it requires no special scheduling or preparation.

The stack of books behind the figure inspired a humorous nickname used by locals that plays on the visual arrangement of the carved elements. The playful name reflects how Venetians have made this monument part of their everyday conversation and humor.