Monument to Cola di Rienzo

One initial proposal was to site the statue in Piazza Cola di Rienzo, a small park located in the newly minted urban rione (neighborhood) of Prati, not far from the Vatican itself.

The papacy had yet to reconcile with its loss of temporal power over its prior state, and would not have viewed kindly the placement of statue honoring an anti-papal figure within a few minutes walk from the Papal palace.

Finally, a medieval brick building nearby, close to Santa Maria in Cosmedin was rumored to have been Cola di Rienzo's home.

The statue depicts a standing Cola di Rienzo, his hooded face and wild hair emerging from shadows, his arm raised as if to address the public.

The base of the statue, completed by Francesco Azurri is a mosaic made with brick and marble rubble reliefs that had been associated with the steps around this monument.