On Saturday, he gave a larger-than-life performance at San Marino’s national final. Now the outrageous Italian rock star Achille Lauro has gotten even bigger. A giant papier-mâché version of the Sanremo star was featured in Italy’s iconic Carnevale di Viareggio, which began on Sunday.
The sculpture of Achille Lauro is clearly recognisable as the bad boy of San Marino’s national final, even down to his facial tattoos. Dressed as the “king of freedom and diversity”, the Lauro head includes moving eyes, which appear to stare deeply into the very souls of parade-goers.
Il carro "La festa dei folli" di Luca Bertozzi rappresentante Achille Lauro durante i festeggiamenti per il Carnevale di Viareggio ? pic.twitter.com/V4iQYYh6tW
— (In)Somnia ? (@blind_rhea) February 20, 2022
Achille Lauro represents “our guide for our days of madness”
The float was designed by Luca Bertozzi, who also designed last year’s winning float. This year, the float is based around the Feast of Fools — traditionally a day where participants would select a “false pope”. Thus Achille Lauro is the honorary “false pope” of the Carnevale di Viareggio.
In an interview earlier in the month, Bertozzi spoke about why he picked Achille Lauro as the star of the float, noting that Lauro appeals to different age groups. He said “he use the language of the youth but is known and appreciated even by the elderly. He is a transgressive character, an eclectic character who also does it with his strong style, full of quotes, but always with originality and elegance. I think he represents our fool, our guide for our days of madness.”
Italian media are speculating that Achille Lauro himself may make an appearance at the carnival, joining his giant doppelgänger.
The popular event takes place in the Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio. This year, it is limited to 40,000 spectators due to pandemic precautions. As well as Achille Lauro, other floats include themes of Covid, gender equality, sport and American politics.
The parade is seen as a restart for Italy, a celebration after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Fans wanting to check out Achille Lauro’s giant head in person, can visit the Carnevale di Viareggio on February 20, 24 and 27 and March 1 (Mardi Gras), 5 and 12.
What do you think? Which Eurovision 2022 stars would you like to see made into a parade float? Should Achille Lauro bring his giant head to Turin? Sound off in the comments section below!
This is so bonkers. But i guess the not a complete surprise. Achille did get a condemnation from the Vatican for his Sanremo performance of Domenica. I can’t wait for the Stripper stage show. I’m guessing starting the song with “Like a Virgin” line wasn’t a coincidence since Madonna also got flack on her Truth or Dare tour from the Vatican for that song.
Madonna got flack from the Vatican for her “Blonde Ambition” tour (not Truth or Dare, that was something different) – and the fact she m@sturbated onstage in front of a giant altar to the song “Like A Virgin” – not because of the song itself.
Achille lauro has been invited to the carnival and should get on the float. It would be a great postcard for San Marino.
I mean it’s an impressive piece of work but at the same time it’s quite terrifying
A carnival parade where they traditionally have a mock pope? Wow … I had no idea something like that was even thinkable in Italy.
Are you kidding me? are your words really serious? ahahahah
Messing with the pope in Italy? I was pretty sure you’d instantly get your *** whipped for that.
Then you don’t know italians at all lol
Ehmmm, no.
I think this is his reaction because Italy is regarded as a very religious country, idk
Exactly, thank you.
In Italy, the pope is said and done worse against him. these things are nothing in comparison