‘Too provocative’ mermaid statue causes stir in southern Italy

The mermaid statue in Monopoli became a target of ridicule after photos were shared on social media. Photograph: Monopoli Times

The voluptuous statue of a mermaid placed in a square in a fishing village in Puglia, southern Italy, has caused a stir for being “too provocative”.

The statue was created by students at the Luigi Rosso art school in Monopoli before being positioned in a square named after the scientist Rita Levi-Montalcini.