Walking through the center of Parma, in Piazzale della Macina, you come across a statue that tells a story unlike any other. It is the Monument to Enzo "Màt" Sicuri, dedicated to one of the city's most beloved characters: a homeless man who became a symbol of freedom, dignity, and kindness.

Photo by M. Valla from Facebook

Who was Enzo "Màt" Sicuri?

Enzo Sicuri (1907–1988) was a constant presence on the streets of Parma for over thirty years. Known to all as "Màt" – "mad" in the Parmesan dialect – Enzo voluntarily chose to live without a home, free from any convention. He loved music, poetry and philosophy, and often spoke to passers-by, dispensing simple but profound thoughts. He never asked anything of anyone and faced life with a disarming smile. For the people of Parma, he was a silent friend, a reassuring figure who testified to the beauty of simplicity

The statue and its meaning

The monument, created by the sculptor Maurizio Zaccardi and inaugurated in 2004, depicts Enzo sitting on a cardboard box, with his bicycle at his side.
A faithful and touching image of how he showed himself to the city every day.
Next to him, engraved in the base, we read one of his most famous thoughts:

"In life you can do without everything, except the air to breathe."

Not a hero, not a great politician or artist: the monument to Enzo celebrates a life lived with coherence, dignity and independence, values ​​that still touch those who stop to read his story.

Curiosity

• It is one of the very few monuments in Italy dedicated to a homeless person with a name and surname.

  Enzo gave up an important inheritance in order to remain faithful to his choice of freedom.

  His story has inspired books, documentaries and articles that continue to tell his extraordinary human journey.

How to reach the Monument

Piazzale della Macina is located in the center of Parma, a short distance from Piazza Garibaldi. It is easily reachable on foot, and is surrounded by historic buildings and pedestrian streets.
Access is free at any time of the day, and the area is perfectly accessible even to those with reduced mobility.