The late Colombian artist Botero is celebrated with an open-air sculpture exhibition in Rome

ROME (AP) — The daughter of the late Colombian artist Fernando Botero has helped to turn the streets and piazzas of the Italian capital into an open-air museum to display eight of her father’s famously voluminous, whimsical sculptures.

The exhibition was organized as a tribute to Botero, who died September 15, 2023, at 91 in Monaco, where he kept a studio. The artist also lived for many years in the Italian town of Pietrasanta in the Tuscany region, where he was buried next to his third wife, the artist Sophia Vari.

“I am sure my father would be very moved because Italy was always like a second home country for him,’’ his daughter, Lina Botero, told private Italian television TV2000.

Botero created all of the statues shown in the exhibition while he was in Italy. His affection for Italy came in part from his artistic affinity for the Renaissance masters.

While his imposing bronze sculptures have been shown in parks and avenues of many European and Latin American capitals, this is the first time they are being seen on this scale in Rome. The exhibition closes Oct. 1.

Art lovers can follow a Botero trail starting from the central Villa Borghese park, where Lying Woman gazes across Rome’s rooftops toward St. Peter’s Basilica from the Pincio Terrace. In the Piazza del Popolo, the sculptures Adam and Eve face each other. Horse with Bridle is on the central Roman shopping street, the Via del Corso, and the journey ends near the Piazza di Spagna with Seated Woman.

“We could tell from afar those are Boteros,” said Sara Belloni, a resident who paused to photograph Adam and Eve from below. “The aesthetic is completely the opposite compared to what one usually sees around. Where skinny is beautiful, he does the exact opposite.”

Lorenzo Zichichi, who represents one of the exhibition’s co-organizers, said it would be a mistake to call the sculptures fat.

“Botero has always said that he has never painted a fat woman and he has never sculpted a fat woman," said Zichichi, president of the Il Cigno publishing house, which presented the exhibition along with the Fernando Botero Foundation and BAM art events. “What fascinated him was the volume."

A woman take a picture at Botero's "Seated Woman" sculpture in Rome's Piazza San Silvestro, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Fernando Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Fernando Botero's "Lying Woman" sculpture is seen in Rome's Pincio Terrace, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. In the background there's St. Peter's Basilica. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Fernando Botero's "Adam" and "Eve" sculptures are seen at Rome's Piazza Del Popolo Square, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman touches Fernando Botero's "Eve" sculpture in Rome's Piazza Del Popolo Square, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Fernando Botero's "Horse with Bridle" sculpture sits before the Saints Ambrogio and Carlo Basilica at Rome's Via del Corso on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman takes a picture of her dog before Fernando Botero's "Cat" sculpture at Rome's Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman poses for a picture near Fernando Botero's "Sleeping Venus" sculpture at Rome's Pincio Terrace, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Tourists walk past Fernando Botero's "Sleeping Venus" sculpture at Rome's Pincio Terrace, Friday, July 19, 2024. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Botero's "Sleeping Venus" sculpture, installed in Rome's Pincio Terrace, Friday, July 19, 2024, appears to be in front of St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Rome's storied streets and piazzas have become a vibrant canvas for Fernando Botero's exuberant sculptures, turning the city into an open-air museum of voluminous forms and daring artistry. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

TURIN, Italy (AP) — New Zealand dominated Italy everywhere except the scoreboard in a tour-ending 29-11 win in autumn rugby on Saturday.

The All Blacks wanted to sign off 2024 in style and send off departing stalwarts Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a flourish after five weeks in Yokohama, London, Dublin, Paris and Turin.

But Italy, humiliated by the All Blacks 96-17 last year at the Rugby World Cup, gave a passionate, committed effort to restrict New Zealand to its lowest score in this matchup in 15 years.

New Zealand was held to 17-6 until the last 10 minutes when it conjured tries for backs Mark Tele'a and Beauden Barrett while Italy was down to 14 men.

But those tries were split by Italy's one and only try, to Tommaso Menoncello served up by his center partner Juan Ignacio Brex.

New Zealand carried for more than twice as many meters, beat 31 defenders, but suffered from 18 handling errors, only one more than Italy.

Italy saved its best for last this autumn after being thrashed by Argentina and struggling past Georgia.

The Italians, privileged to play the first non-football match in a sold-out Juventus Stadium, were on it from the outset, and Paolo Garbisi and Beauden Barrett traded penalties.

Moments after All Blacks captain Scott Barrett was sin-binned for a dangerous clearout, scrumhalf Cam Roigard snuck through the middle of Italy's ruck defense for the first try in the 24th minute.

Monty Ioane typified Italy's defense when he made a try-saving tackle on Will Jordan from behind, got up, and made another try-saver on Wallace Sititi, forcing a forward pass.

But Jordan typified the All Blacks' class, as Italy ran out of defenders and his 38th try in 41 tests passed Jonah Lomu on their all-time try-scoring list.

After the All Blacks survived Italy's siege of their try-line after halftime — though repeated fouls saw center Anton Lienert-Brown sin-binned — Italy then repelled 16 phases by New Zealand at the expense of replacement prop Simone Ferrari's yellow card for too many fouls, too.

Ferrari helped the All Blacks, but they also got a lift from their bench, notably from Perenara, who had led his last All Blacks haka. As he came on, fellow World Cup winner Cane departed to wide applause after his 104th and last test.

Italy's defense led by No. 8 Ross Vintcent with 21 tackles and Menoncello's 14 continued to swarm while a man down, but the All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the advantage to give the scoreline a flattering look.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand perform the haka head of the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, left, and Italy's Ange Capuozzo compete for the ball during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Mark Tele'a makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs at the defence during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan is tackled by Italy's Monty Ioane during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)