[madengr]

The article only mentions the clean executions (other than burning at the stake). There were plenty that were gruesome; essentially tortured to death.

[bostik]

The Count of Monte-Cristo carries a depiction of a public execution that is rather ... vivid. The convicted is clubbed to death. And not too cleanly.

Quick research doesn't say whether this fashion was used in reality or not. The wikipedia article on Italian capital punishment doesn't go into style details.