Italian Fascist Architecture
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Latest page update: 19 November 2024
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By Dion Protani
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It is perhaps bending the rules a little to use the phrase Italian Fascist architecture as it wasn't a stylistic movement in its own right. However, the architecture that appeared in Italy during the reign of Benito Mussolini's Fascist government from the 1920's to his eventual demise in World War Two, is a large enough body of work to merit its own category and often quite beautiful.
The architecture of the Fascist period in Italy was inspired or at least influenced by diverse movements including Modernist and Rationalist architecture among others. At the core of the work was a desire to restore a sense of civic pride, strength and order, much of the time taking inspiration from the virtus of the Romans. |
Stadio dei Marmi, Rome
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Related links
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Time period:
1922 - 1943 Preceded by: Liberty Style architecture Followed by: Modern Italian architecture Characteristics/innovations: Grandeur, simplicity, white marble |
Famous buildings in Italy:
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Milano Centrale, Stadio dei Marmi Influences: Rationalist architecture, Modernist architecture Building types: Bridges, civic buildings, courts, stadiums, train stations Famous architects: Marcello Piacentini |
The Fascist Period and Mussolini
Although it should be remembered that Mussolini wasn't himself an architect, at least not in any qualified capacity, much of the building work that was carried out during his reign was at his behest with the designs quite often changed if he didn't like them.
Mussolini's reign is rightly viewed as a retrospective disaster for Italy; his doctrines fundamentally flawed and often cruel. His alliance with Adolf Hitler and the German Nazi party was a calamitous move and eventually steered the country towards disaster.
So of course it's always with a heavy heart the one can offer any positive comment about Mussolini's reign but there were some things that worked. Whilst he was in power he showed great energy and a desire to make the country one of the major world powers; his control of the media saw him exercise his powers to nefarious ends towards the final years of his reign but there was much to be admired about some of his earlier policies.
Putting aside those political aspects of Mussolini's rule, we can look at the architectural legacy of his tenure and find a mixture of aesthetic beauty, a reintroduction of the Roman sense of virtus (an all-encompassing phrase which is a combination of strength, manliness, courage and pride), as well as some buildings that may now be considered ugly or representative of a period of austerity. The architecture of the Italian Fascist period does nothing if not divide opinion.
Although it should be remembered that Mussolini wasn't himself an architect, at least not in any qualified capacity, much of the building work that was carried out during his reign was at his behest with the designs quite often changed if he didn't like them.
Mussolini's reign is rightly viewed as a retrospective disaster for Italy; his doctrines fundamentally flawed and often cruel. His alliance with Adolf Hitler and the German Nazi party was a calamitous move and eventually steered the country towards disaster.
So of course it's always with a heavy heart the one can offer any positive comment about Mussolini's reign but there were some things that worked. Whilst he was in power he showed great energy and a desire to make the country one of the major world powers; his control of the media saw him exercise his powers to nefarious ends towards the final years of his reign but there was much to be admired about some of his earlier policies.
Putting aside those political aspects of Mussolini's rule, we can look at the architectural legacy of his tenure and find a mixture of aesthetic beauty, a reintroduction of the Roman sense of virtus (an all-encompassing phrase which is a combination of strength, manliness, courage and pride), as well as some buildings that may now be considered ugly or representative of a period of austerity. The architecture of the Italian Fascist period does nothing if not divide opinion.
EUR (Rome)
The oddly-named and horrible-sounding EUR, (it sounds almost like an expression of disgust to the English ear when pronounced in Italian), was one of Mussolini's pet projects and the perfect starting point for the study of Italian Fascist architecture.
The acronym EUR stands for Esposizione Universale Roma which relates to the planned 1942 World Fair which Mussolini had earmarked as the perfect platform from which to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his rule. The unfolding events of World War Two saw to it that the event itself never took place but the project lived on beyond Mussolini and was completed in time for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
If your curiosity is piqued by the architecture of the Italian Fascist period then this is the place to satisfy that curiosity. EUR is now a living, breathing district a short distance to the south of Rome city centre to which it's connected via the Metro system. It's that curious mix of a futuristic city built in the past, often resembling the type of dystopia brought to the silver screen in films such as Fahrenheit 451 (1966).
It has however stood the test of time and provides a workplace to many people, even starting to develop along new lines with the construction of The Cloud in 2016, one of the most spectacular modern buildings in Italy designed by star architect Massimiliano Fuksas.
Aside from The Cloud which clearly belongs to a different era, the EUR district is built upon a determined set of architectural principles with simplicity, clean lines and dazzling white marble omnipresent. Perhaps the most beautiful building in EUR is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italian which, if you run a quick Google search on Italian Fascist architecture, will be the one you find the most.
The whole of the EUR district has a certain eeriness to it and can feel a little cold or discomforting at times but it is quite fascinating to explore. Other major buildings include the Palazzo dei Congressi and one of the most unusual churches in the country: the Basilica sei Santi Pietro e Paolo.
The oddly-named and horrible-sounding EUR, (it sounds almost like an expression of disgust to the English ear when pronounced in Italian), was one of Mussolini's pet projects and the perfect starting point for the study of Italian Fascist architecture.
The acronym EUR stands for Esposizione Universale Roma which relates to the planned 1942 World Fair which Mussolini had earmarked as the perfect platform from which to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his rule. The unfolding events of World War Two saw to it that the event itself never took place but the project lived on beyond Mussolini and was completed in time for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
If your curiosity is piqued by the architecture of the Italian Fascist period then this is the place to satisfy that curiosity. EUR is now a living, breathing district a short distance to the south of Rome city centre to which it's connected via the Metro system. It's that curious mix of a futuristic city built in the past, often resembling the type of dystopia brought to the silver screen in films such as Fahrenheit 451 (1966).
It has however stood the test of time and provides a workplace to many people, even starting to develop along new lines with the construction of The Cloud in 2016, one of the most spectacular modern buildings in Italy designed by star architect Massimiliano Fuksas.
Aside from The Cloud which clearly belongs to a different era, the EUR district is built upon a determined set of architectural principles with simplicity, clean lines and dazzling white marble omnipresent. Perhaps the most beautiful building in EUR is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italian which, if you run a quick Google search on Italian Fascist architecture, will be the one you find the most.
The whole of the EUR district has a certain eeriness to it and can feel a little cold or discomforting at times but it is quite fascinating to explore. Other major buildings include the Palazzo dei Congressi and one of the most unusual churches in the country: the Basilica sei Santi Pietro e Paolo.
Buildings and Landmarks from the period of Italian Fascist rule
Agrigento
Palazzo delle Poste
Stazione Centrale (Neoclassical/Fascist period)
Lazio
Latina
Sabaudia
Naples
Palazzo delle Poste (Rationalist)
Rome
Ponte Flaminio
Stadio dei Marmi
Stadio Olimpico
EUR (Rome)
Basilica di San Pietro e Paolo
Palazzo dei Congressi
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana
Lombardy
Milano Centrale
Piazza della Vittoria (Brescia)
Palermo
Palazzo delle Poste
Palazzo delle Poste
Stazione Centrale (Neoclassical/Fascist period)
Lazio
Latina
Sabaudia
Naples
Palazzo delle Poste (Rationalist)
Rome
Ponte Flaminio
Stadio dei Marmi
Stadio Olimpico
EUR (Rome)
Basilica di San Pietro e Paolo
Palazzo dei Congressi
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana
Lombardy
Milano Centrale
Piazza della Vittoria (Brescia)
Palermo
Palazzo delle Poste
Architects
Marcello Piacentini
Marcello Piacentini
