About the Architecture of Fascism (EUR) Walk in Rome
In 1936, at the height of his power, the Italian dictator Mussolini began planning an international fair that would showcase the accomplishments of Fascism in Italy to the world. War intervened in 1942, but not before many of the buildings had been completed. As a result, the fairgrounds, known now as EUR for the original name of the event (Esposizione Universale di Roma), are one of the best places to understand the history of Fascism in Italy.
We begin our walk in Testaccio, a working class neighborhood on the southern edge of Rome where we'll look at the post office building designed by Adalberto Libera (1935), one of the best examples from this period. We'll then take the subway to EUR, located 10 kilometers from Rome. Here we'll spend the next two hours walking the length of EUR and studying the most important monuments, including the Palace of Italian Civilization, Libera's Congressi building, and the Palazzo degli Uffici dell'Ente Autonomo. We'll look specifically at how archi
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In 1936, at the height of his power, the Italian dictator Mussolini began planning an international fair that would showcase the accomplishments of Fascism in Italy to the world. War intervened in 1942, but not before many of the buildings had been completed. As a result, the fairgrounds, known now as EUR for the original name of the event (Esposizione Universale di Roma), are one of the best places to understand the history of Fascism in Italy.
We begin our walk in Testaccio, a working class neighborhood on the southern edge of Rome where we'll look at the post office building designed by Adalberto Libera (1935), one of the best examples from this period. We'll then take the subway to EUR, located 10 kilometers from Rome. Here we'll spend the next two hours walking the length of EUR and studying the most important monuments, including the Palace of Italian Civilization, Libera's Congressi building, and the Palazzo degli Uffici dell'Ente Autonomo. We'll look specifically at how architecture (and architects) publicized the message of Fascism and furthered its goals. To this end, we'll spend time discussing the city plan of EUR, which was laid out partly to invoke the processional formality of a Roman city and partly as a Garden City antidote to capitalism.
Although the itinerary will focus strongly on architecture, we will use this as a lens to discuss the concepts of Fascism and Italian modern history (1920-1945). We'll look at monuments to corporatism and autarchy; we'll recall Fellini and postwar attempts to diffuse the heavy legacy of Fascism; and we'll enjoy a walk through one of the most symbolic landscapes of the 20th century.
