Fascism and the ‘City of the Popes’

Abstract

In 1933, Anno XI of the new Fascist calendar, Rome was still basking in the glory of the spectacular celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the ‘March on Rome’. Numerous visitors were still crossing the entrance of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni to see the Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution (see Ch. 7), the centrepiece of the festivities. In the historic centre of the city, inhabitants and visitors were enjoying the spectacular display of Roman ruins, strolling or driving along the recently inaugurated avenues of Via dell’Impero and Via del Mare (Ch. 3). In fact, the entire capital was beaming with energy: new construction projects were underway in the centre and the periphery, while many more ambitious ideas that formed part of the PRG1931 were on the horizon.