Mussolini's Rome

by Borden W. Painter Jr.

Rome was Mussolini's obsession. After coming to power as a result of his famed march on the city in 1922, he promised Italians that his fascist revolution would unite them as never before and make Italy a major power on the world stage. In the next two decades, he set about rebuilding Rome as the foremost site and symbol of the new fascist order. Through an ambitious program of demolition and construction, he sought to make Rome a capital that both embraced modernity while preserving and glorifing the city's ancient past. Building the new Rome put people to work, "liberated" ancient monuments from cluttered surroundings, cleared slums; produced giant complexes for education, sports, and cinema; produced wide new boulevards and piazzas; and provided the regime with a showcase for the supposed grandeur, dynamism, and power of fascism. This intriguing book reveals Mussolini's tremendous and lasting impact on the city to which millions flock each year.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, Historical, Urban, Architecture

198 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Frank Stein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book does a good job of explaining how fascist ideology permanently changed Rome's urban form, it is unfortunately organized almost entirely by individual projects, which makes it feel more like a tour guide than a scholarly work. So we get 10 pages on the clearing of the Circus Maximus followed by 10 pages on the sports complex Foro Mussolini, followed by a description of the youth-training field at Campo Dux. There seems to be little continuity or organization here.

Still, some highlights include the author's descriptions of Mussolini's attempts to "liberate" ancient Roman monuments from their slummy surroundings through urban renewal (the urban workers were removed to New Towns on the periphery, where, like under Roosevelt's RA, the state tried to teach them to become farmers). In the process, the piccone, or pick-ax, became one of the most prominent symbols of the fascist regime, which Mussolini wielded readily. There's also an extended discussion of Luigi Moretti, one of the regime's favorite architects who later went on to design the Watergate complex next to my apartment. He was so popular back in fascist Rome that all stripes of architectural critics tried to claim him. Pagano, who tried to tilt the state towards modern architecture, declared Moretti a perfect "rationalist," while Piacentini, who advocated for a classical monumentalism, declared that Moretti was "without a doubt a classicist."

Of course in Mussolini's Rome everything was political, so debates about style ultimately involved which was appropriate for the new fascist man. Typically, Mussolini waffled. Originally he favored Pagano's modern style, but after the Ethopia campaign in 1936 he came to appreciate Piacentti's allusions to the old Roman empire. (Interestingly, education policy, as reflected in the schools, went in the opposite direction: at first it was humanistic while later it focused on technical training.)

The author is also preforming an important task in this book to point out how important all these projects are for modern Rome. While tour guides today may point travelers to the works of Ancient Rome or the Renaissance, the city was probably more drastically shaped by Mussolini than any other man in its history. While the city may try to obscure his legacy, Mussolini was as fundamental to the shape of the city as Emperor Augustus.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a political science class I'm taking in Italy this May! The first 50-70% was really hard to get through because there were dozens upon dozens of Italian-named buildings, streets, and people that I just couldn't keep straight! i.e. "The trattoria Castel dei Cesari, just above the church of Santa Prisca, provided a dramatic view across the Circus Maximus to the Palatine." For someone who isn't familiar with Italian geography or the language, it was really hard to get through. But I was able to get a small grasp on the main concepts, which were the ways Mussolini transformed Italy (particularly Rome) during his rule from the 1920s to 1940s, and found them interesting.

The later chapters talked more about what happened as Italy officially entered the war and how he interacted with Hitler, which was a lot easier to understand because it was more of a history lesson (with minimal Italian names) than a description of all the buildings, borgate, schools, etc.

Overall, it was interesting to learn about Mussolini's affects on Rome, but I didn't love it, because it was hard for me to grasp the meaning of the text alongside the Italian terms I wasn't familiar with.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided excellent and easy to understand information regarding Mussolini's transformation of Rome (and much of southern Italy) into what we see today. So much of what I learned is how, the things we admire now in Rome, would not be visible had it not been for Mussolini (Forum of Augustus, Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius, etc.) not to mention all of the great boulevards that run though the city (Via dell'Impero linking the Capitoline Hill and the Colleseum, the Via Triomfi that runs past the Arch of Constantine, and the road (whose name I can't remember) that leads to the open arms of Bernini's Piazza in front of St. Peter's). Most of this is just very fact-based reading, but Painter brings in sources from multiple fields and media. The concluding chapter is a heartwrenching narration of the fall of Mussolini and the Nazi occupation of Germany that reads like a novel.

[Xander Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about the transformation of Rome under Mussolini's twenty year rule. I remember visiting Rome in the 1980's and wondering what it was about modern Rome that seemed so strange. Some of the modern and innovative architecture was from the 1930's but it had a quality that I couldn't put my finger on. Was it Art Deco? Was it Modernism? What was it about these buildings? It wasn't until I first visited Madrid twenty years later that I figured it out. Both cities have a fine display of what could only be called fascist architecture. Buildings that look like they were built by thugs for thugs. Mussolini's Rome explains the fascist architectural evolution of that city and I'll be waiting for a book about Franco's Madrid. The next time you are in Rome look closely as some of the early modern buildings and ask yourself: Did Mussolini build that?

[Shawn Fairweather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dry read. Unless you are very familiar with the city infrastructure and the history there of of Rome, this will be most difficult to follow. I was hoping for alot more ideaology and defining of symbolism to be used however it was very few and far between. There were some pictures here and there however when the author provides specific locations or buildings, it is hard to picture or understand without seeing what he is refering to. There were many changes that took place as the city converted into a facist state beginning in the late 1800's but it was so hard to put that in context and to be able to follow.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious in many places. Not to be read without a good map of Rome (showing streets, major buildings, and monument) and perhaps a tour guide book with pictures of the buildings. The book is an excellent description of Mussolini’s effects on the city layout and the architecture of Rome. There are also descriptions of the massive dislocations and the exploitation of projects for political motivations, but it is focused on architecture and city planning and not the politics.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a scholarly study of the way Mussolini changed Rome. And change he did it! It's no exaggeration to state that there are three Romes: the Rome of the Romans in Antiquity; the Rome of the Popes and the Rome of Mussolini. When you visit the eternal city after reading this book, you see and understand more about Rome and its history.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was very well written with the author sharing very detailed information. It was a little dry at times and moved along as a guide book on Rome during the era before World War 11. I would have liked more pictures and perhaps more information about the connection of the building with the Mussolini's government.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked portions of it. It was hard to understand if you dont know anything about Rome/Italy. I have to say it did give a good description of how Mussolini changed Rome, but most times it was too long on descriptions.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For people somewhat interested in history and this era, but mostly interested in buildings and roads. I'm sure that if this falls into your area of interest it will be a page turner but the target audience is slim enough that I don't fall into it.

[Lesli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped this would be more interesting than it was. Also, I have never been to Rome so place names, streets, etc were a complete mystery to me. A map would have been good to have on hand.

[Don Carfagno · Rating 3 out of 5]

architecture is a dry subject, mussolini didnt make it any more exciting

[ADD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but rather sterile in its description. A better story telling methodology would have improved readability and enjoyment.

[Lee Ellsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned a lot

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative but kind of a drag to read.