Palace of Italian Civilization (Square Colosseum)

The Palace of Italian Civilization, also known as the Palace of the Civilization of Work or commonly called the Square Colosseum, is one of the most representative symbols of Italian rationalist architecture and the fascist period. Located in the EUR district of Rome, the palace was designed in 1938 by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto La Padula, and Mario Romano. Its construction began the same year, but was only completed in 1943, in the context of the large Universal Exhibition planned for 1942, which was then canceled due to the Second World War. The building is an imposing parallelepiped with a square base of 51.6 meters on each side and a height of 57.75 meters. The facade is clad in travertine, a typical material of ancient Roman architecture, and features six rows of nine arches on each side. This design deliberately recalls the Colosseum, from which it derives the nickname “Square Colosseum”. The dimensions and structure of the building are intended to evoke the greatness and continuity of Roman civilization, a concept dear to fascist propaganda that aimed to connect Mussolini’s regime with ancient Rome. The Palace of Italian Civilization was officially inaugurated on November 30, 1940, although completion works continued for several years. The construction was fully documented by the Istituto Luce, the fascist propaganda film agency, which recorded events such as the laying of the first stone by Mussolini. The structure was initially intended to house the Museum of Italian Civilization, a project that was never realized due to the war and the fall of the fascist regime. After the war, the palace remained largely unused and abandoned for several years. However, the EUR district was later reclaimed and transformed into a modern residential and administrative district, especially in view of the 1960 Rome Olympics. During this period, the Palace of Italian Civilization was reevaluated and integrated into the new urban context. The design of the palace is characterized by a marked symmetry and simplicity of forms, key principles of rationalist architecture. Every detail, from the dimensions of the arches to the distribution of internal spaces, has been studied to convey a sense of order and rationality. This formal simplicity is accentuated by the use of travertine, which gives the building a monolithic and solemn appearance. On the facades of the palace is engraved a famous inscription that reads: “A people of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of navigators, of migrants”. This inscription, taken from a speech by Mussolini in 1935, celebrates the alleged distinctive qualities of the Italian people according to fascist ideology. Around the palace, at the base of each arch on the ground floor, there are 28 statues representing different virtues and human activities, such as Agriculture, Industry, Philosophy, and Music. These statues, made of Carrara marble, were added in 1942 and contribute to emphasizing the monumental and celebratory character of the building. Over the years, the Palace of Italian Civilization has often been used as a backdrop for films and documentaries, becoming an icon of fascist aesthetics. Its imposing appearance and controversial history make it an ideal subject for reflections on the relationship between architecture, politics, and ideology. Since 2015, the palace has been home to the headquarters of the Italian fashion house Fendi, which has contributed to a significant restoration and enhancement of the building. This new use represents an example of how architecture laden with historical and political significance can be reinterpreted and integrated into the contemporary context, keeping alive the debate on historical memory and the use of urban spaces.