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The Foro Italico: the monumental city of sport commissioned by Mussolini
At the foot of Monte Mario, the Foro Italico (originally Foro Mussolini) is a monumental complex conceived to project the power of the Fascist regime, drawing inspiration from the majestic architecture of Imperial Rome. Its beating heart is the Piazzale dell'Impero, designed by architect Luigi Moretti as a venue set aside for parades.
A carpet of mosaics for the Regime
The square is an impressive piece of work: an area of 7,000 square metres entirely covered in black-and-white mosaics. The images depict athletes, mythological figures and symbols of Fascist life. There is also a map of the Foro and obsessive inscriptions such as "DUCE", "DUCE a noi" and "Molti nemici molto onore" — many enemies, much honour. The work was completed with remarkable speed by 400 stonemasons and mosaic artists.
The obelisk, a marble colossus
Dominating the complex is the Mussolini Obelisk, a single enormous block of Carrara marble nearly 40 metres tall. It is the largest monolith ever quarried from the Apuan Alps. Its transportation to Rome was an epic undertaking: it was slid down the hillside using the traditional lizzatura technique, hauled by oxen, loaded onto specially built vessels and carried by river all the way to Rome.
