Foro Italico, formerly Foro Mussolini, is a Fascist-era sports complex in Rome, Italy. I(Chris) saw this as a part of a tour of modern Italian architecture.

The forum was built between 1928 and 1938 as the Foro Mussolini (literally Mussolini’s Forum) under the design of Enrico Del Debbio and, later, Luigi Moretti (according to Wikipedia).

At the foot of Monte Mario, it is home to numerous sports venues, such as the largest sports facility in Rome, the Stadio Olimpico, Rome’s 70,000-seat football stadium.

From the main road, an open, broad parade ground paved with mosaic tiles lead up to the stadium.

There were some damages to the tiles. I believe they were not treated as a first priority as repairs go because there is some tension among the Romans about what the stadium represented.

Benito Mussolini who ruled the kingdom of Italy from 1922 to 1943 is il Duce (the leader). He ruled constitutionally as the prime minister until 1925, when he dropped all pretense of democracy and set up a dictatorship.

He developed a cult of one-man leadership that focused media attention and national debate on his own personality. Towards the end of World War II, he was captured while trying to escape, and executed by communists.

The tiles are organized to repeat fascist slogans. I can imagine the sight of athletes or soldiers marching in formation over these mosaics.

Duce a noi = Leader to us

Molti nemici molto onore = many enemies, much honor

The ornate Stadio dei Marmi with its running track is surrounded by 60 marble nudes, each donated by an Italian state.

The stadium was inaugurated in 1932.

It has marble steps lined by marble statues in classical style portraying athletes that perform various sporting disciplines.

The adjoining building is the seat of the Italian National Olympic Committee (originally built for the purposes of the Fascist Male Academy of Physical Education).

The forum remains much as it was originally conceived.

I don’t know what the sport portrayed by this statue is – taming a wild cat ?  – it has no modern day equivalent.

Foro Italico has hosted important events, most notably the 1960 Summer Olympics.

The entrance is marked by a huge obelisk, 17m high, made of marble from Cararra.

Spectacular architecture by fascists, that’s in the past.

The stadium can stay but we all hope the ideology never comes back.