After the Fall: The Legacy of Fascism in Rome's Architectural and Urban History

After the Fall examines the many traces of fascism that can be found in the architecture and urban form of Rome, revealing how the legacy of this period shaped and continues to shape the city's contemporary landscape. The book explores how the fascist regime sought to remake Rome according to its vision of the past and surveys the afterlife of Mussolini's architectural and urban projects. It adds a new chapter to the architectural history of Rome, bringing architecture, politics, and art together as living, contested experiences in various locations around contemporary Rome.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

After the Fall delves into the profound impact of fascism on the architecture and urban landscape of Rome, encompassing a wide range of elements such as buildings, monuments, piazze, street names, and graffiti. It uncovers the enduring traces of this brief historical period that have shaped and continue to shape the contemporary cityscape of Rome in significant ways. The book explores how the legacy of fascism has molded and continues to mold the architectural and urban landscape of Rome, shedding light on the persistence of troubling political and historical legacies in the built environment.

The fascist period in Italy (1922-1943) is often overlooked in the study of Rome's architectural history. However, it is remarkable that these two decades have had a more profound influence on our modern perception of Rome's renowned ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque urban landscapes than any other period. The book examines the fascist regime's efforts to reshape Rome in accordance with its own vision of the past, and it surveys the legacy of Mussolini's architectural and urban projects, including the Roman Masterplan and the Foro Italico.

Internationally, there is a lively debate surrounding the controversial status of public monuments, including their abandonment, defacement, re-integration, or removal. As After the Fall vividly demonstrates, Rome serves as a rich setting for examining these pressing issues. By adding a new chapter to the architectural history of Rome, this fascinating book brings together architecture, politics, and art as living, contested experiences in various locations throughout contemporary Rome.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350120594