Palazzo della Civilta Italiana (Palace of Italian Civilization), Rome

Undoubtedly, the most impressive and emblematic structure in Rome's EUR district is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (commonly referred to as the "Square Colosseum"), commissioned by Benito Mussolini with the intention of making it the centerpiece of the 1942 World's Fair. Construction began in 1938 and was completed in 1943. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, the fair never took place. Nevertheless, the building stands today as a symbol of Italian Fascist architecture.

Mussolini envisioned a monument that would evoke the grandeur of the ancient Colosseum and convey the notion of everlasting fascism. Rising 68 meters high and covering over 8000 square meters, the palace consists of six levels, each adorned with nine arches—a deliberate choice by Mussolini to match the number of letters in his name. The structure is constructed using limestone and tuff, a type of rock formed from consolidated volcanic ash, and is clad in marble.

Adorning the upper section of the building, on either side, are inscriptions that proclaim: "A nation of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of sailors, of transmigrates". The palace is adorned with numerous statues, including equestrian statues of Castor and Pollux, as well as twenty-eight figures representing Italian excellence across various domains, such as agriculture, the arts, astronomy, craftsmanship, philosophy, and political genius.