fascist-era built heritage: a walk throught the city of forlì Yair Varon
School of Architecture Ariel University of Israel
In various countries throughout the world, debates are conducted regarding monuments, buildings, sculptures, and works of art that stand out in terms of size and design, and also carry cultural and historical significance. These are works that represent chapters in the nation’s history, and historical figures that have left their mark on its identity and development. In the southern United States, for example, the removal of Confederate monuments placed in public spaces has come to public notice in recent years, especially in light of the political climate in which incidents of racial and minority violence have increased in number. The same phenomenon has been occurring in Eastern European countries. Many of the Communist-era statues placed in city squares were removed by the new rulers who came to power following the collapse of the Communist regime. Some were smashed; others were assembled in open museums for educational purposes. These are now used to promote a discussion about the past, its perceptions, and its implications, rather than commemorating historical achievements and personalities. This phenomenon has also been seen in Italy (Battilani, Bernini, and Mariotti 2018). An article published in New York Magazine in October 2017 under the title “Why Are So Many Fascist Monuments Still Standing in Italy?” launched a public discussion regarding the legitimacy of leaving tangible remains of the Fascist regime in the Italian landscape. American historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat (Ben-Ghiat 2017) has alleged that while the U.S. has been removing Confederate symbols from city squares, especially in the south, and France has renamed streets that paid tribute to Nazi collaborator Marshal Pétain, Italy has allowed Fascist monuments to remain standing, while Italians “live comfortably” with symbols of the Fascist regime found in the public sphere. Ben-Ghiat claims, among other things, that many buildings, including the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in the EUR district in Rome that was built to host the World Exposition in 1942, are relics representing exceptional aggression, and yet are now considered icons of modern architecture. These arguments have stirred debate among the public and in intellectual circles in Italy and elsewhere. In an article published on October 12, 2017 in the online journal QuiComo (Manuela Brancatisano, “Demolire la Casa del Fascio di Como: la provocazione anti fascista che arriva
