1Neighborhoods
EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma) was commissioned by Mussolini for a 1942 world's fair that never happened because of the war, leaving behind a district of stark, symmetrical rationalist architecture unlike anywhere else in Rome. Its best-known building, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, is a squared-off, arched structure nicknamed the 'Square Colosseum' that has become an unlikely fashion and architecture icon, with Fendi's headquarters inside it.
Wide boulevards, a large artificial lake, and museums including the Museum of Roman Civilization give the area an oddly spacious, almost surreal feel compared to the density of central Rome. It's a striking detour for anyone interested in 20th-century architecture and history rather than classical antiquity.
✨ Reasons to go
- 1Commissioned by Mussolini for a 1942 world's fair that was cancelled due to World War II
- 2The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, nicknamed the 'Square Colosseum,' now houses Fendi's headquarters
- 3The Museum of Roman Civilization displays large-scale models reconstructing ancient Rome
💡 Good to know
- 1Photograph the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, most striking in late afternoon light
- 2walk around the EUR lake for a quieter, spacious contrast to central Rome
- 3visit the Museum of Roman Civilization for its scale models of ancient Rome.
⏱️ Typical visit
1h30
🕰️ Best time
morning or afternoon
🚶 Walking intensity
Active — lots of walking
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