Discover Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, is one of the symbols of the EUR, and is considered the architectural icon of twentieth-century Rome and an exemplary model of the monumentality of the quarter.

Its nickname comes from an arithmetic. The imposing building is also known simply as the "Colosseo Quadrato": from its famous Roman ancestor it takes up the tight sequence of arches — an architectural element typically representative of Italian and particularly Roman civilisation — repeated fully 216 times across the four identical elevations.

It was built for an exhibition that never happened. Conceived from 1936 and designed in 1937 in view of the Universal Exposition of Rome of 1942, its construction began in 1938 at the centre of the Quadrato della Concordia, within the great urban intervention that produced the EUR quarter. The works were interrupted in 1943 because of the Second World War, to be completed after it.

A competition chose its architects, and economy chose its material. Following a public competition, a jury presided over by Marcello Piacentini selected the design of Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto La Padula and Mario Romano. The structure, coherently conceived by its authors in masonry, was for reasons of economy and time built in reinforced concrete and faced with slabs of travertine. At the sides of the two opposed staircases stand the four sculptural groups of the Dioscuri by Morbiducci and Felci, and under the arcades of the first order are 28 marble statues representing arts and human activities celebrating the Italic genius.

Its inscription states what it was for. During the Universal Exposition the palace was to have housed the Mostra della Civiltà Italiana and afterwards to have become a permanent museum of Italian civilisation — whence the famous inscription legible at the summit: "Un popolo di poeti di artisti di eroi di santi di pensatori di scienziati di navigatori di trasmigratori".

And today it is a head office. The Palazzo houses the headquarters of the Maison Fendi.

One element, repeated, is the whole design. From the Colosseum the building takes up the tight sequence of arches — an architectural element typically representative of Italian and particularly Roman civilisation — repeated fully 216 times across the four identical elevations.

Its authors were chosen by competition. A jury presided over by Marcello Piacentini selected the design of Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto La Padula and Mario Romano.

Its material is not what was intended. The structure, coherently conceived by its authors in masonry, was for reasons of economy and time realised in reinforced concrete and faced with slabs of travertine.

The sculpture is confined to the base. At the sides of the two opposed staircases are placed the four sculptural groups of the Dioscuri by Morbiducci and Felci, and under the arcades of the first order are 28 marble statues representing arts and human activities celebrating the Italic genius.

And the inscription is part of the architecture. Legible at the summit of the building: "Un popolo di poeti di artisti di eroi di santi di pensatori di scienziati di navigatori di trasmigratori".

It was built for a date that never arrived. Conceived from 1936 and designed in 1937 in view of the Universal Exposition of Rome of 1942, with construction beginning in 1938.

It was sited as the centre of a new quarter. The works began at the centre of the Quadrato della Concordia, within the great urban intervention that led to the building of the EUR quarter.

The war stopped it mid-build. The works were interrupted in 1943, because of the Second World War, to be completed in the post-war period.

And the structural decision was economic. The building was coherently conceived by its authors in masonry, but for reasons of economy and time was realised in reinforced concrete and faced with slabs of travertine — the stone grid is a cladding on a frame.

Its sculpture was part of the programme. The four sculptural groups of the Dioscuri by Morbiducci and Felci at the staircases, and 28 marble statues representing arts and human activities under the first-order arcades.

Can I go inside? Not ordinarily. The Palazzo holds the Direction and the offices of Fendi and is open to the public only on the occasion of events and exhibitions.

What are the opening hours? None are published, because there is no ordinary opening.

How much does it cost? No price is published. Looking at it from outside is free.

Why is it called the Square Colosseum? Because from its famous Roman ancestor it takes up the tight sequence of arches, repeated fully 216 times across the four identical elevations.

Who designed it? Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto La Padula and Mario Romano, chosen by a jury presided over by Marcello Piacentini after a public competition.

When was it built? Conceived from 1936, designed in 1937 for the Universal Exposition of Rome of 1942, begun in 1938, interrupted in 1943 because of the Second World War and completed after the war.

What is it made of? Reinforced concrete faced with slabs of travertine — though the authors had coherently conceived it in masonry, the change being made for reasons of economy and time.

What does the inscription say? "Un popolo di poeti di artisti di eroi di santi di pensatori di scienziati di navigatori di trasmigratori", at the summit of the building.

Why that inscription? Because during the Universal Exposition the palace was to have housed the Mostra della Civiltà Italiana and afterwards to have become a permanent museum of Italian civilisation.

What sculpture is there? The four sculptural groups of the Dioscuri by Morbiducci and Felci at the sides of the two opposed staircases, and 28 marble statues representing arts and human activities under the arcades of the first order.

Which films used it? Among others Roma città aperta by Rossellini, L'Eclisse by Antonioni, Otto e mezzo by Fellini, The Belly of an Architect by Peter Greenaway and Notte prima degli esami by Brizzi.

Where is it? Quadrato della Concordia, in the EUR.