The Foro Italico, formerly called the Foro Mussolini, is Rome‘s most impressive sports complex and is seen as a masterpiece of Fascist architecture. It was designed by Enrico Del Debbio and, at a later point, Luigi Moretti, who took their inspiration from the classical Roman Forum.
Foro Italico Rome
History and description
The Foro Italico was built between 1928 and 1938 and consists of a number of different sports venues, of which the Olympic Stadium (Stadio Olimpico) is the most important one. Other important parts are formed by the Stadio dei Marmi, the Tennis Center and the Swimming Stadium (Stadio del Nuoto).
The most important sports events having taken place at the Foro Italico are the 1960 Summer Olympics and the Football World Championships in 1990.
Particular features of the fascist designs are the Obelisco Mussolini, the enormous black and white mosaics of Schwarzenegger lookalikes around the indoor swimming pool and the 60 statues of the Stadio dei Marmi that are made of the typically white marble (hence the name) of Carrara. The statues were donatd by the various provinces.
The main entrance to the Foro Italico is on its south side, across from the Ponte Duca d’Aosta.