Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Rationalist architecture building in EUR district, Rome, Italy.
The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is a white travertine building with 216 arches arranged in six rows of nine on each of its four facades. Each arch follows the same size and shape, giving the structure its symmetrical appearance.
Construction began in 1938 as part of plans for a world exhibition scheduled for 1942, but was interrupted by the Second World War. Work resumed after the war ended and was completed in 1953.
The ground floor displays 28 marble statues representing arts, crafts, and human activities that celebrate Italian achievements throughout history.
The building now houses the headquarters of fashion house Fendi and is not freely open to the public, though guided architecture tours are occasionally offered. From the outside, visitors can view the facades and surrounding plaza at any time of day.
The nickname Square Colosseum arose because the rhythmic rows of arches recall the shape of the ancient amphitheater. Although both structures belong to very different periods, they share the same geometric clarity.
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