Forlì The European Cultural route ATRIUM

Atrium is an European project that involves 18 international partners, with its headquarters in Forlì, that promotes the theme of the totalitarian regimes architecture with the aim to research its primary functions, its architectural value, with its historical and socio-political implications.

The history of the city of Forlì is strictly connected to Benito Mussolini and to the Duce’s interest towards the architectural renovation of the capital of Romagna. A few of the renowned architects that were able to work on this project were Gustavo Giovannoni, Cesare Bazzani and Cesare Valle but also other local specialists of great interest. A big part of the historic centre went through demolitions and was reconstructed according to the architectural trends of the period. Today Forlì constitutes an open-air museum rich in landmarks of the architecture of the regime.

• Monument for the Fallen – Monument of Victory for the First World War designed by the architect Cesare Bazzani. 30 meters high, of which only 22 for the Doric column in Tran i golden stone, that has at the top a sculptural composition in bronze to represent the victory in the triple field that occurred to the country: in air, sea and ground.
• House of the Wounded – The building, already dwelling of the Masonic organizations of Forlì, was transformed in a base where could be housed both the local Association as the National Work of the Wounded in war. Cesare Bazzani, in charge of the transformation, designed a project defined by a mature and thought-out reflection on the classical world.
• Palazzo delle Poste (Post Building) –was erected between 1931 and 1932 on a rectangular structure , with a patio that allows the light in the great semicircular hall for the public. It is found in Piazza Saffi.
• Casa della Balilla - or ex Palazzo GIL, it’s a multi-purpose building constructed on the vialle della Libertà (then viale Benito Mussolini). The structure that afterwards changed its name into “Casa della Gioventù Littoria”, was thought by the Opera Nazionale Balilla as a sports and cultural center for the indoctrinating of youth.
• Collegio Aeronautico “Bruno Mussolini” – building meant to be the first aeronautical institute in Italy, capable of hosting 440 students. On the inside walls of the courtyard called Italico the painter Angelo Canevari made a two-tones mosaic cycle on the history of flying. In the lobby of the Constellations the mosaic pavement made by the School of Spilimbergo reproduces the star chart of the Southern Hemisphere. On the outside the statue of Icarus can be found, in white Carrara marble by sculptor Francesco Saverio Palozzi.