Page 14 - Italian-American Herald - October 2022

14 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | OCTOBER2022 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
DID YOU KNOW?
Fascism is still alive in Italy in the form of architecture
quo. The etymology of Littoria derives from the Latin word “Lictors” who were the Roman soldiers who carried the tied sticks or fasces that is the party’s namesake. The city coat of arms motto is “Latina, olim palus.” (Latina, once a swamp)
Today Latina is a
city with a population
of 125,000. It has
become a prosperous
economic zone
specializing in
pharmaceuticals,
chemical products
and agriculture.
Many structures
like the railroad
station and fountains
are built in the
Nationalistic Rational style that is mirrored in Milano Centrale and favored by Il Duce and his followers.
“Littoria is a living Fascist monument," says Riccardo Pece, the head of the tourist office. "One of the good things Mussolini did was drain the swamps, get rid of malaria and distribute land to peasants and settlers. He gave them a house in exchange for their labour and sweat. That's why people still
By Lou Thomas
During the 1920s, Il Duce, the leader of the Fascist party, promised to bring Italy back to the glory of Rome. Nationalism reigned with SPQR banners on parade and patriotic songs were heard in the streets and on the propaganda movie reels at the movies. A Fascist salute reminiscent of the Roman salute was posed by neophytes.
Beyond making the trains run on time, he improved transportation and the infra- structure of Italy. Many railroad stations were built in the rationalist style of symmetry and geometry with little ornamentation like Santa Maria Novella a Firenze e Milano Centrale. Milano Centrale is a monumental structure that models the bombastic architecture adorned with fascist icons on the facade.
This architecture reached its zenith
with il palazzo Della Civiltà Italia in EUR (Esposizionale Universale di Roma).This
site was planned as the future site for the 1942 World’s Fair to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Fascism. In 1960 Il Duce’s
dream was realized. Rome became the center of the world when the city was chosen to be the host for the 1960 Summer Olympics. Today both of Rome’s soccer teams Lazio and Roma call it home.
After World War I, the country was in tatters, unemployment was rampant and there was a housing shortage for returning veterans from the Great War. In the beginning many came from il Friuli- Venezia e Emilia Romagna but afterwards many came from Lazio and the south near Sicily. Il Duce dreamed about a Fascist Utopia. He found a marshy area 75 kilometers from the capital which was surveyed for development. The area had been a swamp since Roman times. Il Duce ordered his engineers to drain the marshes, clear the vegetation, and settle several hundred families.
Latina was built where there was once
a stark land. He offered the veterans an opportunity to prosper and flourish in an area called “Littoria.” In return for this generous gesture by Il Duce, full-time membership
in the Fascist party was required. Quid pro
The business district of Esposizione Universale Roma is renowned for its monumental Fascist-era architecture.
nourish affection for him."
Lou Thomas was born and raised in
Philadelphia, in a family with origins in Abruzzo. He is a Temple graduate who has been teaching Italian for 20 years at all levels. He attained a master’s degree in teaching Italian from Rutgers University. The sounds of Vivaldi and Jovanotti fill his classroom. His favorite quote is “Il vino e’ la poesia della terra.” IAH
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Belcastro in Calabria, close to the Ionian Sea and the mountains of the Little Sila, is one of many ancient towns offering homes for 1 euro.
By Jeanne Outlaw-Cannavo
to become homeowners in various locations across the country. The trend began in 2008 as an initiative by the government, mostly in rural towns and villages, to give new life to areas, which were experiencing sharp declines in population.
have lost so much of their population that they offered homes for free and even financial incentives for people to move there.
you will need the permit. Finally, you will need to open an account in an Italian bank. Well, this almost sounds too good to
The sale of thousands of Italian homes
for the paltry sum of just 1 euro has sparked international interest in recent years. Italy has long been a top tourist destination, ranking in the top five visited countries worldwide and in the top three for those who live in Europe. Each year millions travel to Italy to experience its fascinating culture, its beautiful landscapes and artistic sites and delectable cuisine. Some visitors return numerous times because of their heritage and familial ties
and other because they fall in love with the country and its lifestyle.
The aging population and the large exodus of younger inhabitants in search of better jobs in larger cities or in other parts
of Europe, led to thousands of uninhabited houses which began to fall into ruin. The mayor of Salemi, a small town in Sicily, was the first to propose the initiative when he introduced the idea of selling homes that
had lain in ruin since a 1968 earthquake to anyone who would agree to renovate them for just 1 euro. Since then, hundreds of towns have set up these initiatives. Some towns
Of course, there are some regulations you must meet to purchase property. First you will need a passport just to look at properties and you will need to establish residency if you do not have Italian citizenship and plan to spend more than 183 days a year in your home. You also need to apply for a Codice Fiscal, which is comparable to a national insurance number and required to make any transactions and pay taxes. If you are buying a permanent residence, you do not have to worry about applying for a Codice Fiscale because the estate agent will get you one that does not also need a residency permit. However, if you are buying a holiday home
be true and in a way it is. The payment of 1 euro is a good faith offer but the caveat
is that whoever purchases one of these houses must submit plans for renovation to the town council and complete the work within a specific period. Some towns, such as Sambuca in Sicily, specify a minimum
Now Italy is giving many of these tourists an opportunity to become an integral part of the country’s charm with the opportunity
of 15,000 euros for renovations and others may require insurance deposits of up to 5,000 euros. Each municipality has different requirements so that could make a difference in where a buyer might purchase a house. The cost will also depend on the size of the
How to buy an Italian home for 1 euro T Tr r e e n n d d t t o o r r e e v v i i t t a a l l i i z z e e r r u u r r a a l l s s i i t t e e s s p p r r e e s s e e n n t t s s u u n n i i q q u u e e o o p p p p o o r r t t u u n n i i t t y y
JANUARY 2022
continued on page 5
Vol. 9 / No. 1