The ex Casa del Fascio in Predappio and the question of the "difficult heritage" of Fascism in contemporary Italy

In the past few years the long-standing question of the material legacy of the Fascist regime has been the subject of renewed debate in Italy. One of the most high-profile cases is that of the ex Casa del Fascio in Predappio, Mussolini’s hometown, which has recently received a lot of media attention. After decades of neglect and disrepair, in 2015 the building was acquired by the town administration from the state and funds were raised to turn it into an international study centre and a permanent exhibition on the Fascist regime. The idea of a museum of Fascism situated in Predappio sparked a heated debate which is still ongoing and has mobilised deep-seated anxieties about national identity and its narratives, as well as a fear that an incorrectly handled museum-based representation of Fascism could lead to a distortion of the historical understanding of the ventennio and to celebratory evocations. This is particularly felt in relation to the town of Predappio, which has been the destination of nostalgic tourism, pilgrimages and marches, ever since Mussolini’s remains were returned to the town in 1957. Predappio is perceived as an emblematic site of the divided memory of Fascism in Italian history and culture.