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All Italy Rome Mussolini's Balcony

Mussolini's Balcony

The spot where the fascist dictator made some of his most famous speeches including declaring war on Britain and France.

Rome, Italy

Added By
Alan Newman
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The balcony.   Roberto Faccenda/cc by-sa 3.0
The balcony.   Roberto Faccenda/cc by-sa 3.0
The balcony.   Vladislav Gajic / Alamy
Mussolini declares war on Britain and France in 1940   public domain
Crowd in the Piazza, 1940.   public domain
The balcony.   Puerto Scerrato/cc by 3.0
The Palazzo Venezia   Terry Ott/cc by 2.0
Palazzo Venezia with the balcony in the center.   Peter1936F/cc by-sa 4.0
Allied troops on the balcony after entering Rome in 1944.   public domain
  esj74 / Atlas Obscura User
  esj74 / Atlas Obscura User
Hasn’t been opened I quite a while   shaunsnote / Atlas Obscura User
Hasn’t been opened I quite a while   shaunsnote / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
The balcony on the Palazzo Venezia.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
School group discussing Mussolini   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Benito Mussolini, known for being a powerful orator, loved to address his crowds of followers. He did so many times from the balcony above the Piazza Venezia, a public square in Rome where throngs of Italians would gather to hear Il Duce speak.

It is from this very balcony that the fascist dictator delivered some of his most famous speeches that would determine the course of history, including the declaration of the Italian Empire in 1936, and a declaration of war on France and Britain in 1940.

The Piazza is named for the ornate palace, Palazzo Venezia, that dominates one side of the square. Mussolini's office was located in the Sala del Mappamondo in the palace throughout the 1930s, and the balcony off the room overlooked the square just below.

After World War II, the Italians were a little sensitive about this fascist chapter of their history and sealed off the balcony. The historic landmark sat abandoned behind closed curtains for decades. In more recent times the sensitivities have faded, and now the palace is a national museum home to a wonderful collection of medieval art. The balcony is once again open, as is Mussolini's office in the palace.

Related Tags

World War Ii War History Dictators Palaces History Fascism Military
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  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • rbenn250
  • katielou106
  • shaunsnote
  • esj74

Published

July 6, 2018

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Mussolini's Balcony
Via del Plebiscito
Rome
Italy
41.8963, 12.480838
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