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Obelisco del Foro Italico
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Obelisco del Foro Italico

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Obelisco del Foro Italico
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Della Vittoria
Best nearby
Restaurants
4,350 within 5 kms
Greco Romano
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Attractions
2,039 within 10 kms
Stadio Del Nuoto - Polo Natatorio Foro Italico
23
0.1 kmSports Complexes • Arenas & Stadiums
Stadio dei marmi
89
0.2 kmArenas & Stadiums
Stadio Olimpico
1,534
0.3 kmSports Complexes
Parco fluviale Capoprati
1
0.4 kmParks
St. Peter's Basilica
41,537
3.3 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
MAXXI - Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo
1,138
0.7 kmSpeciality Museums
Palazzo della Farnesina
2
0.5 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Stadio Centrale del Tennis
4
0.5 kmArenas & Stadiums
Ponte Milvio
229
0.8 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Pantheon
79,820
3.9 kmAncient Ruins • Architectural Buildings
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
274 reviews
Excellent
137
Very good
88
Average
30
Poor
7
Terrible
12
midway42
Georgia3,089 contributions
Il Duce: we must recognize in order to forget.
Mar 2023 • Solo
Located on Foro Italico just south of Rome’s Olympic stadium, this one is a blast from the past. Commissioned in 1927 by a group of industrialists on behalf of the people of Carrarra, the monument was designed by Costantino Costantini and inaugurated on November 4, 1932. The mere fact the obelisk was brought here was a small miracle, as transportation of such a large piece of marble to Rome had not been undertaken in centuries. It is over 36m high from the bottom of the base to the top.

I visited the monument and surrounding area as part of a “Tour of Fascism” which incorporated the EUR district, Piazza Venezia, and other areas of the Foro Italico. The obelisk is one of the few remaining monuments left in Rome that mentions Benito Mussolini; aside from his name on the marker itself there are references to him in the mosaics leading into the Foro Italico. (As an opponent of “cancel culture” and a fan of “rational dialogue” I had no problem with this.).

Yes, it’s an important part of the modern history of Italy. However, it's also “just an obelisk” and as a stand-alone attraction is average. Benito's homage to the Ancient Romans (one of many!) is much better viewed as a remnant of a bygone era in the context of a larger work of fascist buildings left standing.

Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tuscan Tennis Holidays
Glasgow, UK318 contributions
Striking!
Dec 2019
One of many amazing statues in Rome, this one situated at the edge of the Olympic Park and the site of the Rome masters Tennis Tournament each May!
Written 13 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
serhanozel
Alanya, Türkiye1,103 contributions
exelente
Jun 2019
this monument is great. giving you some feelings happen never brfore. please read the aim and history of it's
Written 27 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChiefGuru
Decatur, IN3,414 contributions
Mussolini Obelisk at the Center of Foro Italico
Jun 2019
Touring Rome, I was intrigued that the Mussolini Obelisk (aka Il Monolito or The Monolith), is the only remaining public commemoration of Benito Mussolini, as all other Mussolini memorabilia were removed after World War II. The obelisk is made of Carrara-Marble. The upper portion is ~57 feet tall, weighing an estimated 330 tons, with a golden point at its top. The lower part of the monument is sixteen separate blocks. Altogether this monument is ~120 feet tall and weighs ~850 tons. The Obelisk is located in front of Foro Italico, which was previously Foro Mussolini (a place for sports and physical training for young fascists) during the Fascist Period. The monument was erected in 1932. The obelisk is surrounded by the idealized masculinity of athlete-statues. These statues are the Fascist ideal, resembling the Uomo Nuovo (The New Man concept of Fascism) and they are “looking up” to the obelisk. On the front of the obelisk is an inscription in large font stating: ‘MUSSOLINI DUX,' translates as ‘Mussolini the leader.' A ‘secret’ Mussolini message lies underneath obelisk. The message was locked away in a tiny metal box with a couple of gold coins. Researchers were able to find a manner to access the box without having to destroy the monument. They accessed the message some 70+ years after Mussolini's death in 1945. The parchment note is a 1,200-word essay in Latin that extols Mussolini’s 21-year-long rule. Latin had a special significance for fascists. It was the language of the Roman Empire that they hoped to regenerate. But it was also an eternal language, rather appropriate to send messages to the future, which is what Mussolini was doing with this note. I found this monument an interesting part of the history of Rome and Italy.
Written 21 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DSW77
Boldon, UK93 contributions
Here for the tennis
May 2019 • Solo
the highlight of my visit to the so called eternal city - the foro italico and the Italian Open tennis tournament. The place is redolent with atmosphere, history and a frisson of creepiness brought about by the fascist nature of the forum. Statuary idolising the 'strength' of Italian militarism abounds, marble is everywhere (lethally slippery in a thunderstorm) but it all kind of works in a totally cool and sophisticated Italian way
Written 31 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nellielim
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia4,110 contributions
Foro Mussolini
Oct 2018 • Family
This is the only modern obelisk and stands in front of Foro Italico, the sports stadium. Erected by Mussolini, it was originally known as the Foro Mussolini.
Written 26 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PrestonGuild
United Kingdom55,191 contributions
Mussolini's obelisk
Aug 2017 • Friends
In a city with ancient obelisks, this is a modern one located in front of a sports stadium.

The Obelisco del Foro Italico is an ode to fascism, a tribute to Mussolini.
Written 4 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
frodoireland_11
Dublin, Ireland187 contributions
Italian Open Tennis 2018
May 2018 • Solo
Really good tennis tournament. Rome is such a lovely city. The food prices were also very reasonable too in the tournament. The area is also kept very well maintained and beautiful scenery.
Written 19 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuela L
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg7,086 contributions
Obelisco del Foro Italico / Rome
Dec 2016 • Family
On Piazza Lauro de Bosis/Viale del Foro Italico is located this large sports complex ; The Stadio Olympico on the left was used for the Olympic Games in 1960; the smaller is called the stadio of marbles and is ringed by sixty great male statues in white marble,
groins modestly hidden by fig leafs and in elegant sport or macho poses. The center piece is the Ponte Duca d'Aosta, he connect Foro Italico to the city side of the river and is headed by an obelisk in white marble with an inscripton "Mussolini Dux", in 1930 s calligraphy; the obelisk is capped with a gold pyramid with this engraved name who planed it surely.
Written 21 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia44,432 contributions
An Obelisk
May 2017 • Couples
Obelisco del Foro Italico is an obelisk, erected in front of the sports complex, Foro Italico. This review page is about the obelisk, not about tennis, as many reviews have done! The huge, marble monolithic stone was erected there in 1932, during the fascist dictatorship of Mussolini, and it originally was named after him, as you can quite clearly see the engraving of his name on the stone! It's worth visiting and studying this site and also reflecting on the history behind it.
Written 11 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Obelisco del Foro Italico (Rome) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Obelisco del Foro Italico
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