There is a widespread misconception that after Bernini and Borromini little of significance was built in Rome.
A tour around the fascinating buildings of some of the new zones constructed in the 20th century will soon dispel this prejudice.
In 1942, an entire new quarter was built to host the Universal Exposition, which was supposed to take place in Rome but never did owing to the outbreak of war. The Esposizione Universale di Roma was soon abbreviated to EUR, an acronym which has now become a proper name. EUR lies to the south of the city, towards the sea, in an area that had been open countryside until only a few years before. The building project was entrusted to the top architects of the day, who sought to blend the principles of ancient classical architecture with European rationalism. One fine example of this composite style is the Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, familiarly known as the "square colosseum." The defining features of this original zone are the broad avenues and wide-open squares, whose spacious grandeur is, perhaps, even a little excessive.
The Fascist era also saw the building of another major example of this type of architecture, the Foro Italico. Formerly named after Mussolini, the Foro Italico is a large sports complex that encloses several facilities, including an indoor swimming pool decorated with mosaic work. It also contains the Stadio dei Marmi, a stadium encircled by sixty marble statues of athletes donated by towns and cities around the country. A sphere measuring three meters in diameter rests in the forecourt.
The Dora zone, completed in 1926, offers a unique example of Roman architectural eclecticism from the early years of the 20th century. A large, decorated arch leads rather unexpectedly into a remarkable area designed by Gino Coppedè, whose surname provides the popular name for the zone. Every building has its own special ornamentation, though Art Nouveau and mock-medieval motives stand out in the rich mix of styles.
Near Termini Station, half hidden from view, is another peculiar building. Built at the end of the 19th century, the former Acquario Romano (Roman Aquarium) served its original purpose as a fish-farming center for only a few years before being converted into a venue for cultural events. Here, as in many other modern buildings, there is a fusion of contemporary and ancient architectural elements. The contours of the building recall the classical lines of a nymphaeum and an amphitheater, though the materials used are strictly modern: iron, cast-iron, and glass (used to great effect in the large skylight).
