IL DUCE BAGS - PART 2Predappio is a Fascist Paradise
PHOTOS BY LELE SAVERI TEXT BY VICE ITALY STAFF
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This is Mussolini’s tomb. The small marble box on the left holds the Duce’s brain. The Allied forces took his brain to the U.S.A. to analyse it for possible signs of malformation. It was handed back to the Mussolini family years later, along with a certificate that stated “Mussolini Benito’s above-average mental capacities.” No joke.
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We managed to talk the keeper to let us in Villa Carpena, the Mussolini family’s private retreat. The garden looked like a typical, normal garden in a normal, modestly-sized country house owned by a typical, normal family. It was all so tranquil and weekend-y that in the morning sun even the axe-bundles used as tablelegs and the busts of the Duce didn’t bother us. Then we realised what was going down and thought: “These people are totally mad.” |
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Every year, the Mussolini family organises a get-together for the best fascists in Italy. About 50 people gather for Mussolini’s birthday and eat and drink in his honour. They also watch movies of his speeches on this TV. |
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This is the entrance hall, inside Mussolini’s house. We managed to convince the keeper to let us in, once we promised we would not take pictures. The guy was deaf in his left ear, so, as long as we didn’t step to his right, he couldn’t hear the shutter of the camera. The two golden figures here are Mussolini’s parents. In the middle is the original “fascio” which inspired all the fascist symbols and iconography. |
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This is Benito’s bedroom, which he shared with his wife Rachele. The uniform laying on his bed was bought by his son only two years ago, during an auction in the United States. Ever since the uniform was returned to its home, the mirror in front of the bed has started showing a faint outline of Mussolini’s profile. We saw it with our own eyes. It was verrrrrry creepy. |
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At the end of our stay most Predappians were sure we were 100 per cent original fascists. They all started saluting us. This guy lives 30 miles from Predappio and is an alcoholic. Every day he rides his bike from his parents’ house, where he lives, to come and pray at Mussolini’s tomb. He took a shine to us and he followed us to the town border, then he stopped and gave us a teary Roman salute. OK Angelo, see you soon. Let’s get the fuck out of here!!!! |
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 Anonymous, on Aug 2, 2009 wrote:
Wow, some of the comments here are pretty awful, that goes for the anti-fascists name calling as well. Quite interesting, I always wondered what his tomb would look like, would be cool to go there and steal his tomb busts :) | | Anonymous, on Apr 13, 2009 wrote:
ME NE FREGO!
Theres 2 people in the world people who r Italian and those who wish they were. DUCE! DUCE! DUCE! | | Anonymous, on Nov 17, 2008 wrote:
The right wing always lurks beneath the surface of every country, always to pop out and blame black/jew/gypsy/pole etc etc etc whenever we need a nationalist lift.
It’s just human nature, we flock to stand behind the school boy bully and point at the ’strange’ kid | | Anonymous, on Aug 26, 2008 wrote:
"Mussolini really wasn’t that bad, even in Milan you can find people in the street selling portraits of the "Duce". He is still somewhat respected by Italy’s elderly."
WHAT ?
Respected by whom ? By the elders who survived concentration camps ? By those who were deported just out of their race, political choices or religion ?
The bald guy brought Italy into WWII with his alliance with the Nazis, and since the killing of Matteotti (1924) Italy was far from being a democratic country, having - as written in history books - become a dictatorship.
The problem is not the real nostalgic or the market around M’s memorabilia.
The real problem are all the people who declare themselves fascist in 2008, those who pay a nostalgic visit every year and think it’s too bad he’s gone.
Part of them evolved into Ministers allied of Berlusconi, you know ?
M. | | |
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