Piazza Augusto Imperatore

I.N.P.S. Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale
formerly Istituto Nazionale Fascista Previdenza


As part of Mussolini's creation of the new Piazza Augusto Imperatore, entirely new office buildngs were constructed on the north and east sides of the piazza (1937-1940). These were largely designed by the architect of the 1938 Ara Pacis Pavilion, Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo. Like the pavilion, the main office building, A, seen in the photos below, was on axis with the center of the mausoleum.

The sculptural frieze above the central entrance was designed by Alfredo Biagini, representing the noble labors and heroic lives of the great Italian people. Its theme and style are consistent with official Fascist art of the time. At the center of the frieze is an Italian inscription which seems to be a quote from a speech Mussolini gave in Milan, April 2, 1923. The inscription reads:

                                      IL POPOLO ITALIANO E' IL POPOLO IMMORTALE
                                      CHE TROVA SEMPRE VNA PRIMAVERA
                                      PER LE SVE SPERANZE PER LA SVA PASSIONE
                                      PER LA SVA GRANDEZZA.

In translation (Walter Englert, Reed College)::

                                     The Italian people are an immortal people
                                     which always finds a Spring
                                     for its hopes, for its passion,
                                     for its greatness.

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