Stadio dei Marmi

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Partial view of the stadium with monumental statues

The Stadio dei Marmi (marble stadium) is a sports stadium on the Foro Italico (formerly Foro Mussolini), part of a monumental sports complex consisting of the Olympic Stadium Rome , Palazzo delle Terme, Piazzale del Impero , Casa delle Arme, tennis courts, the Mussolini Obelisk , the Sphere Fountain and other structures and facilities.

history

As part of the deliberations on the new city expansion plan, the sports complex was already being considered in the so-called variant generale (1925–26), a variant plan for the city expansion plan of 1909 mainly edited by Marcello Piacentini . Enrico Del Debbio was responsible for the overall planning of the site and most of the first sports facilities , including the stadium built between 1928 and 1932.

The Stadio dei Marmi, which can hold up to 20,000 visitors, was used as part of an academy for sports, which it used for the athletic training of its students. Later it was initially used by the paramilitary, physical training-oriented youth organization of the fascist regime, the Opera Nazionale Balilla . Today it is operated by the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano , which was founded on July 10, 1914 as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) .

The oval-shaped stadium is built from eight steps made of marble . Today the top is lined with 59 monumental marble statues contributed by various Italian cities; originally there were 60. Athletes are portrayed in a classic style, with each athlete representing a province of Italy. The marble statues made of Carrara marble stand on pedestals and are around 5.5 meters high.

On November 4, 1932, after the tenth anniversary of the March on Rome celebrations, Benito Mussolini inaugurated the first group of buildings: the Palazzo dell'Accademia Fascista, the Mussolini Obelisk and the Stadio dei Marmi. With this stadium, the Italian fascists tried to tie in with Roman ancient architecture, which created stadiums with crowning marble statues. The shape and expression of the marble statues of the Stadio dei Marmi symbolize the image of athletic gentlemen .

The opening ceremony of the 2009 World Swimming Championships took place in the Stadio dei Marmi .

Individual evidence

  1. cf. Rossi, Pietro Ostilio: Roma. Guida all'architettura moderna, 1909–2011. Bari / Rome 2012, p. 44

literature

Web links

Commons : Stadio dei Marmi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 41 ° 56 '1.3 "  N , 12 ° 27' 28.3"  E