E.U.R. District in Rome

[pupkus7]

Hey All! Been a while since we visit these boards...

Anyways, we were just wondering if anyone here has visited the E.U.R. (Esposizione Universale Rome) area in Rome and if it's worth a visit. We thought that this time around it might be right to get a glimpse of the fascist optimism that was alive in Italy during the Mussolini Era, especially since we'll be ending our trip in Germany.

What were your experiences during your visit? Was it safe ... we've heard that the neighborhood is full of gangs and crime? How long... is it an all day thing or just a few hours? What specific sites do you recommend?

Thanks.

Kindest Regards,
Kristian & Juli

[madamtrashheap]

pupkus7, nice to "see" you on the Boards again!

If it's Fascist architecture (albeit unfinished) you're looking for then by all means head out to the EUR area, but I wouldn't bother booking a hotel there - better to be in the city. It's an interesting area of Rome, full of parks, "modern" buildings (some completed, some still shells), sporting complexes, suburban scenes and even a monastery. I find it an odd part of Rome in that it certainly doesn't look like the Rome that is shown in travel brochures and on postcards, and it has a funny feel to it - mondernist/sparse: hard to explain but when you go you'll know what I mean. The building that sticks in my mind is the Palazzo della Civiltà di Lavoro (Palace of the Civilisation of Work...hard to translate, good to look at though!) which was one of Mussolini's buildings and intended to be a monument to the Italian race. It's not able to be accessed now and is empty. During Summer the parks are very popular and there are often fairs and exhibitions that run until midnight in the Summer months. There are also museums like the Roman Civilisation Museum that might interest you.

As for gangs and crime, well yeah, a bit, but more at night and not on a large scale in relation to other cities. And I wouldn't call them "gangs" so much as gypsie camps. And even then there aren't too many (well, last year they had mostly been moved on towards the GRA). Even though this area is more "suburban" than the centre of town, there are always security points to be aware of when travelling, so if you go out to E.U.R. I'd make it part of a day excursion.