Alessandro Sebastiani

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my new book, Roma Antica e l’Ideologia Nazionale Italiana. Trasformazioni di una città dal Risorgimento al fascismo, published by Carocci Editore. This volume delves into the ideological manipulation of Rome’s ancient monuments as part of constructing an Italian national identity from the unification of Italy through the end of World War II.

By exploring the strategic reinterpretation of iconic monuments like the Ara Pacis, the Colosseum, the (never-built) Danteum, the Mausoleum of Augustus, and the Imperial Fora, the book reveals how these spaces were embedded with new meanings to support political narratives. It also examines Fascist-era constructions like the EUR district, the Sapienza University campus, Foro Italico, and Via della Conciliazione, which redefined Rome’s ancient legacy within modern contexts.

I hope this work will be a valuable resource for understanding how monuments have been repurposed to serve ideological ends and invite readers to reflect on the enduring relationship between heritage and identity.