For those of us who dwell in London, finding a new home is a success if you can 1) stretch your arms and not touch each wall and 2) there are no visible rat droppings. Once I viewed a flat that had no lights. The landlord showed me round with a torch. If you’re Fendi, however, you have none of these difficulties – you can select whatever building you want from across the fine city of Rome. So why not choose a palace? The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, to be exact, or the “Square Coliseum” as it is called by locals in the know – commissioned in 1943 and renovated by Fendi over the last 18 months. And where our idea of a housewarming might be a glass of Lambrini and a bowl of Twiglets, Fendi celebrated with a number a cultural happenings, including an exhibition entitled Una Nuova Roma. L’Eur e il Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, that explores the “ongoing transformation of the Eur area and of Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana,” as well as other Roman landmarks like the Trevi Fountain. “We are proud to give back today to our city, Rome, and to the whole world, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, symbol of our Roman roots and of a continuous dialogue between traditions and modernity,” said Pietro Beccari, Chairman and CEO of Fendi. This exhibition sits alongside a permanent light show by Mario Nanni (“the artist of light”) – as Fendi explain, “a white light will lit up the columns of the arcades with increasing shades and intensities, creating an incredible perspective effect of light, symbolizing the Palazzo’s rebirth.” Fancy. Maybe it’s time for a Roman Holiday…
Una Nuova Roma. L’Eur e il Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana runs until March 7th 2016
