Abstract Hkan Hkerberg The Swedish Institute in Rome hkb@isvroma.org Rethinking a difficult past.

The representation of Fascist architecture as Italian urban heritage. How can we today come to terms with monuments and buildings erected to manifest the ideological messages of dictatorial regimes in 20th century Europe, memories of a past that many people want to forget? Such memories have strong symbolic and emotional connotations and may also cause conflicts. This paper focuses on Italy, on Rome in particular, where Fascist symbols and inscriptions are still intact on many monuments and building faades. Of particular significance is the fact that frequently the existence of this controversial legacy and its implications are avoided or ignored in Italys heritage discourse. The ideas of the Fascist past are still very polarising and the ideology is still present in contemporary Italy. Some case studies from Rome and its surroundings will illustrate the integration of Fascist architecture with todays Italian society and urban landscape, as well as the related complications. Even if the emphasis is on Italian circumstances, controversial heritage is universally relevant. The phenomenon appears wherever people show contempt or indifference to physical objects representing totalitarian propaganda and ideals, which are considered as irreconcilable with a democratic society. The principle aim of the study is to show how the creation of national self-images is made in a process where the historic past is used more or less consciously, and particularly to demonstrate how the production of heritage is a part of this process. The intention is to establish the important contribution of controversial heritage to historical continuity and complexity, and its implications for the present-day society. Besides the analysis of the use of history, and the heritage process, the concept of rhetorical architecture is essential for the study. The concept claims that specific architecture can be associated with dictatorships. This hypothesis is examined and related to the historical and political contexts.