Predappio

Predappio (/preɪˈdɑːpioʊ/ pray-DAH-pee-oh, Italian: [preˈdappjo]; Romagnol: La Pré or Dviais) is a town and comune in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in the region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, with a population of 6,135 as of 1 January 2021. The town is best known for being the birthplace of Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Mussolini is buried at Predappio, and his mausoleum is a local tourist destination, as well as a site of pilgrimage for Italian fascists.

Predappio
La Pré / Dviais (Romagnol)
Comune
Comune di Predappio
The Church of Sant'Antonio as seen from the main street in Predappio
The Church of Sant'Antonio as seen from the main street in Predappio
Coat of arms of Predappio
Coat of arms
Location of Predappio
Predappio is located in Italy
Predappio
Predappio
Location of Predappio in Italy
Predappio is located in Emilia-Romagna
Predappio
Predappio
Predappio (Emilia-Romagna)
Coordinates: 44°06′N 11°59′E
CountryItaly
RegionEmilia-Romagna
ProvinceForlì-Cesena (FC)
FrazioniFiumana, Predappio Alta, Rocca delle Caminate, Tontola, Colmano, Fiordinano, Marsignano, Monte Colombo, Monte Mirabello, Montemaggiore, Porcentico, Riggiano, San Cassiano in Pennino, San Cristoforo, San Savino, Sant'Agostino, Santa Lucia, Santa Marina, Trivella
Government
 • MayorRoberto Canali
Area
[1]
 • Total91.39 km2 (35.29 sq mi)
Elevation
133 m (436 ft)
Population
 (1-1-2021)[2]
 • Total6,135
 • Density67/km2 (170/sq mi)
DemonymPredappiese(i)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
47016
Dialing code+39 0543
Patron saintAnthony of Padua
Saint day13 June
WebsiteOfficial website

History

From its origins (possibly Roman) until the 1920s, Predappio was a rural town of modest size, situated on the hills of Forlì. Augustus divided Italy into eleven provinces and Predappio was within the sixth province. It is believed that the town name derives from the installation in those locations of an ancient Roman family: the Appi. The town was accordingly named Praesidium Domini Appi, abbreviated to Pre.DiAppi.

Historically, the town developed around the medieval castle, looking down the valley. Along the valley, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Predappio, the town was known as Dovia (probably a corruption of the local Roman road Duo Via, Two-Way).[3]

Benito Mussolini was born in Predappio in 1883. After a landslide hit the town in the winter of 1923/24 and left many people homeless, the government decided to build a bigger, more prestigious township to celebrate the birthplace of Mussolini, following the architectural dictates of the emerging Fascist Italy. Along with the nearby town of Forlì, Predappio was given the title of La Città del Duce ("The City of the Leader"), after the title taken by Mussolini as Italian dictator.

Predappio has become a site of pilgrimage for Italian and other neo-fascists,[4][5] with this development drawing criticism and protests from anti-fascists.[6]

In April 2009, the town council banned the sale of fascist souvenirs.[7] In 2014, Mayor Giorgio Frassineti announced plans to build in the town "a museum dedicated to the history of fascism".[8] The mayor, who was standing for re-election as a member of the centre-left Democratic Party, stated that the aim of the council's decision was to have people remember a "fundamental piece of [Italian] history" so that "Predappio would become a place for reflection – cutting the town from the hands of those who want to misuse it."[8] As of early 2016, the museum's construction was still pending, but sale of fascist souvenirs was again permitted in the town.[9]

In 2019, Brothers of Italy-backed Roberto Canali was elected as mayor of Predappio, ending the more than 70 years of left-wing rule in Predappio.[10] On 24 July 2019, Canali announced plans to open Mussolini's crypt to the public all year round. Canali said that he wanted to promote the tomb as a tourist attraction to boost the local economy.[11][12]

Sister cities

Notable people

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. "Predappio: a Small Village that Changed Italy Forever" by Gabriele Monti, Emilia Delizia, 22 April 2015
  4. "Neo-Fascists In Italy Gather For 90th Anniversary Of March On Rome" by Marco Pasqua, Huffington Post, 27 October 2012
  5. "Inside the Mussolini Museum" by Barbie Latza Nadeau, The Daily Beast, 26 April 2015
  6. An open letter to the Mayor of Predappio Archived 2016-03-25 at the Wayback Machine by Alfio Bernabei, Searchlight, 14 December 2011
  7. "Mussolini's hometown finally bans fascist souvenirs" by Nick Squires, The Daily Telegraph, 17 April 2009
  8. "History of fascism museum to open in Mussolini’s town" by Nick Clark, The Independent, 25 April 2014
  9. "Mussolini's Italian hometown plans fascism museum" by Pietro Lombardi, CNN, 17 February 2016
  10. Giuffrida, Angela (27 July 2019). "Mussolini's birthplace cashes in on the surge of far-right tourism". The Guardian.
  11. Kington, Tom (24 July 2019). "Benito Mussolini's tomb opens all year to meet demand". The Times.
  12. McKenna, Josephine (24 July 2019). "Right-wing mayor of Mussolini's birthplace pushes to open dictator's crypt to public all year round". The Telegraph.
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