A Holocaust museum will be established in Rome in the former residence of Mussolini

Rome - A new Holocaust museum will be established in Rome, which will, among other things, commemorate the deportation of members of one of the oldest Jewish communities outside the Middle East. The museum is set to be located within the grounds of Villa Torlonia, which also served as the Roman residence of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The Holocaust museum has been discussed in Rome for several decades, but this week the government approved the budget for its construction, reported the newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The cabinet of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has allocated ten million euros (approximately 240 million crowns) for the museum's establishment. This was welcomed by Ruth Dureghello, the chairwoman of the Roman Jewish community. "It is necessary to ensure a clear schedule and make decisions that will lead to the establishment of a museum similar to those in other European capitals in the near future,” she stated.

The Roman City Hall had previously decided that the new museum would be located on the grounds of Villa Torlonia. From 1925 to 1943, Italian dictator Mussolini had his private residence in one of the main buildings of the complex. According to architect Paolo Levi, who is the author of the new museum building project, construction work could begin as early as spring, reported the ANSA agency.

Rome had one of the oldest Jewish communities outside the Middle East. Jews lived in the area of the former ghetto, which was invaded in October 1943 by the occupying forces of Nazi Germany in collaboration with local fascist collaborators. They deported over 1,000 Roman Jews to extermination camps. Only 16 survived the war. The Nazis were significantly aided in detaining members of the Jewish community by census results previously conducted by the Italian authorities within the Jewish community. Pope Pius XII faced criticism after the war for not publicly opposing the deportations immediately.