Rome's 20th-Century Monumental Side

The EUR (Esposizione Universale di Roma, or World's Fair of Rome) is one of the city's most distinctive and photogenic districts: an entire area designed in the 1930s in the Rationalist style, made of white, geometric, monumental buildings, wide avenues, and orderly open spaces. It was meant to host the 1942 World's Fair, which the war prevented from ever taking place, but it grew into a modern district and a symbol of 20th-century architecture.

Far from ancient and Baroque Rome, the EUR reveals a different and surprising face of the city: monumental, "metaphysical," and beloved by photographers, architects, and filmmakers.

What Makes the EUR Special

  • The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (Palace of Italian Civilization), the famous "Colosseo Quadrato" (Square Colosseum).
  • The artificial lake, with its park and walkways.
  • The Basilica dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, on the hill.
  • The Palazzo dei Congressi and the Marconi Obelisk.
  • The Nuvola (the Cloud) by Fuksas, a piece of contemporary architecture.

For more, see our guide to what to see at the EUR.

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The Colosseo Quadrato

The EUR's signature building is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (Palace of Italian Civilization), nicknamed the "Colosseo Quadrato" (Square Colosseum): an imposing white travertine block lined with arches on every side, its repeating arcades inspired by the Colosseum. Today it serves as the headquarters of the Fendi maison and stands as one of the most iconic images of modern Rome. We devote a separate guide to it: the Colosseo Quadrato.

Rationalist Architecture

The EUR is a rare example of a Rationalist district planned as a single, unified whole: geometric buildings, symmetries, noble materials (travertine, marble), and a monumental scale that mirrors the era in which it was conceived. For lovers of architecture and urban planning, it's an unmissable stop. We cover it in the guide the EUR's Rationalist architecture.

How Much Time You Need

A walk taking in the main sights calls for just 1.5–2 hours. The EUR is also a green, relaxing district, with the lake and the parks, perfect for a break from the crowded center. It's also a handy stop along the route toward Ostia or the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rome's EUR? It's a district of Rome designed in the 1930s in the Rationalist style for the 1942 World's Fair (which never took place). It's famous for its white, monumental buildings, including the Colosseo Quadrato.

What does EUR stand for? Esposizione Universale di Roma, the 1942 World's Fair for which the district was designed. The name stuck and now refers to the whole area.

What is there to see at the EUR? The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (Colosseo Quadrato), the lake, the Basilica dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, the Palazzo dei Congressi, the Marconi Obelisk, and Fuksas's Nuvola.

Is the EUR far from the center? It's south of the historic center, well connected by metro (Line B). It's an "alternative" stop, ideal for fans of 20th-century architecture or anyone heading toward Ostia or the airport.

How much time do you need? About 1.5–2 hours for a walk taking in the main sights and the lake.

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Article #417 · Category: Districts · Updated: May 2026