Balbo Column - Chicago, IL
Posted by: 
cldisme
N 41° 51.690 W 087° 36.819
16T E 449068 N 4634580
Removed from the ruins of a Roman temple in Ostia, the column commemorates General Italo Balbo's trans-Atlantic flight to Chicago in 1933 as part of the Century of Progress World's Fair.
Waymark Code: WM3BP9
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2008
Views: 48
This gift from the Italian government erected in front of the Italian pavillion for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. It was removed from the ruins of a Roman temple in Ostia for this purpose. It honors General Italo Balbo's trans-Atlantic flight which was a propaganda stunt by Mussolini's facist government.
The base of the column is inscribed in both Italian and English:
QUESTA COLONNA
DI VENTI SECOLI ANTICA
ERETTA SUL LIDO DI OSTIA
PORTO DI ROMA IMPERIALE
A VIGILARE LE FORTUNE E LE VITTORIE
DELLE TIREMI ROMANE
L'ITALIA FASCISTA SUSPICE BENITO MUSSOLINI
DONA A CHICAGO
ESALTAZIONE SIMBOLO RICORDO
DELLA SQUADRA ATLANTICA GUIDATA DA BALBO
CHE CON ROMANO ARDIMENTO TRASVOLO L'OCEANO
NELL' ANNO XI
DEL LITTORIO
THIS COLUMN
TWENTY CENTURIES OLD
ERECTED ON THE SHORES OF OSTIA
PORT OF IMPERIAL ROME
TO SAFEGUARD THE FORTUNES AND VICTORIES
OF THE ROMAN TRIREMES
FASCIST ITALY BY COMMAND OF BENITO MUSSOLINI
PRESENTS TO CHICAGO
EXALTATION SYMBOL MEMORIAL
OF THE ATLANTIC SQUADRON LED BY BALBO
THAT WITH ROMAN DARING FLEW ACROSS THE OCEAN
IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR
OF THE FASCIST ERA
Today, Balbo's Column is the only structure constructed for the 1933 World's Fair still remaining in its original location.
Type: Remnant
Fee: Free; located in public park
Related URL: [Web Link]
Hours: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Original photographs showing additional views of the Ruin/Remnant or even just its current condition are encouraged. Please describe your visit, especially if no additional photos are available. Did you like the Ruin or Remnant? What prompted you to see the Ruin or Remnant?