The Shoah Museum is a proposed museum in Rome, Italy. Upon completion, it would be the first Holocaust museum in Italy.

History

The museum was first proposed as Italy's first museum about the Holocaust in 2005. In 2012, the Rome City Council approved the final plans for the museum. However, expected funding from the city was blocked due to austerity spending directives. The city of Rome planned to pay for the museum's $30 million construction cost.[1]

As of 2013, Italian Holocaust scholar Marcello Pezzetti was slated to serve as the museum's inaugural director. Pezzetti headed the committee overseeing the museum's exhibition and research facilities. Pezzetti told the Jewish Telegraph Agency in 2013 that he wanted the museum to " “insert the Holocaust in the Italian context into the Holocaust in the European context."[1]

After years of delays due to bureaucratic and financial issues. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano allocated 10 million euros ($10.5 million) to the museum project in March 2023.[2] On 16 October, the 80th anniversary of a roundup of more than 1,200 Roman Jews by the Nazis in 1943, lawmakers in Italy's Chamber of Deputies began debate on the funding, which would support the museum's exhibits.[3] On 18 October, the Chamber approved the funding.[4]

Site

The Shoah Museum will be built on the grounds of Villa Torlonia, a 19th-century mansion that served as the Rome residence of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini between 1925 and 1943. There are also Jewish catacombs at the site.[1]

Luca Zevi is the museum's architect.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gruber, Ruth Ellen (2013-01-27). "Bureaucracy stalls construction of Italy's first Holocaust museum". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Rome to have a Holocaust Museum". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Barry, Colleen (2023-10-16). "Italian lawmakers debate long-delayed Holocaust Museum revived by far-right-led government". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Li Bartov, Shira (2023-10-18). "Italy votes to build first Holocaust museum in Rome on 80th anniversary of Nazi raid". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 18 October 2023.

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