Italian Government Allocates €10 Million for Rome's Holocaust Museum

After a 20-year delay, the Italian government has approved a law allocating €10 million over 2023-2025 to build the Museo della Shoah in Rome. Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano announced the measure, which was ratified by the Council of Ministers. The museum will be located in Villa Torlonia, near Benito Mussolini's former residence, designed by architects Luca Zevi and Giorgio Tamburini as a black box of bricks named after deported Roman and Italian Jews. The project has faced numerous bureaucratic hurdles since its inception in 1997, with construction finally beginning in September 2021. The Senate and Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the museum's establishment in July and October 2023, making it state law. Ruth Dureghello, president of the Jewish Community of Rome, expressed gratitude but urged swift action from the city administration. The museum will feature 2,500 square meters of permanent exhibition space, including a model of Auschwitz, a conference hall, bookshop, and café.