La città militare di Roma a La Cecchignola. Una vicenda inedita degli anni Trenta del XX secolo. La relazione è stata consegnata alla Redazione degli atti del Congresso (XI AISU Congress, nella sessione 3.13 War Cities: dalle enclaves militari agli Smart Military Districts, Ferrara il 13-16 settembre 2023) ed è attualmente in corso di stampa.

There exists a theme within the context of contemporary Rome's urban evolution that has largely remained on the periphery of historical discourse: the motivations and repercussions stemming from the territorial planning of the 1930s, during the 20th century, aimed at establishing an industrial and military urban center within the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. This locale was subsequently referred to as the "Città militare della Cecchignola" - the Military City of Cecchignola. A collection of primary documents, personally penned by the Command of the Army Corps of Rome - specifically the VIII Corps, alongside its associated project and operational departments - as well as the Inspectorate of the Army Engineering Corps, operating under the General Directorate of Engineering - Project Office, an entity which, during that period, held the mantle of high technical oversight for the Minister of War, paints a narrative. This narrative narrates that Cecchignola, recognized as the site where the settlement for the labor force, engaged between 1940 and 1943 in the ultimately unfinished E42 complex, was established, emerged as an innovative exemplar of contemporary military architecture. It functioned as the domicile for barracks, laboratories, workshops, training grounds, lodgings, services, and a host of other amenities serving the Royal Army. This contribution stands as an excerpt drawn from the broader chronicle detailing the design and erection of Rome's military precinct within Cecchignola, during the span of 1937 to 1943. It sheds light on the motivations that prompted the recognition, ahead of similar efforts across Europe, of the necessity to dedicate a suburban tract of the city to industrial expansion and military infrastructure, all in defense of Rome, and by extension, Italy. This endeavor was carefully synchronized with a suite of civil and military undertakings that collectively restructured the area into what was then perceived as a "modern" urban expanse. Nonetheless, within Piacentini's master plan of 1931, this narrative finds no trace whatsoever. It appears that the plans emanating from civilian sources and those arising from the military sphere were intentionally kept distinct, or perhaps they simply progressed along parallel trajectories, ignorant of each other's existence, even at that juncture. In order to comprehend its significance within the broader context of contemporary Rome, it becomes imperative to consider the Cecchignola initiative not only as consistent but also as a complementary dimension to the contemporaneous strategy of establishing satellite settlements encircling the capital. Additionally, its adherence to construction regulations tailored for safeguarding against airborne threats further underscores its dual industrial and military role. In closing, within Mussolini's ambitious vision for the Capital, the fascist Cecchignola manifested as an extensive complex of facilities. These encompassed the production of munitions, storage for explosives, precision laboratories, workshops dedicated to producing and mending anti-aircraft equipment, railway terminals, barracks, and an industrially-inclined military settlement. Impressively, this initiative was set into motion as early as 1937, predating both the Second World War and notably the E42-EUR project.