In Rome, Mussolini's villa will be opened to the public

ROME - The Torlonia Villa, residence of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, opens to the public on Wednesday. Besides its splendor, it offers visitors hidden secrets, including two bunkers built to protect him from bombing and gas attacks.
"We need not fear the past," declared Roman mayor Walter Veltroni at the ceremonial opening of the villa, which the city purchased in 1978.
The villa, adorned with frescoes, stucco, sculptures, and mosaic flooring, hosted celebrations held by the princely Torlonia family, known as patrons and collectors in its heyday.
The restoration of the villa cost nearly six million euros (180 million CZK). On this occasion, a false Etruscan tomb built in 1840 was discovered, which had served for secret meetings.
Large halls will be decorated with sculptures and furniture collected by the Torlonias. Their private collection, consisting of 620 sculptures from ancient Rome, was hidden from the world for over 30 years. The value of the collection was estimated a few years ago at 125 million euros (3.75 billion CZK).
Benito Mussolini made the villa his residence from 1925 to 1943. From 1944 to 1949, it housed the headquarters of Allied forces. According to the Rome city hall, the villa suffered immeasurable damage during that time.
Mussolini lived in the Torlonia villa with his wife and children, played tennis, and rode horses. When war loomed, he ordered the construction of a bunker.
Two underground structures, built under high secrecy, occupy about 200 square meters of space beneath the villa. They include a gas chamber with air ducts and showers for chemical decontamination. All of this is protected by double airtight doors.