Il Paradiso sul mare
The restoration of Paradiso sul Mare is finally about to begin. Originally built as a casino but never opened, the building served as headquarters for U.S. forces following the 1944 landing. It was later used as a filming location for several movies, including one directed by Federico Fellini. Funding has been secured, and all that remains is to wait for work to begin.
The building known as “Paradiso sul Mare” in Anzio was designed in 1919 by Cesare Bazzani for businessman and mayor Giuseppe Polli and inaugurated in 1924. Originally conceived as a luxury venue for social events—including exhibitions, fashion shows, and a casino—it featured an elegant Art Nouveau design with a semicircular façade and domed towers overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The building quickly became a cultural and social hub, admired for its architectural harmony with the surrounding seaside villas and its appeal to the early 20th-century bourgeoisie. However, this stylistic movement declined under Fascist cultural policies, making the Paradiso an important historical example of that era.
Over time, the building served many roles:
- A venue for concerts, exhibitions, and public events
- A popular dance hall in the 1960s (“Momus”)
- Allied headquarters during the Allied landing at Anzio
- A film location for works like Amarcord and Polvere di stelle
In 1968, it was repurposed as a hotel management school (Marco Apicio Institute), but declining use led to partial closure by 1978. Some areas were later used by the local archaeological museum.
Due to severe structural deterioration, the building was declared unfit for use in 2015 and closed. Since 2016, it has been under the management of the municipality, but it remains abandoned and is in urgent need of restoration—although it is difficult to secure the necessary funds—but now it seems that things are finally moving forward.
