Constructed in 1936 by Italy’s National Fascist Party, the Colonia Fara was envisioned as a seaside resort for the nation’s youth, embodying the ideals of the fascist regime. Situated along the picturesque coast, the resort aimed to provide young Italians with a summer experience that combined leisure with ideological education. The 1938 inauguration, attended by Mussolini, marked the culmination of this ambitious project.
Designed to be a utopian getaway, the resort offered a blend of recreational activities and propaganda, instilling a sense of national pride in its young visitors. However, this vision was short-lived. Just two years after its opening, the outbreak of World War II dramatically altered the fate of Colonia Fara. The sprawling complex was commandeered by the military and repurposed to house Nazi troops, a stark departure from its original intent.
The end of the war saw efforts to resurrect the Colonia Fara as a youth resort, but the memories of its wartime role lingered, hindering its success. The association with its past as a military barracks overshadowed its intended purpose, and the resort struggled to attract the same level of enthusiasm it had initially garnered. Subsequently, the building found temporary new uses as a facility for a local sports organization and an elementary school. However, these endeavors were short-lived due to the deteriorating condition of the structure. The upper floors were declared unsafe, and by 1999, the once-bustling resort was left to decay.
Today, the Colonia Fara stands as a crumbling relic of its complex history. The interiors, once filled with the laughter of children, are now abandoned, ravaged by time and vandalism. The exterior, covered in peeling paint and surrounded by overgrown weeds, serves as a haunting reminder of its past—a stark contrast to the vibrant summers that once defined it. In 2014, a redevelopment project was approved, aiming to restore the building to its former glory. Plans included transforming the site into a hotel, restaurant, and apartments, breathing new life into the historic structure. This ambitious project seeks to preserve the architectural significance of Colonia Fara while repurposing it for modern use.
Update as of August 2022: The hotel has been fully renovated, marking a significant milestone in the revitalization of Colonia Fara. This transformation represents a hopeful new chapter, blending the site’s rich history with a renewed purpose, offering visitors a glimpse into both the past and the future.
