Adalberto Libera was one of the most important figures in twentieth-century architecture, and also one of the most emblematic: he was both a pioneer of architectural modernity and a convinced Fascist, innovative architect and architect of the regime. Unlike the Nazis, Mussolini allied himself with the modern movement, which became the official architectural style of Fascism. In 1937, the regime launched one of its most ambitious projects: the E 42. The aim was to create a new monumental city for the 1942 International Exhibition, embodying the new Imperial Rome.