across the country year in, year out. the state allows them to take place and society somehow seems to tolerate them. i want to find out why, and why some of the images associated with the dark chapters of italy s past still infuse the present. presente! for the hardcore believers, a return to where it, or rather he, began. the small town of predappio in north east italy, the birthplace of benito mussolini, the country s fascist dictator, assassinated in 1945 after a ruthless 20 year rule. every year on the anniversary of his death the faithful gather to honour him. not for them the established narrative of his reign of terror. down the road, mussolini merch. from the traditional to the tacky,