La Mostra d’Oltremare di Napoli: l’antefatto (1936-1939) - Mostra d’Oltremare of Naples: prologue (1936-1939)

There is an extensive bibliography about Neapolitan exhibition, it covers many aspects, focused on inauguration of May 9th in 1940. The history of exhibition in Fuorigrotta is articulate. The press of that period tells that Mussolini decided the construction of exhibition in Fuorigrotta, when Fuorigrotta was a peripheral area. The head of state became convinced to approve the exhibition in Fuorigrotta because the neighborhood offered a lot of free areas and the possibility of public transport development. The Master Plan of 1936 had already planned a large area for fair. Alberto Calza Bini was the author of the first known document in which Posillipo and Fuorigrotta were compared. A plan and a photo reportage had been attached to Calza Bini’s plan. The first drafts of exhibition project were published on Le vie d’Italia but not all the drawings inspired the construction of buildings. The project of Mostra d’Oltremare plant was entrusted to Carlo Cocchia e Luigi Piccinato; a strong staff worked on the construction site, composed by appointed designers (e.g. Canino) and few competition winners. Photos and documentaries that described the construction phases are very interesting because the totalitarian regime needed to loud documentary