Imperial Forum
In 1933 Benito Mussolini, dictator and urban planner, wanted to see the Colosseum from his office in Palazzo Venezia, and impress Hitler during his imminent visit to Rome. So he had this large 850 yard long, 30 yard wide boulevard rammed through the ancient heart of Rome, straddling the Forum of Peace, Imperial Forums and Trajan's Forum. He tore down Renaissance churches, palaces and medieval housing, raising an enormous hue and cry at the time. Going towards Colosseum, half way down on the right side of Via dei Fori Imperiali, shortly after the main entrance to the Roman Forum are the extremely interesting maps of Imperial Rome through the ages. Study how Rome grew from a small town to become Leader of the World (Caput Mundi). Brass plaques from these maps were stolen by an American G.I. during the liberation of Rome in 1944. They recently surfaced in a farmhouse in the American midwest and are being returned to Rome.