European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Scale Model shows ambitious scope of exposition. Only few buildings at right got beyond drawing Board stage exposition photographs by Bernd Lohse Espos Zione Roina 1942 planned As the biggest fair the world had eve Roo seen today is an addition to Rome s already generous Supply of ruins. On the outskirts of Rome there stands group of partially completed buildings remnants of what was to be the world s fair to end All world s fairs. Ground was broken by Mussolini in March 1936 and the grandiose plans included a subway Rome s first run Ning from the Center of the City to the exposition  construction of Espo Sitione 1942 e42 for Short went Forward at full blast until Italy s declaration of War in Juna 1940. Work was slowed somewhat but continued on a reduced scale until Italy s surrender to the allies. In All Over a billion lire was spent which at the then current rate of Exchange comes to nearly 45 million dollars. Today Birds nest in the cranes and scaffolding sheep Graze along what were to have been Broad avenues thronged with visitors from All Over the world. Everything mov Able of any value including some rather Large slabs of Marble has been carted off by looters. Various plans have been made to make some use of these new ruins. Completion of a Section of the grounds to House a permanent Sample trades fair was considered then a abandoned because of the High costs. Presently the Vatican is trying to arrange financing for a project which would permit completion of a number of buildings to be used in the Cele bration of holy year in 1950. The reason for the High Cost in completing any of the buildings is that unlike most such expositions the structures Are of a permanent rather than a temporary nature. Assuming the Hok year plans Are carried out the b build Ingi would then be transformed into hospitals schools museums perhaps a University. Meanwhile except for a few guards Ami caretakers plus an undetermined number of squatters the Only inhabitants of the area 130 orphan children and 22 adults Are refugees from the now yugoslav Venezia Giulia who live in what were to be a restaurant and an office building. Mini if 11 it it View from Church of. Saint Peter and Paul top right in  Model shows main group of parti ally completed buildings. 14. " weekend. May is 1s�