Casa del Fascio (Como) Monument

The Casa del Fascio in Como is a landmark of 20th-century architecture designed by Giuseppe Terragni and completed in the mid-1930s as the local headquarters of the National Fascist Party. It is widely cited as a key example of Italian Rationalist modernist design.

Commissioned in the early 1930s and executed by Terragni and his studio, the Casa del Fascio served as a party headquarters and public office under the Fascist regime, and after World War II the building passed through various civic uses. It has been conserved and studied for its architectural importance and occasional public openings allow interior viewing.

The building stands in central Como in Lombardy, Italy, within the compact urban fabric of the city and is easily reached from the historic centre and the lakeside.

• Architectural significance: Designed by Giuseppe Terragni and completed in the mid-1930s, it is a principal example of Italian Rationalist architecture.

What to See#

• Façade and form: The building’s exterior is a strict geometric composition of glass and stone in a cubic volume articulated by a regular grid of windows and cladding.
• Interior layout: Interior spaces are arranged around a central plan with carefully proportioned rooms demonstrating Terragni’s rationalist approach.

Casa del Fascio sits close to Como’s historic centre. From Como San Giovanni train station it is roughly a 12-15 minute walk through the centro storico; taxis and local buses also serve the city centre. The building addresses the main square area near the lakefront; follow signs to the Piazza in Como’s old town.

• Study Terragni's façade proportions before entering; the rhythm of windows and the corner loggia are the point.
• Visit on a weekday if possible-Como's tourist afternoons can crowd the piazza and obscure the building's quiet geometries.
• Look for exhibitions and guided talks; architectural societies in Como often arrange specialized tours.