Predappio Pilgrimage . The Predappio Pilgrimage Mussolini's Legacy by Stefan Boness The picturesque Italian town of Predappio is the setting of two celebratory annual events: Neo-fascists from all over Italy and beyond gather here each year on the anniversaries of the birth and death of Benito Mussolini, Italy's notorious dictator. Mussolini was born in Predappio on 29 July 1883. He was brought back here after his ignominious demise (and a twelve year long odyssey of his corpse) to be buried inside the family's tomb in San Cassiano cemetery in 1957. Each year on April 28th, the day of his death, his black-shirted followers of today gather in the darkness of the crypt to salute Il Duce. In the church of San Cassiano on the outskirts of Predappio, a memorial service is held on his birthday. Nationally, Mussolini's residences are being restored and opened to the public, like his former summer villa, Villa Carpena, near Forli, about fifteen kilometres from Predappio. In Predappio alone, the number of visitors now reaches 100 000 each year. On Predappio's main street, souvenir shops enjoy a burgeoning trade in Mussolini paraphernalia: calendars, key rings, posters, T-shirts are sold next to black shirts and baseball bats. Particularly intriguing are wine bottles picturing Hitler or Mussolini on the label, or the aftershave 'nostalgia', featuring a saluting Mussolini. Not only since Gianfranco Fini, leader of the reformed heir to the Fascist Party, the National Alliance, and a prominent member of the Italian coalition government called Mussolini once the greatest Italian statesman ever, a resurgent nationalism has continued to gloss over the more shameful parts of Italy's history. At the same time fascist apologetics become more outspoken in praising Italy's notorious ex-dictator. Neo fascists with Nazi salute in front of the San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Predappio, near Bologna, is the birth place and burial place of Benito Mussolini, leader of the Italian Fascism, "Il Duce del Fascismo". Every year at the day of the death of Mussolini neo fascist and other right-wing radicals rally together on their pilgrimage to this fascist shrine and popular tourist site. Picture of Benito Mussolini with Nazi salute inside the Crypt ot the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Old fascist with decorations and fascist symbols with Nazi salute in front of the San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Crypt ot the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Neo fascist with shirt "Waffen SS" inside the Crypt ot the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Neo fascists in front of the the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Souvenir shop with Mussolini memorabilias and fascist souvenirs at the main road in Predappio. Owner of souvenir shop with Mussolini and Hitler memorabilias and fascist souvenirs in Predappio.  Aftershave "Nostalgia" with picture of Benito Mussolini with Nazi salute at souvenir shop with Mussolini memorabilias and fascist souvenirs in Predappio. Wine bottles with Hitler pictures inside a souvenir shop with Mussolini and Hitler memorabilias and fascist souvenirs in Predappio.  Right-wing radical with Mussolini watch and image and another with t-shirt with letters Skinhead and the fascist symbol "88" for Heil Hitler in front of the the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio.  Memorial and paintings of Benito Mussolini next to an Italian flag in the garden of Mussolinis summer residence "La Casa dei Ricordi" near Forli. Picnic of Italian right-wing radicals next to a wine bottle with a photo of Benito Mussolini in the garden of Mussolinis summer residence "La Casa dei Ricordi" near Forli. Patre Giulio Tam and fascist with flags at a church service in memory of Mussolini in front of the crypt of the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio.  Right-wing radicals at a church service in memory of Mussolini inside the church of the San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Patre Giulio Tam and fascist with flags at a church service in memory of Mussolini in front of the crypt of the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Right-wing radical with tattoo of the fascist symbol "88" for "Heil Hitler" (8th letter of the alphabet) and flag of the party Fronte Sociale Nazionale FN in front of the the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery in Predappio. Neo fascist with Nazi salute inside the crypt ot the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery. Neo fascists with Nazi salute inside the crypt ot the maosoleum of Mussolini at San Cassiano Cemetery. View of the village Predappio. Predappio, near Bologna, is the birth place and burial place of Benito Mussolini. All of our advertising is certified by Google and therefore may be viewed safely.