Introduction

During the Fascist era several new towns were built in Italy and its colonies, in addition to all the renewal projects that were executed in the cities. Sabaudia is one of the results of this building activity. According to the fascist propaganda it was built in 253 days, by 6,000 men working day and night.1 In fact, it is just one of five towns being built as part of the 'integral reclamation' and resettlement scheme for the Agro Pontino, a project in which these highly infested marshlands were drained and converted into arable land. The other four towns being:

 * Littoria (inaugurated in 1932), now Latina (architect Oriolo Frezzotti);
* Pontinia (founded December 19, 1934)--Le Corbusier tried to get this assignment, but was turned down) the ingenieur Papalardo got the job);
* Aprilia (founded on April 25, 1936), and
* Pomezia (founded on April 25, 1938 and inaugurated in 1939) (both towns: prof. Concezio Petrucci (project leader), M. Tufaroli-Luciano, E.F. Paolini and R. Silenzi).

 In addition 17 borghi, and nearly 4,000 farmsteads were laid out.