Fascist Male Academy of Physical Education

The Academia della Farnesina, also known as the Accademia fascista maschile di educazione fisica or Accademia fascista della Farnesina, was a center for sport and political education in fascist Italy.

The school opened on 5 February 1928. Initially housed in the Military Academy of Physical Education, the Institute moved to its final seat at Foro Mussolini in November 1932. The Institute had an essential aim: to train the Physical Education teachers of the Italian schools and the sport instructors of the Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB). However, the lack of youth leaders obliged Renato Ricci, president of the ONB, to partially change the aims of the Institute. As a consequence, the school became the most important center for training the male leadership of the Fascist Youth Organisations.

Study at the Farnesina lasted two years. After students obtained their certificate, they attended a nine-month apprenticeship. After that, they were permanently hired by the Opera Nazionale Balilla. During the course the students played many sports and gymnastic activities and attended many classes like, for example, anatomy, physiology, first aid, traumatology, hygiene, psychology, fascist laws, philosophy, pedagogy, history of physical education, art, singing, French and English. One year after its inauguration, the school changed its name to "Accademia fascista di educazione fisica" (Fascist academy of physical education"). Ricci wanted it to be «the biggest educational experiment» ever tried in order to create the new man. The Institute had to guarantee to the Fascist Youth Organisation the educators and leaders it needed.

Since 1929 being members of the Fascist Party became essential to apply for a post at the school. The applicants were chosen taking into consideration the years spent in the Fascist organisations. Also the syllabi at the school changed. All the subjects, considered necessary in order to train from a political point of view the future leaders of the Youth Organisations, became more and more important. To the former students of the school were assigned different roles according to the capacities showed during the course. Some of them became teachers in the schools, others, the most suitable ones from a political point of view, became youth leaders. Two laws stated clearly the organisation and the aims of the Foro Mussolini Institute: the royal decree 1.227 of 28 August 1931 and the royal decree 1.592 of 31 August 1933. According to such legislative measures the school had to be a center to train and select the Fascist Youth leadership.

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