Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was imprisoned on the island of Ponza, northwest of Naples, for 10 days in July 1943.
Mussolini's prison paradise —
Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was imprisoned on the island of Ponza, northwest of Naples, for 10 days in July 1943.
Turistcasa
Mussolini ruled Italy constitutionally from 1923 to 1925, then as a dictatorship until he was ousted by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1943. He's pictured here in 1934.
21 years in power —
Mussolini ruled Italy constitutionally from 1923 to 1925, then as a dictatorship until he was ousted by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1943. He's pictured here in 1934.
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
In order to keep Mussolini's location secret from German forces who wished to reinstate him to power the prisoner was moved first to Ponza (pictured), then later to the island of La Maddalena.
A nation at war —
In order to keep Mussolini's location secret from German forces who wished to reinstate him to power the prisoner was moved first to Ponza (pictured), then later to the island of La Maddalena.
Silvia Marchetti
A prison isle since Greek and Roman times, Mussolini had for decades confined his political enemies on remote but beautiful Ponza. Now it was his turn.
Prison isle —
A prison isle since Greek and Roman times, Mussolini had for decades confined his political enemies on remote but beautiful Ponza. Now it was his turn.
Turistcasa
This nine-bed guest house, now painted yellow, was where Mussolini stayed in relative luxury. He had a whole floor to himself, as well as his own laundrywoman and cook.
Pensione Silvia —
This nine-bed guest house, now painted yellow, was where Mussolini stayed in relative luxury. He had a whole floor to himself, as well as his own laundrywoman and cook.
Pensione Silvia
He was also able to roam freely -- albeit followed by prison guards. Silveria Aroma, the guest house's current owner, proudly recalls that the dictator attempted to seduce her grandmother on this beach.
Frontone beach —
He was also able to roam freely -- albeit followed by prison guards. Silveria Aroma, the guest house's current owner, proudly recalls that the dictator attempted to seduce her grandmother on this beach.
Turistcasa
The bedroom used by Mussolini is said to have previously housed Ras Imru, Ethiopian guerrilla leader and cousin of Emperor Haile Selassie, who was held captive in Ponza on Mussolini's orders.
Sleeping with the enemy —
The bedroom used by Mussolini is said to have previously housed Ras Imru, Ethiopian guerrilla leader and cousin of Emperor Haile Selassie, who was held captive in Ponza on Mussolini's orders.
Silvia Marchetti
"His room has the best panorama of all and is the only one with two windows," says Aroma. It has a superb view of Ponza's Roman harbor.
Dictator's balcony —
"His room has the best panorama of all and is the only one with two windows," says Aroma. It has a superb view of Ponza's Roman harbor.
Silvia Marchetti
Ponza's local priest published memoirs recounting his relationship with Il Duce. This is a letter Mussolini wrote, asking the priest to say a mass for his late son, Bruno.
Mussolini's signature —
Ponza's local priest published memoirs recounting his relationship with Il Duce. This is a letter Mussolini wrote, asking the priest to say a mass for his late son, Bruno.
Silvia Marchetti
The guest house was painted white at the time the dictator stayed there. "Our building was the biggest at that time, fit to host important people such as Ras Imru and Mussolini," explains Aroma.
Mid-20th century Ponza —
The guest house was painted white at the time the dictator stayed there. "Our building was the biggest at that time, fit to host important people such as Ras Imru and Mussolini," explains Aroma.
Pensione Silvia
"My grandfather had made a fortune trading lobsters across the Mediterranean. Our people have always been great fishermen," adds Aroma.
Ponza as it was —
"My grandfather had made a fortune trading lobsters across the Mediterranean. Our people have always been great fishermen," adds Aroma.
Pensione Silvia
The seaside guest house has a popular fish restaurant. Ponza has long been a vacation spot for celebrities including Kirk Douglas, Sophia Loren and Burt Lancaster.
Tea with Mussolini —
The seaside guest house has a popular fish restaurant. Ponza has long been a vacation spot for celebrities including Kirk Douglas, Sophia Loren and Burt Lancaster.
Pensione Silvia
The neo-classical <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.museivillatorlonia.it" target="_blank" target="_blank">Villa Torlonia</a> in Rome was Italian dictator's Benito Mussolini's residence between 1925 and 1943 -- now it houses a museum and archives.
Villa Torlonia —
The neo-classical Villa Torlonia in Rome was Italian dictator's Benito Mussolini's residence between 1925 and 1943 -- now it houses a museum and archives.
AFP/Getty Images
Mussolini cultivated a reputation as a man's man. He's pictured here in an undershirt riding his horse at Villa Torlonia. Legend has it he also enjoyed skiing bare-chested.
Machismo —
Mussolini cultivated a reputation as a man's man. He's pictured here in an undershirt riding his horse at Villa Torlonia. Legend has it he also enjoyed skiing bare-chested.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Italic Forum's Historical Gym and "Honor Salon." This Rome facility was created by Mussolini as a symbol of fascism's supposed superhuman power. The wall paintings portray the tyrant and gymnasts working-out. It's occasionally opened to the public.
Historical Gym and Honor Salon —
The Italic Forum's Historical Gym and "Honor Salon." This Rome facility was created by Mussolini as a symbol of fascism's supposed superhuman power. The wall paintings portray the tyrant and gymnasts working-out. It's occasionally opened to the public.
Controversial Italian winery Vini Lunardelli has a line of wines inspired by infamous figures from history, including Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Rudolf Hess.
Dictator-themed wine —
Controversial Italian winery Vini Lunardelli has a line of wines inspired by infamous figures from history, including Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Rudolf Hess.
Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images
Mussolini's tomb in his home town of Predappio, is a pilgrimage site for hundreds of neo-fascists pining for Italy's lost "golden era."
Tomb in Predappio —
Mussolini's tomb in his home town of Predappio, is a pilgrimage site for hundreds of neo-fascists pining for Italy's lost "golden era."
TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images