Revival for Mussolini Rock Tribute

Benito Mussolini's face may soon reappear on the rock-face of a beautiful natural gorge if the post-fascist National Alliance party in Italy gets its way.

Il Duce's distinctive features, sculpted by forest rangers in 1936, dominated the skyline around the Furlo Gorge, near Urbino, until partisan bombings put his nose out of joint.

Now officials want to clear shrubs, shoo off the wild boars, and patch up the crumbled rocks to restore the dictator's presence.

His silhouette, they say, is part of the local history; the fascist leader stayed in the area 56 times on his way north from Rome to his hometown of Predappio.

"We do not wish to be singing the praises of fascism," Elisabetta Foschi, secretary of the National Alliance party in the province, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

"We want to retrieve a piece of history in this area."

Bruno Capanna, the Left Democrat mayor of nearby Acqualagna, sees the tourist potential but has suggested the work be restored "so that the signs of the partisan bombings are visible".

Alberto Melagrana, owner of the Furlo inn where the leader used to stay, said: "You can't erase history, whether it's good or bad."

Despite laws which ban the use of fascism symbols in Italy, the image of Mussolini's face is seen on calendars for sale across Italy.