Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

DUX

Posted by James Turnbull, Monday, 24th April 2006

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Benito Mussolini, Italy’s Facist Dictator during World War II, gave himself the title of “Il Duce”, or “Dux” in latin, which translates to “leader”. Around this time one of his followers planted trees in the hills, about 75km from Rome, proclaiming “DUX” for all to see.

Apparently locals in the 50s tried to erase the letters by planting more trees around the area but clearly that wasn’t very successful, and the 600 foot propaganda still stands.

Thanks: Aldo

8 Responses to 'DUX'

  1. nhansen says:

    600 ft tall…those are some trees :)

  2. Derek says:

    Mussolini’s granddaughter still heads a neo-fascist political party in Italy. Perhaps it’s a political ad.

  3. rob says:

    damn their hides! Lets blast those faschists with some proper DUX…duxford airfield! Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  4. Rich Pedley says:

    It may be just me, but looking at the group of trees below those letters I can see what looks like vague letters – could there have been a phrase underneath?

  5. rob says:

    I did a google search on this, and apparently this site has been “restored” by local residents as a sort of tourist spot, to spell out the words. Im not sure if this is the same one…

    http://www.historytoday.com/dt_archive.news.asp?gid=19810&aid=&tgid=&amid=19810&g19810=x&g30066=x&g30048=x&g30040=x&g30039=x&g21010=x&g19965=x&g19963=x

  6. gillo says:

    oh dear… I’m sure we’ll find one with berlusconi somewhere

  7. davide says:

    rob, you are right, it’s the same site. some ground shots here: http://www.repubblica.it/2004/a/sezioni/cronaca/scrittamonte/scrittamonte/scrittamonte.html

    it’s been recently restored using taxpayer’s money (about 135k euro) as they say it’s a monument.

  8. jacky says:

    have google earth live