Abstract

The shrines constituted the most sacred places of the Lictor cult. Here, often in monumental constructions enriched with a complex symbolic apparatus, the names of «martyrs» were venerated, public ceremonies were celebrated, involving rituals that ecompassed both religious and civic aspects. These sites were present in almost every Italian city, yet – with few exceptions – they have received limited historiographical attention and have never been the subject of systematic study. This article provides a comprehensive examination of shrines in seven different Lombard cities, based on archival sources and local press, within the interpretative framework offered by studies on political religion in totalitarian regimes and the relationship between the Church and fascism. This approach allows for an overview of the various types of spaces designated as shrines; an exploration of the reasons and functions of these distinctive architectural forms; an analysis of the syncretism between Catholicism and fascist mysticism evident both in iconography and the rituals performed therein; and finally, a reflection on the role of shrines in the public sphere, designed not for esoteric purposes but for the involvement of the masses in fascist liturgy.