I love Italy, but no amount of love for it can help me deal with how easily one can find Fascist — and Nazi — paraphernalia at street markets and even in legitimate stores. It’s very disturbing. I’m not talking about people who might want to collect, say, vintage World War II items. That I can understand. I’m talking about things made today – Mussolini calendars, and lighters with Swastikas on them and so forth. Really icky.

Some examples:
From a liquor store in a trendy Roman ‘hood;

from that same store – yeah, sure, I’ll have some Chateau Adolf and a Barolo Benito;

from a store in a swanky part of Rome;

from a kiosk where they sell newspapers – who wouldn’t want a 2017 Mussolini calendar, with a ‘fascist songs/hymns’ CD?;

and the rest are from an open market in Perugia. This table was set up among the ones featuring cheeses and honey and crafts:

not really my taste, but I gather some might want it on their wall;

everyone’s fave anti-Semitic pope;

more mini-Benitos;

lighters that say “I’m a Nazi f**k”;

ashtrays, in case your guests aren’t merely Fascists, but also smokers!;

and still more wine with creepy labels.

And I left one out – check it out on my Instagram. We found it at a local fair in Umbria. Really would not want it on my mantelpiece.