The IV November barracks

The monumental building complex, where the School is now located, is one of the Guardia di Finanza’s most valuable seats for architectonic and artistic qualities.

The Naval College “IV Novembre” was built in the first years of the XX century to accommodate 400 young students and offer them basic, middle school and professional training in maritime sector.

The construction, under Architect Giuseppe Boni’s design, was started in 1934.

The foundation stone was laid by the Chief of the Government Benito Mussolini.

The building works lasted over two years and the IV November College was inaugurated by King Vittorio Emanuele III on 4th November, 1936.

Giuseppe Boni couldn’t see the end of his assignment because he died in 1936, but the extreme precision and accuracy of his project led to a fast completion of the construction works within the estimated time.

Abandoned after World War II, the building was acquired by the Guardia di Finanza in 1977 and renewed according to the original architectonic and artistic shape of Boni’s design.

The U-shaped structure totals 57.000 sq. meters and is characterized by the typical Military Academy internal side open courtyard.

The main building is 120 meters long, parallel to the main street.

The two orthogonal side buildings are 78 meters long and flanked by two smaller and shorter bodies that partially close the 4th side.

The internal courtyard, that was originally used for the assembly, is an open space with a monumental fountain and an obelisk in the middle.

The common services and personnel’s room were located on the raised ground floor.

The classrooms, the theatre, the mess, the dean’s and teacher’s offices, the library, the gym and the maritime museum were located on the first floor.

Eight big dormitories for the College’s students occupied the second floor.

The 75 metre central tower was demolished by the German troops in 1943 fearing it could serve as a reference point for a landing of the Allies near Rome.