The Autarchic Paradigm

The most famous Italian equestrian centre, just recently re-opened after being closed down in July 2013, when CONI declared bankruptcy. So far, the centre has received funds for 200,000 euros. Just to get going. However, in order to make it fully operative, envisaging a potential “2024 Rome Olympic Games”,   it has been estimated a budget of 5 millions euros.  

The flourishing place that I remembered from my last visit 20 years ago is gone. Walking around the stables and arenas felt like being in a ghost town. There is barely anybody. Jumps in the cross country areas were all made new, however, after a no-rain summer, fields were entirely dry except some sporadic yellowish patch of grass. It felt like being in one of those semi-arid climatic areas near deserts. 

A must go for for the amateurs of retro kitch design and modernist architecture.

 The Independence Palace – also known as Reunification Palace - was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace designed by architect Ngo Viet Thuby in 1966. It was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

This 5 storey palace has a ground floor arranged with meeting rooms while upstairs a grand set of reception rooms and a basement with a telecommunication centre, bunker and war room. Its iconic interior design provides an outstanding blend of traditional Vietnamese and vintage design which remind of James Bond movies Goldfinger era.

The Banquet Room

The Cabinet Meeting Room 

Card playing room

Card playing room

President Office 

Card Playing Room

The card playing room