Italo Foschi Museum opens in L’Aquila

The brainchild of the club founder’s family and L’Aquila-based Roma Club Vittorio Zingarelli, which is named after Foschi’s grandson, the museum uses original material to recreate the private study of the first AS Roma president.

It was in Foschi’s study at No.16 Via Forli in Rome that – back on 7 June 1927 – Associazione Sportiva Roma was born. As part of the Giallorossi’s continuing commitment to preserving and celebrating its past, the club has contributed to the museum and was represented at the inauguration ceremony by Sebino Nela. Around 100 people attended the ceremony in total.

Foschi’s family have painstakingly preserved all the furniture and material from his study over the past seven decades and were able to save everything from destruction in the 2009 earthquake. The museum features furniture, hundreds of books, artwork, documents, a collection of around 1500 and other possessions belonging to Foschi, his wife Fanny and his grandson, Vittorio Zingarelli.

In the centre of the study stands the desk and chairs where Foschi, Ulisse Igliori and Vittorio Scialoja sat when they decided that Fortitudo-Pro Roma, Alba-Audace and Foot Ball Club di Roma should merge to give the city of Rome one team to defend its name and colours.

Regardless of Foschi’s vast personal fortune, what shines through is his passion for football. Indeed, Foschi was already the president of Pro Roma and Fortitudo-Pro Roma, but with the merger he took on a commitment to the entire city of Rome.

“Credit should be attributed to me for having furthered the game of football in Rome in a way that had never been done before,” said Foschi, commenting on the foundation of Roma in June 1927.

In October 1949, Foschi’s wife, Fanny, donated her husband’s entire Roma photo collection to the club, although there is no trace of this collection today at the club headquarters.

In a letter of thanks to Fanny, Roma president Giuseppe Narici wrote: “The memory of Italo Foschi as the founder of Roma lives on in all of us – directors, partners and footballers alike. We shall never be able to forget just how much he wanted and was able to do for our club. He showed a level of tenacity, faith and passion matched only by the enthusiasm with which he cheered the team on every time they played.”

Below are a selection of photos from the Italo Foschi Museum inauguration ceremony, which took place in L’Aquila today.

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