EUR is a residential and business district in
Rome, Italy, located south of the city centre. The area was originally chosen in 1930s as the site for the
1942 world's fair which
Benito Mussolini planned to open to celebrate twenty years of
Fascism, the letters EUR standing for
Esposizione Universale Roma. The project was originally called
E42 after the year in which the exhibition was planned to be held. EUR was also designed to direct the expansion of the city towards the south-west and the sea, and to be a new city centre for Rome. The planned exhibition never took place due to
World War II.