The mayor of Rome, Italy, has announced plans for the construction of the country's first Holocaust museum.

The €19m (£16.2m), 2,500sq m (27,000sq ft) museum is to form the focal point of Rome's 10-year 'Stati Generali' plan for major projects in the city, and will be constructed in the central area of Villa Torlonia, adjacent to both Benito Mussolini's villa and the 2,000-year old Jewish catacombs.

The catacombs, currently closed, will be restored and opened to visitors.

Museum director, Marcello Pezzetti said: "Italy was a partner of Nazi Germany, not a victim, as the populace generally holds. Unlike Germany, we have never even begun the process of soul-searching. Italians don't feel involved, they do not consider themselves as having collaborated.

"This museum, which will cover global Holocaust history but have a special section on Italy, will speak directly to Italians, and not just to Italian Jews."

The museum, based on preliminary plans created by architects Luca Zevi and Giorgio Maria Tamburini, will be divided into three sections - archives, a library and a film collection. In addition, it will hold events reflecting on the Holocaust's relevance to more recent history.

To publicise the museum and build its collection, the Italian government is running a national tv campaign, asking the public to submit Holocaust-related material for inclusion.

Image: Pimke