They are hardly the sort of souvenirs you expect to see on holiday in Italy.
But trippers are snapping up swastika mugs, Hitler busts and other memorabilia of hate at a tourist site.
Predappio in Italy is becoming a mecca for extreme right-wing ghouls – many from Britain – because fascist dictator Mussolini is buried there.
The Sunday People travelled to the town 60 miles north-east of Florence as bus-loads visited the former Italian tyrant’s crypt to mark his birthday.
Some performed Nazi salutes while others shouted about sending their enemies “to the ovens”.
And they browsed shops selling everything from smiley Hitler T-shirts to babygrows with figures performing fascist salutes.
One shopkeeper said: “The English are our biggest customers after Italians and French. They come here because this is where Mussolini is buried.”
The crypt is opened three times a year to mark the birthday of Hitler’s pal on July 29 1883, his death on April 28 1945 and his march on Rome when he seized power in 1922.
Many want it opened all the year round to boost trade.
Pierluigi Pompignoli, who owns the most popular souvenir shop in Predappio, Tricolore, described his far-right products as “antiques”though most appear to be freshly made.
He said: “It is not weird for us to sell these antiques. We’re not doing anything wrong.”
Asked if he is a fascist, white-haired Mr Pompignoli – who claimed he could be arrested for performing what he calls “a Roman salute” – replied: “I am a Mussolini supporter.
“I am not against immigration. One thousand people is OK but 1,001 is too many.
“I want the crypt to be opened because it will be good for my business. Shops here need the extra business.”
He is backed by the town’s first right-wing mayor for 75 years, Roberto Canali, who was elected in May as the far-right movement made major gains across Italy.
Mr Canali, who was born and raised in Predappio, says he is not a Mussolini supporter but is in favour of opening the dictator’s crypt full-time.
Sitting in his grand office, where Mussolini once sat, he said: “I think it could bring 100,000 visitors a year to the town, which would be worth over €1million in revenue.
“I met with Mussolini’s great-grandson Caio on Sunday and he said he would like it to be reopened. The people here want it because of the money it will bring.
“I don’t think it will attract more fascists. I think normal people will come out of curiosity. We want to attract good tourism.
“I hope the crypt will be open by the end of this year and I think it will happen.”
Speaking about the shops, he claimed: “I’ve never been into the Tricolore shop so I’ve never paid much attention to what it sells.
Told it sells swastika armbands, he said: “I want to thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will raise it at our next meeting.”
He added: “The shops are unique to this area. They are quite visually striking and may be considered disrespectful.
“They can sell souvenirs because they comply with the law, but maybe they should keep a lower profile while doing so.”
Predappio’s former mayor Giorgio Frassinetti tried – and failed – to close the dubious memorabilia shops ten years ago.
“We cannot talk about normal tourism when we speak about people visiting Predappio,” he said. “Tourism here is not normal and we should not be naive about it. The people of Predappio began to lose their dignity when these shops were opened.
“They’re selling out their dignity, but sadly everything is driven by money. I feel bad that fascist symbols are sold and tourists go there to buy these kind of products. They shouldn’t be a tourist attraction.
“People who came here last week to mark the anniversary of Mussolini’s death were shouting, ‘Send them to the ovens.’ It is terrible.”
Dubbed Il Duce, meaning The Leader, Mussolini allied with Adolf Hitler’s Germany in the Second World War and was responsible for 400,000 deaths.
Italian partisans shot him in 1945 and hung his body upside down beside those of his mistress and other fascists in Milan.
The remains were hidden until they were brought to the family crypt in his birthplace in 1957.
Miro Gori, president of a local anti-fascist group, said: “On the day of the anniversary of Mussolini’s death last week we reported many instances to the police of people being extremely right wing. This kind of tourism is worse than sick.”
He added: “I am extremely worried about the rise of right-wing politics here in Italy and other parts of Europe. These people are focusing on hatred and are very racist and against immigrants.
“I want to thank the Sunday People for highlighting this. It is an important to tell people what is happening.”
The nationalist anti-immigration far-right wiped out traditional centre party leaders in May’s European elections.
Matteo Salvini’s right-wing League party formed Italy’s government with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in June.
The former MEP has led an anti-immigration stance, turning away rescue ships from Italian ports.
He has now emerged as the dominant figure trying to unify Europe’s nationalist parties at a European level, with far-right parties across the continent enjoying a huge surge in support.
