Bolzano, Italy - Some 3,500 marksmen have held a protest "against fascism" and have demanded that relics from the era of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini be removed from buildings in the city of Bolzano in the German-speaking part of northern Italy.

The protest, held Saturday, was the largest ever held in the area, Suedtirol Online reported Sunday.

The marksmen have been committed to defending their Tyrolean identity in South Tyrol, also known in Italy as Bolzano-Bozen, since 1919.

Bolzano, Italy  - Pope Benedict ended Monday a 10-day holiday on the foothills of Italy's Dolomite Alps - a sanctuary located in the northeastern Alto Adige region, home to the country's German-speaking minority.

Benedict left Bressanone, the town which hosted him during his vacation, and travelled to Bolzano from where he bordered a plane for Rome.

The 81-year-old pontiff was expected to arrive in the Italian capital in the evening and then to proceed to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

Bolzano, Italy  - Pope Benedict XVI arrived Monday in Bolzano at the foothills of Italy's Dolomite Alps to begin a two week-long holiday that follows a hectic first half of 2008 for the 81-year-old pontiff.

Benedict, who last week returned from an intense 10-day visit to Australia where he presided over World Youth Day celebrations, was greeted in Bolzano by local dignitaries and church officials.