Not recreate as such, rather they (the fascists) saw themselves as the inheritors of the Roman empire. This was known as 'Romanita', and effectively drove/justified their expansionist policies. I've some interesting links/articles etc. I'll post later (got to get on with putting the kids to bed!)

Edit: So, Dyson's book is wide ranging, but had some interesting chapters on Italian colonialism: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eud_j6JAFuoC&pg=PR3&lpg=PR3&dq=dyson+in+pursuit+of+ancient+pasts&source=bl&ots=T5Qqv5EeoY&sig=kr0w1JDo6gbDOH1WMuLUE9wmvhg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CfY7VcGDO4XuPLaHgYAL&ved=0CBwQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=dyson%20in%20pursuit%20of%20ancient%20pasts&f=false

David mattingly has also written extensively on the subject, mostly relating to archaeology in north Africa on this context. See especially his article in this book (don't know of an online copy, sorry): https://lra.le.ac.uk/handle/2381/28430

(As you might have noticed, most of what I know is from an archaeological perspective)