"VOLTERRA – Le Balze con vista di S. Giusto."

(VOLTERRA – Balze with view of San Giusto)
archiv nr. 34692

gelatin silver print

photographer and title included

Photograph from a collection of tourism photographs from the first half of the 20^th century, issued by Italian tourism boards. High-quality works by renowned studios, such as the Alinari brothers, were frequently used to promote Italy as a travel destination. With the West German Economic Miracle (Wirtschaftswunder) of the 1950s, these idealized images of longing became a reality: rising prosperity and increased leisure time transformed vacations into a status symbol. Italy – particularly the Riviera and the Adriatic coast – became the number one destination of choice. By the mid-1950s, 4.5 million Germans were already traveling across the Alps, marking the beginning of modern mass tourism.¹

The cliffs of Le Balze in Volterra are a fascinating testament to the primal forces of nature in Tuscany. Formed by erosion and landslides, the steeply plunging sandstone and clay walls shape the barren landscape to the west of the city. Perched on the precipice of the deep gorge rises the church of San Giusto, erected in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Through its monumental transience, the dramatic natural backdrop embodies the sublime and untamed image of longing for the Tuscan countryside, deeply revered by Romantics and travelers alike.

The photograph comes from the famous Alinari studio, which was founded in Florence in 1852 by the brothers Leopoldo, Romualdo, and Giuseppe Alinari. The photographic studio is considered the oldest and most significant enterprise for photography and visual documentation worldwide. The institution achieved global renown through its systematic, masterfully crafted documentation of the cultural and architectural heritage of Tuscany. Created in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, their photographs are characterized by outstanding contrast sharpness and precise image composition. The images produced by the house of Alinari decisively shaped Italy's visual identity and served for decades as key motifs of longing for international cultural tourism.
(Christoph Fuchs)

Note

1
"Geteiltes Deutschland: Modernisierung. Bundesrepublik im Wandel. Tourismus", Lebendiges Museum online, Deutsches Historisches Museum, https://www.hdg.de/lemo/kapitel/geteiltes-deutschland-modernisierung/bundesrepublik-im-wandel/tourismus.html (accessed 26.6.2026)