"Ferrara. Cattedrale. Ebbe inizio nel 1135, di stile romanico e gotico"

(Ferrara. Cathedral. Begun in 1135, of Romanesque and Gothic style)

gelatin silver print

stamp verso

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 Duomo di San Giorgio in Ferrara is an outstanding example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Consecrated in 1135, the structure is striking for its monumental, tripartite marble facade, featuring Romanesque elements on the lower section and Gothic features on the upper level. An absolute highlight is the richly decorated main portal with a depiction of Saint George and the monumental Last Judgment in the gable above. The Loggia dei Mercanti runs along the right flank of the church, culminating in the unfinished, Renaissance-style bell tower erected in the 15^th century.
(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)