"Montagnana (Prov. di Padova). La sfilata delle torri e delle mura merlate della cinta orientale"

(Montagnana, Prov. of Padua. The row of towers and crenellated walls of the eastern ring)

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 medieval town walls of Montagnana are considered one of the best-preserved military fortifications in Europe. Erected in the 14^th century from brick and quarry stone under the rule of the Carrara family, the defensive wall encircles the historic old town over a length of around two kilometers. The structure is striking for its monumental height of up to eight meters, its characteristic swallowtail battlements, and a total of 24 square defensive towers. A deep moat, which is still partially water-bearing today, surrounds the entire complex, reflecting the defensibility of the former border fortress.
(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)