Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2006

Publication Title

Journal of Mediterranean Studies

Volume

16

Issue

1/2

Pages

175-186

Abstract

Depictions of the Mediterranean Sea figured prominently in steamship lines' publicity during the years of Fascist rule in Italy. These images of the sea promoted and publicized Italian foreign policy aims and aspirations as they shifted over the years from 1922 to 1942. At the same time, the images' emphasis on Italy's maritime heritage provided a rallying point for Italian national identity. Mussolini's government used Italian associations with the Mediterranean to foster a national as opposed to regional consciousness and to project abroad a vision of a culturally-unified and powerful Italy.

The Italian people long for the Mediterranean, ... the Roman lake on which the ports of Venice, Trieste, Genoa, Naples, and Amalfi shone, the ports from which imperial galleons and republican warships set sail to conquer the world.1

Comments

Posted with the permission of the publisher after a two-year embargo period. Published by the Mediterranean Institute, University of Malta.

Original Publication Citation

Hametz, M. (2006). Envisioning the Italian Mediterranean fascist policy in steamship publicity, 1922-1942. Journal of Mediterranean Studies, 16(1/2), 175-186.

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