Autore
Santangeli Valenzani, Giuliano

Titolo
"Collecting Italy". Souvenir italiani nella cultura turistica americana degli anni ’50 e ’60 del Novecento
Periodico
Memoria e ricerca
Anno: 2025 - Volume: 79 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 263 - Pagina finale: 281

This paper explores souvenir consumption among American tourists in post-World War II Italy, examining how these «miniature mementos» symbolized cultural exchange, personal experiences, and societal shifts, reflecting mid-20th-century American tourist culture. After the war, Italy reemerged as a top destination for American travelers seeking leisure and cultural enrichment, and souvenirs became essential to the travel experience, allowing tourists to bring home tangible reminders of their encounters with «Italian culture». From intricately crafted ceramics and Venetian glass to iconic handicrafts, these items captured the essence of Italian artistry as perceived by Americans. Beyond material goods, souvenirs also embodied intangible experiences, enriched by personal interactions with local people, which imbued each item with unique cultural significance. These interactions and cultural meanings took on added importance in the historical context of the Cold War, reflecting the strengthening relationship between the United States and Europe and the role of cultural diplomacy in this period. Using travel literature and firsthand accounts from newspapers and magazines, this paper examines souvenirs as cultural artifacts that reveal romanticized views of Italy and shifting tastes among American tourists. It highlights how these items connected travelers to their experiences and exemplified the cultural exchanges that shaped American tourism in Italy during this transformative era.



SICI: 1127-0195(2025)79:2<263:"ISINC>2.0.ZU;2-X
Testo completo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.14647/116932
Testo completo alternativo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.14647/116932

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