Italy in the 1950s experienced rapid recovery and transformation post-World War II. The nation transitioned from a monarchy to a republic, beginning its “economic miracle” with swift industrialization and modernization. This decade saw significant improvements in living standards, urbanization, and a burgeoning consumer culture.
Politically, it was dominated by the Christian Democrats, and socially, it experienced profound changes in lifestyle and culture.
These fascinating photos from
snelson951 that captured street scenes of Rome, Venice, and Florence in 1955.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLZpgzCvb-C511zJxuRCK42MRwGFiJ6EtnXqN68sQgnDm0Yk2yie1hJH0WycekrRriC1lIYsHgtifZ-yU3ZVBOhAMmUMlhydBzr4VdcPz2A0fOuIN9UkBgi1w64GaxkXYG7Azp4PZgGDQQltDE3aa8prpxt15woDshp6BmwiDArC6SK2wnY4Eu0NQEbIc/w640-h452/italy-1950s-1.jpg) |
Italy. Roman railway station, the largest in Europe at the time, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJixEms41OBNxETAfnRKAgBjfZhtZ57F8hh3fHLI_jB6cgSIzW9f6BVlxQ012oXhua294inoQlOI9URNkeF1AFL73evB05y2wpVHSNHI1Fq-0gY_R8q1WhNaaSJKI7dSIBPtuae5YpQPK7-F0dfQU0Npa54KHje_ki4ioG-0OS44wSSLslno6JHCXdyVmN/w640-h464/italy-1950s-2.jpg) |
Italy. Plaza in front of Medici Castle, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfFVGa-BvMayRbJigYBgt9bIVCacjhaG5uYNFpntFZLR6x5i88Kk5UHq7xoAXMtnSnnZ3aXUX0v7Zskn03__NZHhIdBr0_sHKir2mGtdQnr_7NXTrAESkLzslJy8U5AeBQHSGEoQjH16vkkmhHUDfRfE6nTymKR8l7Ixul0ogUqerZGg3sUtNqCTHU3BQ/s16000/italy-1950s-3.jpg) |
Italy. A gal waiting for the rain to stop, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrQlPGhG6xnkzQp1up1g56uLwsStrE_JG_xaRWQph-TQt6n3TUJPcQULFdDuQii8jF-49AI8XUtgQCExsRt34Wf8vfraqGDX5-9eFLYC68YWuCvlyyneQ-NArSF3nVBOf8c8IJKGfKbv-ac1ySlNZXwQB0knO3OTby9Dc1n_kTGhKvGRnPuV72F1NtPG_/s16000/italy-1950s-4.jpg) |
Italy. A Roman shopper walking in Rome with a basket on her head like it’s normal, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzyTTtXuNr83NqnulflHjdHYl9Zt65fWvSGvoiynx3bGYdNUosfcRxbSpVB0MlH_3bS_gwsM5YvPhWDKlb9jmnV92jzKt6XNDHvQ4icoA273XEAEDnh9MgKWpeQi50JeDjrWAVMy7yt_NYt8PQtVVRRXCDTlOD7hhlUoCw-begxW7OKeyV9ZOWOt8XoIl/s16000/italy-1950s-5.jpg) |
Italy. A street through the city wall of Rome, the wall is near St. Peter’s Square, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ynfQfZkR9Tm5wLmUhRMHl9xXIEocmWuR2b74SqnM0vrSj_0h47P9BYo45MnJsUgn59n-hrHFLYI3cqIMohLqV5c1KpXuKXkCpurltigcHugw_H_HQsRLz4vwQT3G3uwa1k1fLu0g_IWT8WXfA-YsGoSy4-f_JM9cOTHUCKjBLiSOpjidZsaGGJIaFmqa/w640-h456/italy-1950s-6.jpg) |
Italy. Art gallery, museum and city offices, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7SyIiutvWJ0s-dz7Kim9nKYIalc7E3QPSB07c2A7GYXohZKdcav6ijOwSDRIOsklFw8iNnLjmuAQ8PCyUjwxUWZyLKMl73Swy2Jc8FevYmq3sr5pIJ_gzTOKnXmjzTM2nG_RVoX44gjnRxCyNnnBQ4lEPK0J9UJgBcT7WPBKTG6nGYKAVdwDDIoUocFU/w640-h464/italy-1950s-7.jpg) |
Italy. Delivering wine (the cop is telling the man to make it fast and stop blocking the alley), Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIQhncEbi0kacBPNOctOWZjvsnuZqvZm-wqmG6ADWcjBUnbdv7Yp3AM3-oRKu-uZ9hWgi0Nv9wM1o_iSeCcK31nC18rz_eXkH9h4VB0BWfceSVPjdTTNn7zdZCcLQWmuVrdjLgCh-4oppkmN9GQzYU_arbrtRb595URPRgITgq8K-LGzEp1ylYqvI8lGZ/s16000/italy-1950s-8.jpg) |
Italy. Elderly man having his noontime siesta in Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdnjcGRMEXGHAlI42oMNHlUFe06_1xcmLD8e8hThvOLZR4IukNdktlBzlPWGRAE06ShNXMufDpA0gC7qxuUUUAOfmaiSiTkI7efiO3O9j8F6LhP3F156G6SI244HSh93LvaceWf3PYs34ILBDokVOY1YG9aGsul1g8Qj8ll1poLpwhN2olo7eh2zIoLLE/w640-h454/italy-1950s-9.jpg) |
Italy. Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZBu9az3Bn_DMz9fDRnyXvc9HIh5qGf0a9Phyphenhyphen9uL3ZcxNhMmDkdJtWpn5cX31bk3UA1FplREBeRm_9a5y0SqYyR9EKmTl4V1XXpdeycIu_7c8sU5d1TMxdFg447h9DDx84BSe4Zp8PgHTz2hcKxP5jLad1rXiXcIYXWk1qv8i3-V6TNN30z3LYDW0tsk9/s16000/italy-1950s-10.jpg) |
Italy. Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TLdbfyZcfAD0AXov1TwoiWO3TBekCjb9XZf_8wm6g9UN4D12PmQuQdN127jipIfDbwYz4u2IBCTwDwP0JL9BAR2NaGMWDo_jxuGWbWd1i1H8J5QHoIz5C38i9HH-OhfJEOYF0kX4AZ2iGpejCTLPvw9BtZNPa_tEhrE99zgqafCdSboFhcHrmhYMFHsp/w640-h456/italy-1950s-11.jpg) |
Italy. Florence’s cathedral from the tower of Medici Castle, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWCSuY3RsaOejumeu7uFXNXey4jJt-ug8n5t_Q6blmUF8PkaMh2mwNaALpJlumL_eYUiPan6wOLk-Eofwx5nk0Q9LzPnXVtFqjJW2_x0IBJCIs7q4bp858r7CYvHBw66Z7CVVmzftdmMPWMh7c-KgGcpbVcLHdnUjNnRFTHiU434Qo-i0PboiarcnnXJi/s16000/italy-1950s-12.jpg) |
Italy. Flower salesman reading the paper, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1cvkWNEE_lJq1jgqnhh-cGAvKRRnNvPqeNcKr8fBMN5D0KGJnt6gC2cK0I1kc5X2kUD2p6l84cmyfz_Vk4pG3cQ5YTAeURhApfaGdFpaf759aVM2JWBDjvjNYMlHGApWuhfYXM916Ql97Qq70tdsfkqyeidlJldbFu5MK0GfmDLbLZn7rhvqMSEAQWyI/s16000/italy-1950s-13.jpg) |
Italy. Flower stand, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T6xugSNmKZdtTiGcaR2aSFCBKEDS_EdSaOiOtl_5-W3cBWGAoiIt9WOVsygFjmHLy1a9IGpmt-ZWzcGQFMA17bj94WF-muXDMisMXc9rGkCIvgxS3vX5a1RzuO5VBvi-yJ1MpyCyineGTx0OSPAnSTNrND0FWF2yXauZtCqaNe1EVkyM3-7QpaNW6wbw/w640-h452/italy-1950s-14.jpg) |
Italy. Fountain of Neptune, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAthki6haPHd6QgBOdh6TdHmAzmIOqBDEkr5uC6n7pmZfkuUqJ2lFUGIZx_BNExwn89x9qx8ecgZVhh4I6xdW9fNxWRQeffgYT2JPUYbXAgFPclIkKR9Ucg5xPTMhkzseZ9YZQ3o04NSomZYAwL-Lfkafzq8m-6RGGrY6deDFSFdxLSZDjb51bRF9MQ1wo/w640-h462/italy-1950s-15.jpg) |
Italy. Grassi Palace on the Grand Canal in Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xlFtwbr3IUI6K19QCggqtKXVvHRR_vowsXvpK9IVjofwdtYdJqQdx4ZLgezSGA9sHPXa0SjrUqX7nNNH0O7vV62IOcuqJnguQ_1NEND0Lkb666XQZTUb1uxy4lTJMtKgurng25QCgCAJpoFRQwlsW6kbyBftzfnlFnCjp-3HSJJRmwaIZ4o2DzZWG03N/w640-h456/italy-1950s-16.jpg) |
Italy. Maria Novella Church, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdGuWScrdE2iLeNPdoqGzMymCE6LL9XFr1EFnYMotVhDL14BpcEyjWKGiAOCcZC9gi2xHTdq6wIloaL4d42I2EjHwOFquMm4nwf42mdL5cJ77QIanhFUNiAcpW1by3tC6PdvQsg3QbMsi2O3KkHuvbZHzRGbnxyMC1AB6MxABJXu0EnU10kozF2KRuzdm/w640-h446/italy-1950s-17.jpg) |
Italy. Marketplace in Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYFHrp1mIidB2Hc6tcN0ea5UwSFBW3mLqJeiloL8aZxgta0knwo__GSgrtkcH5F4yXbCMnUsSz3y_TSoPUVH7tiUpdJeJSXcvWi4WxrWytKOFgL8yGv3bX3rOilKERqv39CnEOin98UZnLuvoMV-JLAX9SiLmPS2vQONiJXtrhuZhm0Jbe-wbvB58wW6T/w640-h462/italy-1950s-18.jpg) |
Italy. Marketplace in Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGfy5Clt6zzCCyirfzk2PW5RNIYfgK-NS_bgSFTxDuk-8qd81Drv-LaQsvvPX4hSEIvmMe17Z1MxLBdTOaS_Hceuc5FWCafspXFCa0T3Fz_MexDJf1Dv8shoQtF7WcH_k08hX_gfcc0_TMJme4OY3obZp1st_SwFad2XbnERSLpkiWUAioq-NQy6clUr4/s16000/italy-1950s-19.jpg) |
Italy. Marketplace in Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgdwOHa3Uy-t8a-H3wwBK-hPaPMQWwEYad6PNej-yFXhksCBz4kiGmycBOexFQIgjNSKXZE9gXS3MCaTTaiWFlHRlxNBicFVq8jIY19D8jUd57yd8JyyH1RgvfBe4h-b-6KP8yMnh_R4ExrR3YCm6zmmFENaduqc-D2hPc8AafxWw5ECZs-2NwBktsUnW/s16000/italy-1950s-20.jpg) |
Italy. Mussolini’s balcony overlooking Victor Emmanuel Square from which “El Duce” made frequent speeches to the Romans, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq_PMgYzmS6ukEfMuKrSrLOgtWPnOqfSwohKlcMpc0HUBaXXXK13mNtr3hW11fIZRn7gq0fVhW1jQ3qldub5xMLy5DGxI5W-FVAZjj0WdsO_y00TTvadCQUGaxQC-AsR4qhj283_A-AtUOsiArX1MvT4h8LUZ2S_slKT1v9hraBuAA96DpMKdNi59fImS/s16000/italy-1950s-21.jpg) |
Italy. Neptune, David and Hercules, Castle of the Medici family, Reproductions of Michelangelo in front, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeqRBIP_VOGPsy8Nf1Ui70Wv94b0bUuDRLyWBMnr_J9Ho5aKulITaxFxASMGvfre7nQFMJ5Fu7xLztkLBaMpybpuA6P4SyuAHpC9Rjxz7H1WgIc86yX8KzN6o81th9_POGOFWRL2joc_wEeKa98cZJCfrZcfOTQTQL8Y1B_1j2ywzUOfn4r9ki2lcyTKv/w640-h466/italy-1950s-22.jpg) |
Italy. Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3FFu1NxJ1G9hcdJoakEmik9wZg9Mk29KAq_tqHNV8sK3fSGe2q5XwAdjucR2KuMM7hoMm2B8HxnEV_8fh8lvOOiZiLXw0mww7uQZbgbT_zriCIbS8oW8YxAoDVR1rYfbnxqHG9In-jkwRtb5h8Qm6UWACzkTSE1JCtYMVZw_QSOdHVdh4a67C4wSjVTZ/w640-h474/italy-1950s-23.jpg) |
Italy. Roman fountain, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cbm27j7Dt54NEnbUQMaVvQ205R0cRrngDsdt4N6h40xqpPopaT8MQom9dpagAvqxtGsV1a9oHbZbGynabBFWBaE_tlPOFhzNbuwW4mab5N2TSnKOKqncL0M3lYUc9w6rK55sBPm-9Io725ltJlib5dedJcw6KuxLED7MHUbKg41SbWlHmukNUNa20ABu/s16000/italy-1950s-24.jpg) |
Italy. San Marco Square, Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRAbjv05bDyG7Qn4Uyt4XtaT0S5HJl3fia4SyCqXkR2EcAzwgJ414uG6ukpzifEa-ZWg2Q3xQUz45WBQRo7tdhNJewENoZSceNOe0y8vBFqCGx-4VioDfCdYQwvmoiJFt03pZOvRgGQf-ylbKe-IUOsqTtFUt9Jccvt9UnMhCExbS50cZ6kv8CbaRcRUH/w640-h458/italy-1950s-25.jpg) |
Italy. Street repair in Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFffUfSMUj_OY3yqlJNk3bKQJZQnPoI37-U3l7HegiwEqRqRgZPrShZcg-52qz2Q3CTRYNnmlbi5nPVVeZMrqteeIdksjps4aSJdL3kecbBVbOtXDHZJlSJDwXqzNz3sX_GVV5vGA1Lb5Ke_UCCWzvl_ctqKuqrMJcnHb3znKHuhTBeFog-YthgZpYlUl2/s16000/italy-1950s-26.jpg) |
Italy. Taxi in front of Vatican Museum, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx7uDI6LATULA1kCWb7EPaM90zmhzCZfemKeYQe3yoIHeXl_ZNSL5dHw674vI0M313ofPyN7MDJjthmOaNxMPfFudT2behIXSFy-h5adA6u5QH1WZh6aQFR2XCtj-Pgv0KyGX1DaigYe4X6us06nb28qeTebS8JNgczssHGAY8caxpzDwe1JMuPkyFUyd/w640-h430/italy-1950s-27.jpg) |
Italy. Taxis in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7JEvrzgE5NCrRaqjtXuieY1VHWKRprZ6f_D2xJz9ojCGKCyiDjXknBUy-giEXn_kxo38KcDKbwoVY0popeclu7zk5v-3deZKO6fv3p8KN4FDlbWyafVD130jmHQ5DOpvkXCFNe-IJ9aYZbAjUaWKVIhHyP7hlWB56dAbf0SrQ3Y9XnX_U2Od9mr61nr/w640-h458/italy-1950s-28.jpg) |
Italy. U.S. Embassy in Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPwXCYoeHp5d_wWVP8w3Nsmlr8DbQ_Ka2QqICXNS41Fo0EEbclKLL6XAd-w29qEjZjxXpu9WGN4RrlY0MkH9wvyl_lFd97wC05NPGZxVli4ikx91qFNREAB7dSgLx7LyVS5aeQuBK3QeCLI-YCpPN1cBrWKiOwx6gqRfAbkBhKajGtkF-DsWMIQ8WGUd2/s16000/italy-1950s-29.jpg) |
Italy. Uffizi Art Gallery, Florence, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTA5DUUHENBxxJhUsJseAQttYEGLuxRS1wV6iBqvMh_ZBsV457_aHBcC2VMU0nxzvieNIXx_o_kT4Ofkn-A9dYnwBTZRrs3gshBbPzjNOhdxXHFZt5Rd_UxXHhVbrtLCNTCDG-RI4Eh6AVzfe5wdxNdRq0GPTcU7FVP6bMXkqll66-qHZUOnDmPQn5gM7/w640-h460/italy-1950s-30.jpg) |
Italy. Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_5ujAwhzvaOsdqpmsCZBvl04Cniwajwh4FHy_rdAd7-tkzlgCtB_6P-mXKLEv-vmKRyOQzRlhL4ASSGhVyEVD6HujxQPT_JQWlu8etbjQDUmdh-WgwDKL6d5qNtuKL5Gd6ClIFOBvJoyWoeiFFIFGSPb6qzk2jJi_eNthkfGQD6PsXw7hMI1ZivQuRw0/s16000/italy-1950s-31.jpg) |
Italy. Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimy9DAy37XgcHHZ9otmr8kRqPv3MGxwZV-UwibvYKdfS17jlADNlDllXTvjSxNVHbOsbKt4UZbed7JtMJ2PgrzyZprHtnHnXnh087dKTzhZh8yT4Q88WgkYD4DxiF6HgYh2Ix21F44ZYYqrZCaXCYVYAGHThAYWYYm5UVq0y_7LCkozPPU3ca695ua_9AZ/s16000/italy-1950s-32.jpg) |
Italy. Venice, September 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauNZvUJHugCMV44WS0_fDSvtJS-5l6O3_sGg3Y5caJPR-qdeiHi657xCxtMHP_0AlZxVCUUksnkBTcaWZ_eLwYfcU-do_SvBPsdrIlarM666ABPYHajwRNRcvYnsrsG4f84LXfIEiGHBZ-QjV4y_Lw19FnXMoV6dQUw4DIgPMKJOheGtOEcJ2s8c_R2z7/w640-h456/italy-1950s-33.jpg) |
Italy. Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, Rome, October 1955 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlBS3KROGua8513qk-z1fA3kupjFGzGy3ZVjyTmnnjJygLK2WMMVIcPnbz1v3kaPOnTEIUpFO_42yB3NHdW55lIeo-TkWksFgU5fR7m_WRk3SYnNEM14KOG7KzNrFcPMTjID3RnRIsOfJ4-7XKAAzdnW1e3YzQn8zLQX1-ZHbazPt-hh7a37W-Gkj5FRU/s16000/italy-1950s-34.jpg) |
Italy. View from Via del Fagutale, Rome, October 1955 |
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