Gezicht op Sorrento c. 1880 - 1895

This photograph of Sorrento was taken by the Alinari brothers, whose studio became a leading institution for the production and distribution of photographic images of Italian art and architecture. The image’s cultural context is defined by the rise of tourism in the late 19th century. As Italy unified and its infrastructure developed, the country became an increasingly popular destination for wealthy Europeans and Americans. The Alinari studio capitalized on this trend by producing idealized images of Italian landscapes and monuments. But this image is more than a simple record. It is a carefully constructed composition designed to appeal to a particular kind of tourist: one who appreciates beauty and history, but who also values order and control. The town is picturesque, but it is also clean and well-organized. This would have reassured visitors that Italy was a safe and civilized place to visit. By studying photographs like these, alongside travel guides, maps, and other ephemera, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped the modern tourism industry.