Rare Italian Travel poster Rapallo by Natoli 1924 original lithograph Italian Riviera
$ 4,500Artist: Natoli Domenico detto Scapin
Printer: Litografia “La Presse”, Milano
Size: 27.5 x 39 in / 70 x 100 cm
On/Off Linen: On Linen
Print Technique: Lithograph
Year: 1924
Condition & Comments: Nice condition, colors bright, some slight blemishes in margin; otherwise excellent
Ravello is a historic village perched above Italy’s Amalfi Coast, dating back to the 12th century. One of its famous landmarks is Villa Rufolo, built by a wealthy merchant family in the 1200s. The villa’s medieval architecture blends Greek, Arab, and Moorish influences due to Ravello’s location along Mediterranean trade routes. Villa Rufolo was first mentioned in 1353 in Boccaccio’s Decameron.
Ravello became a popular retreat for artists, musicians, and writers in the late 1800s during the Grand Tour era. Famous visitors included Robert Wagner, who composed part of his Parsifal opera here, as well as Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, and Greta Garbo. Today, Ravello still attracts celebrities seeking privacy on the Amalfi Coast.
The Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT), established in 1919, created posters like this one to promote travel within Italy. This particular poster, featuring Villa Rufolo, was designed by Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963), a noted artist known for his sculptures and designs for Italian currency and the 1936 Olympics.