Roma Italia Rome Italy

This original 1930s travel poster, designed by the Italian artist Virgilio Retrosi and issued by ENIT (the Italian State Tourist Board), is a striking promotion for the Eternal City—Roma. It captures the grandeur and timeless appeal of Rome through a bold composition of its most iconic landmarks, rendered in stylized Art Deco tones.

At the center of the image stands Trajan’s Column, dominating the foreground with its coiled reliefs rendered in deep black. Behind it, to the right, rises the majestic façade of the Altare della Patria (also known as the Victor Emmanuel II Monument), its Neoclassical details sharply defined in shades of cream and beige. Above the building, the silhouetted equestrian statues glow in a surreal golden hue against a gradient sky that transitions from cool green to soft yellow, evoking the Roman twilight.

To the left of the column is a richly colored bell tower, basking in a warm sunrise or sunset, backed by a mystical pattern of overlapping architectural outlines that enhance the dreamlike, timeless quality of the scene. This symbolic layering gives the viewer a sense of Rome’s historical depth, blending past and present in a single captivating frame.

The bottom portion of the poster features a deep black panel with the word “ROMA” boldly printed in vivid red-orange uppercase letters. The ENIT crest flanks either side, adding official authenticity to the piece. The work is signed “RETROSI” in the top right corner.

The poster is in very good condition, professionally mounted on linen with minor repairs that preserve its vivid impact and original character. It is a remarkable artifact of pre-war European travel advertising, beautifully balancing modernist graphic style with classical subject matter—perfectly capturing Rome’s eternal allure.