The Themes

The history of Torviscosa is a journey through the history of 20th century Italy, starting with the Fascist 1920s.

The conditions of the foundation of this little town are closely linked to the themes of that period: agrarian reform, characterised by land reclamation, the economic policy of autarky, technological and industrial progress and the social consequences of two world wars. New towns like Torviscosa were the concrete realisation of Fascism and were built virtually all over Italy in areas of land reclamation, as a symbol of man’s victory over the swamp and as a new model of urban planning.

The post-war period can also be recounted, in part, through the micro-history of Torviscosa, especially as regards the history of the chemicals industry in Italy and its impact on the environment.