Rimini, Italy – Ospizio Marino Provinciale Bolognese – Postcard early 20th Century

This postcard captures the Ospizio Marino Provinciale Bolognese in Rimini, Italy, showing a group of children lined up in front of the institution's imposing seaside buildings. The caption identifies this as “La prima squadra invernale” – the first winter group – suggesting a seasonal arrival of children receiving treatment or care. Nurses and caretakers are seen alongside the children, arranged with formality in the open courtyard, set against the grand architecture of this early 20th-century medical facility.
The Ospizio Marino Provinciale Bolognese was one of several marine hospices established along the Italian coastline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Funded by the Province of Bologna, this institution provided therapeutic care for children suffering from chronic illnesses such as rickets, scrofula, and respiratory diseases—conditions often linked to poverty and urban overcrowding.
During this period, heliotherapy (sunlight exposure) and thalassotherapy (sea air and bathing) were believed to have powerful healing effects. These principles guided the design and function of marine hospices like this one in Rimini. The complex featured open-air dormitories, verandas, and large windows to maximize natural light and sea breezes, in line with modern public health ideals of the time.
Children were sent in seasonal groups known as squadre stagionali, often staying for weeks or months under medical supervision. The ospizio not only offered medical care but also incorporated elements of schooling and recreation, making it a blend of hospital, boarding school, and seaside retreat. The uniforms worn by the children and the structured routine reflect the strong influence of progressive health and social reform movements in early 20th-century Italy.
Front Text:
RIMINI – La prima squadra invernale all’Ospizio Marino Provinciale Bolognese
Size ±: 14 cm x 9 cm
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