J - 44 : When a Fiat conquered Calabria

The Seicento (Fiat 600) was Italy's answer to the VW Beetle and the Renault 2CV. From 1957 to 1960, 2.7 million Seicento were produced in Turin. It was an Italian Pop Item

Anybody who once spent a winter in Milan knows the longing for sun, warm air and blue skies. Milan, actually most of the Po Valley, are from October to March covered by a layer of dense fog. The days are short, grey, wet and cold. Nearly 20 million people live in the Provinces of Piedmont, Lombardia and Veneto, a third of Italy's total population (59 million).

Typical "Inversion Fog" during Italy's Winter

Italy today is a rich country - visited by millions of tourists. Loved by its citizens. That the country was once so poor that half of its population had to emigrate (1876 - 1915) is mostly forgotten. The same goes for the destruction during World War II. Two years of fighting (1943 - 1945) had laid iItaly into ruins. After 1945, there seemed to be little future for the country and its people. I remember the 600'000 Italians who had to come to Switzerland for work. In1970, 10% of the Swiss population were Italians.

In 1944, the German Wehrmacht blew up all Arno Bridges except the Ponte Vecchio

Poor people cannot travel. They have neither money nor holidays. Fascist dictator Mussolini sensed the longings of millions of Italians for sea and sun. His answer was the collective "Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro" (National After-Work Program). In groups, Italians could go on holidays to state-owned seaside or mountain resorts, albeit for the price of constant fascist brainwashing. You only need to look at the posters to get it. Musollini's ideas were not to the liking of the Italian people. They wanted a holiday with their family somewhere in the sun and on a beach, far away from the state and their every day worries. The Marshall Plan and the economic miracle it triggered (as in Germany) made it possible.

The "Colonia Marina 28 Ottobre" - today "Le Navi" - was built in 1932 for Dopolavoro

The deal of center-right Democrazia Christiana (DC), the ruling party after the Second World War, with the Italian people was simple. We pull you out of poverty - you don't vote communist. After the war, the Partito Comunista Italiano was strong and had until 1976 30 - 35% of the votes. DC and the owner of FIAT, the industrialist Gianni Agnelli, went to work. He produced affordable cars for the middle class. The DC built Highways to connect Italy.

Gianni Agnelli (1921 - 2004), Industrialist and owner of Fiat and Aldo Moro (1916 - 1978), five time Prime Minister in Postwar Italy

By 1964, the Autostrade del Sole (A1) was completed. It had taken 8 years and LIRA 100 bn (EUR 250m) to build the 755 km from Milan, Bologna, Florence and Rome to Naples. Eight years later, in 1972, it was extended to the Straits of Messina. Before the A1 existed, the trip from Milan to Naples took 2 days. Now it could be done in 7 hours. 5 hours more and you reached Reggio di Calabria on the Straits of Messina.

The Autostrada del Sole north of Florence - Gasstation with queuing Fiat 600

All the while, Gianni Agnelli built Italy's vehicles. The tiny Fiat 500 (which we called Italian Backpack in Switzerland) and the family car Fiat 600 were a particular success. From 1955 - 1960, in only five years, one million Fiat Seicento (600) were built. Until production was ceased in 1969, the total reached a staggering 2.7 millions By the 1970s the more spacious Fiat 1500 followed. It was equally successful.

The Fiat Lingotto Factory in Turin with the famous Race Track on Top - the Assembly Line for the Fiat Cinquecento, the small brother of the Fiat 600, in 1957

Entire families squeezed into these cars - smallish by today's standards - for the day long journey down south, deck chairs and paddle boats on the roof. Interrupted only by a few pit stops at the popular "Autogrill", the families spent the whole day in their car - there was no AC nor did the cars have radios or stereos. But it was fun. The Autostrada del Sole (Highway of the Sun) was the key to two weeks of happiness, sunbathing, local sea food - far away from the foggy and grey towns in Italy's north. The Seicento was Italy's symbol of freedom, emancipation and adventure.

The mass movement of 1/3 of Italy during Ferragosto - as the holiday in August are called - revolutionized Italy. Suddenly jobs were created in the south. Beaches filled with visitors. Deck chair managers established their business. Hotels and restaurants opened. For the economy, it was a most welcome boost. Campagnia (the area around and south of Naples) alone welcomes today 15 million visitors, half of them from abroad. Almost 25% from the USA. Americans are loved for their generous spending and tipping. Today tourism in Campania generates annually EUR 10 bn of revenue which amounts to 5.5% of GDP. It supports ten thousands of jobs in hospitality, gastronomy and pays for the maintenance of the many ancient heritage sites.

The spectacular Beaches of Tropea - we visited the Town in 2021

There are no more Fiat Seicento on the Autostrada del Sole today. But the effect the Seicento had on Italy's South is visible in everywhere. In this respect, the tiny car from Turin was a true conqueror.