Figure 1.-- This photograph was taken between 1936 and 1940 in a rural area of southern Tuscany. A heliotherapy summer camp was organized for the local children. Due to the prevalence of rickets, at the time many Italian doctors promoted heliotherapy. The camp took place in the fields. This camp was attended by boys. The girls probably had a separate place. For the sunbath the children took off all their clothing except their straw hats. That would have been a problem for children from highclass families, but to be unclothed was not a big deal for peasant boys.
Heliotherapy is the use of sunlight for therapeutic purposes. The Sun has been a focus of humans since the very dawn of humanity. And many ancient civilizations worshipped the sun. It is only in modern times that medical practice based on sun light has developed--heliotherapy. It is also now knon as light therpy as artificial lamps are used. There was considerabkle interest in this, both in Europe and the United States. This included Italy. Helitherapy was a feature at many Itlalian summrer camps. Doctors across Europe promoted heliotherapy as a cure for tuberculosis and lupus, cuts and scrapes, burns, arthritis, rheumatism, and nerve damage. Tans after the World War I began to become trendy as a sign of good health. Americns began flocking to Florida and southern California. Researchers began to understand the actul benefits. They found that sunlight killed the bacteria that caused tuberculosis and other diseases. Others proved that sunlight and UV light could cure rickets caused by a dietary deficiency (vitamin D). We note considerabke interest in France and Italy. In Italy sanatoiria were opened. Rickets was the primary concern. We notice waht seem to be the greratest adoption of therapy in Europe. Not only were there soecial heliotherapy summer camps, but heliotherapy infuenced the operation of many regular summer camps in Italy. Italian Fascists seem particularly devoted to Heliotheraoy. Not only do we see this at regulr summer czmps, but several special camps with purpose-designed heliotherapeutic architecture were opened. They were called colonia elioterapica (heliotherapy camps). We note reports on the exiustence of these camps after World War I (1922). This began before the Faxidsts seized power, but tghe Facists seem yo hsve tken a specisl interest in Heiotherapy. The purpose was to provide fresh air and sunshine to children from industrial cities. They were summer day camps. Initially this was done with minimal facilities. Eventually actual facilties were built. These facilitioes were unique to Mussolini's Italy. There were sanatoria in otherr countries, but these were day camps. Along with the fresh air and sunshine, there was also Fascist education as well as medical care. One source reports that the buildings were to "act like great beach umbrellas, sheltering the children during sudden showers or at meals, and for controlling the hours of exposure to the sun." They were designed by the Milan BBPR archetectutal partnership. The more elaborate facilitiers ere built late in the Fascist era (1937-39), just before World War II. According to BBPR, "There was a lot of gymnastics, then after lunch they would have a rest. There was a wooden roof-terrace which we built for this purpose because it was more healthy, avoiding the damp from the ground. Then there was singing and medical check-ups, which were seen as very important, to ensure that there were no infectious diseases amongst the children." [Denzer] Actusl facilkties could only be constructed in a few locastions. But Heliotherspy could be opursued anywhere in sunny Italy with only makeship facilities (figure 1).
Sources
Denzer, Anthony. "Colonia Elioterapica," Solar House History (December 20, 2013).
Saleeby, C. "The Advance of Heliotherapy," Nature Vol. 109, Mo. 663 (1922).
