This work analyzes the Italian mass medium of the photo novel in relation to its semiotic and structural text-image relationships. Taking into account the media of film and comics, an attempt is made to develop a typology of the photo novel. To provide a comprehensive understanding of what the photo novel represents in Italy, the nearly 60-year history of the medium is outlined, presenting its precursors, emergence, and development. Two prominent examples - Manzoni's I Promessi Sposi and Plissart's Droit de Regard - are then examined in detail to explore the variations and possibilities of the photo novel. As entertainment and escapist literature, the photo novel still plays a significant role in Italy today.