Roman Journey 1786-1788

When Johann Wolfgang Goethe embarked on his Grand Tour of Italy in 1786 at the age of 37,he was already one of Europe's best-known writers. The famous Italian Journey is the result of his experiences,and the most intense emotions are concentrated in the months he spent in Rome. The pages dedicated to the city,which we reproduce here,are an extraordinary travel diary:they witness the poet's eye in the presence of religious festivals,the colours of the Roman carnival,the grandeur of ancient buildings. And all this becomes a fascinating autobiography of the poet,who experiences the city as a source of spiritual enrichment.