Which Italian City is Not to Miss? – December 4th, 2021
The Italian city not to miss?
NAPLES.
Johann Wolfgang van Goethe knew it, for he invoked an Italian saying after his late 18th-century Naples sojourn: “Vedi Napoli e poi, muori” ( “See Naples..and die”). Goethe, too, believed that once one has seen Naples, one can die peacefully as no other place can match its beauty.
Or its fascination.
As I once wrote, I certainly have a “Need for Naples,” heading there whenever I can for a few days. The treasures are numerous and of course include Pompeii’s frescoes, silver, bronze, glass, and ivory objects in the MANN (Museo Archaeologico Nazionale di Napoli), the Capodimonte porcelain collection, the most astounding (for me) masterpiece ever sculptured in Italy, il Cristo Velato (Veiled Christ), the massive seaside fortress and sites too numerous to write about.
And those Naples backstreets hide artisanal treasures we’ll explore together in my talk.
Our explorations start with curiosities in a 17th-century foundlings’ home. We’ll then head into the backstreets of one of the most populous and historic districts of Naples, hanging washes draped over colorful murals of two beloved napoletani personages. After a stop for buonissimo Naples street food, we’ll head to the street of the terracotta creche-scene artisans, where talented craftsmen carry on an 18th-century legacy: absolutely one of Itay’s most acclaimed artistic traditions.
I’ll have another surprise to share, too.
Frequent blog notes this week will prepare you for my talk – as well as my many countless past notes on Naples.
Just search “Naples” here.
You may find my past “Virtual Experiences” here and on my Youtube channel.
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