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Goethe?

Posted by Bruce Kahl on September 06, 2000

In Reply to: See Naples and die posted by D.M. on September 05, 2000

: Where did the phrase come from? Everyone seems to know it, but nobody knows its origin.

It means that before you die you must experience the beauty and magnificence of Naples.

A few websites state that it was Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe of Faust fame who coined the phrase!
In 1786-88 he made a journey to Italy, which inspired his play IPHIGENIE AUF TAURIS, and RÖMISHE ELEGIEN, sensuous poems relating partly to Christiane Vulpius, who became Goethe's mistress in 1789.

The phrase can be found in Italian Journey {1786-1788} (Penguin Classics)

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