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Goethe

Posted by Henry on November 24, 2003

In Reply to: See Bruges and diet posted by Lewis on November 24, 2003

: : : : : : : A recent radio programme referred to the phrase "See Naples and die" and gave Goethe as the source. But what is the origin of See Rome and die?

: : : : : : Somebody misquoting Goethe?

: : : : : : There's no such quote as "See Rome and die," unless somebody just blew it. I don't know what Geothe said exactly, but the Italians say "Vedi Napoli e muore." What it means, of course, is that when you've seen Naples you've seen everything, and it's safe to die. Or something pretty close to that.

: : : :
: : : : I lived in Naples for a time and saw little that persuaded me not to look for a better place. I did, however, catch flu in Naples and nearly died - leastwise that's how I felt at the time. I also found it a place of loud car horns, petty thieves, overcrowded streets, and loads of rain in December. I preferred Florence.

: : : The Naples area is one that Italians for many centuries have regarded as the most libertine and outrageous of places. After all, Vesuvius rises above it, Pompeii was buried practically next door. If you read the accounts of crime, behavior and spending in ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum, you'll realize that the simple terms "orgies" and "nothing succeeds like excess" are euphemistic descriptions when applied to the actions of some of the residents. Even house decoration tended toward the lascivious, corrupt and drunken. So when you see Naples (the general area), you've seen it all.

: : It's no surprise then that I came up empty in my search for beauty, charm and tranquillity.

: Firenze is a top place - full of visitors but not overwealmed. Venezia is a beautiful city too, but is so much more self-conscious about it. The 'Venice of the North' is Bruges in the Flemish part of Belgium.

: Being Burgundian in Bruges has an effect on the waistline. I cannot understand how so many Belgian women stay slim - perhaps there is a law banning slobs in Belgium, but saying that, it must only apply to the women - men are permitted to be stout, should they choose to be so. So for the visitor, perhaps the advice should be "See Bruges and diet"

www.area.cs.cnr.it/calabria/cai/montea/anno3n1.htm
Erede diretto degli antichi greci, il "napoletano vive tra il paradiso del suo mare e l'inferno del Vesuvio", scrisse Goethe che vide Napoli, la comprese e l'amò.

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