19th century tourist behavior in Rome
 

I was just reading about Nikolas Gogol, the author of the classic "Dead Souls". Like many Russian authors, he spent a great deal of time in Italy and France, including extensive time in Rome.

When Gogol had finished a chapter in 1841, his secretary writes:
At the end of this remarkable chapter, I was so excited that putting the pen on the table, I said frankly, "I think, Nikolai Vassilyevich, this chapter is a real work of genius!" Gogol gripped the manuscript in his hand and said in a thin, hardly audible voice: "Believe me, the others are not worse." But raising his voice at the same moment, he went on: "Do you realize we've still lots of time before dinner. Come, let's have a look at the Gardens of Sallust, which you haven't seen yet, and we may as well knock at the door of Villa Ludivisi!" From the beaming look on his face and his proposal, one could see that the impression made on me by his dictation gave him great pleasure. This showed itself even more when we went out into the street. Gogol had taken an umbrella in case of rain and as soon as we turned to the left of the Barberini palace into a deserted lane, he burst into a gay Ukrainian song and then broke into a dance and began twirling the umbrella over his head with such abandon that in two minutes it flew off, leaving only the handle in his hand. He picked it up quickly and went on with the dance. It was in this way that he expressed the gratified feelings of an artist.

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Can you imagine if you saw a tourist behaving in this way today at Piazza Barberini? Has anyone seen anything similar?

I was curious about Villa Ludovisi, and found this info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_Ludovisi
So to simplify, Villa Ludovisi is gone now, but the Via Veneto and the American embassy district rose in its place. That's why that area of Rome is 19th century in appearance.

Thanks for sharing, W.

((I))

My umbrella flew up and broke in the heavy wind of a rainstorm on the Pont Neuf in Paris. Does that count?

I wish my spirit was brave enough or less "restrained" to actually perform the little dance of joy I feel when I'm where I planned on being...<GRIN>
Instead I'm dancing in my soul.

I sang in a supermarket in Austria last week to annoy my husband.

It's almost like an inspirational scene for "Singing in the Rain".

I like Dead Souls, but that sounds a little exaggerated to me as Gogol's behavior.

Now if you want to read about prior tourists in Rome, you really should read a book by Tony Perrottet about tourists in Rome in the first century. This book was very informative (I never even thought about tourists back then, but they did some of the same things then as now ( like writing "so-and-so was here as graffiti on walls", that was really funny) and there was a whole tourist industry, and it was really funny, also. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Route-66-D-Anc.../dp/037550432X

Hi WillTravel, what a fun thread and knowing the Via Veneto, The American Embassay area so well it is informative also as I didn't know about the Villa Ludovisi.

BTW. I almost did a happy dance once when I finally got across the street in that area without getting run over by those excellent Italian drivers, lol.

Christina, I wouldn't be too surprised if the account is exaggerated. I will have to take a look at that book - thanks for reminding me. I checked it out of the library a few months ago, but had to return it before I read it. Come to think of it, I did see someone (an Italian man) break out into song while walking along in Florence, though.

LoveItaly, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know you like the Via Veneto area, and it was interesting to read that history.