Johann Caspar Goethe e il ‘suo’ viaggio in Italia

Johann Caspar Goethe (1710-1782) is known almost exclusively as the father of the more famous Johann Wolfgang. Only few, therefore, know that in 1740 he undertook an eight-month journey through Italy, then recording on paper the impressions and experiences he lived during his Grand Tour. Written entirely in Italian, a language that Johann Caspar knew well, the diary shows a different itinerary from the one usually traveled at the time, with stages outside that “German colony” built by his fellow countrymen aristocrats. The document is also testament of his many interests – music, painting, natural sciences – and helps to do justice to an unfairly forgotten figure.