Wonders of Italy [antikvár]

í___J Z taly has always lieen ^ ^ 11 bel Paese, " a beautiful countiy par excellence which the famous medieval encyclopedia created by Pierre d'Ailly described as "the most beautiful country, favorable for the fertility of its soil and the richness of its pastures." Italy was like a dream: "Once you have been to Italy, you will forget other lands. If you have been to Paradise, you no longer need Earth, ( ) Europe compared to Italy is like a cloudy day contrasted with a sunny day," wrote Russian writer Nikolai Gogol after a stay in Italy, It is clearly a country that, once disco\'ered, you no longer wish to leave. There is "everything necessary for life and which renders it so delightful," according to Bmzen de la Martiniere in the 18th century, and the Gennan poet Heinrich Heine declared, "it is a wonderful thing just to li\ e in Italy." But what is it that makes Italy beautiful? What is it, seen through the eyes of foreigners, and by those smitten in particular, that has made Italy the ideal setting where one can abandon oneself to pure emotions and violent passions? There are many answers even today and of the 12 Vie results of llw amtamical imcarch carried mtl by Miclietan^eio, piwioiisly evidmc&t in llw slalues of \y?vid (1501) ami the Pieta, aiv clearly illuslraled in his Moses ill Ihe church of San Pietm in Vincoli, in Home. 13 These famous bronzes are a masterpiece of Greek art; they show lu'ü warriors or possibly lu!0 biu^s. They uwe found iu Riace in Calabria and are kept in Ihe National Museum of Reggio Calabria. The atlisl ims cerlainly ofprodifiious laleul bul his idenlily is unknoivn: experts have dated the imrk to 460-4'>0 liC