How Travel Changed in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Tourism is by far the largest source of income for Sorrento and neighboring cities on the coast of Southern Italy.
Many people aren’t aware that this is the lasting effect of the first instance of modern tourism.
The Grand Tour was a journey taken by 18th and 19th-century wealthy British families to learn and experience different art styles, architecture, and culture, typically as a rite of passage to complete their education.
The Tour was, on average, a two-year excursion down from England and throughout Italy.
From Venice to Naples: The Grand Tour's Italian Journey
Some of the first stops were commonly in Geneva or Montreux, Switzerland, and would continue to Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples with months to spend in these unique cities.
The Grand Tour is where the term, “tourism,” was coined to describe the increased desire for traveling abroad in a mocking tone towards the wealthy British who used Italy as an escape from their own lives.
Despite how tourism has grown by magnitudes since the 18th century, Italians remain extremely welcoming of tourists who choose to come to their land and experience their culture.
The Italian sector of the Tour would start in the north in Venice, the city built on islands.
This was a wonder that attracted many foreigners to the city along with its reputation as a party city.
The Tourists would attend lavish balls and parties, specifically around Carnival which is a festival known for its elaborate costumes and masks full of bright colors, sparkles, and feathers.
Another drawing point to the city was the collection of the Venetian painter, Canaletto, known for his landscapes of the city.
It was one of the ultimate souvenirs to bring back from the Tour and to put on display in their homes.
On King George the Third’s Tour, he bought out the entire collection which contributed to British appeal in Italian art and the spreading of cultural artifacts.
Florence: The Renaissance Heart of the Grand Tour
The next stop was on The Grand Tour was in Florence which was renowned for its Renaissance Art, gardens, and rolling Tuscan countryside.
The city has a certain charm that emanates from its architecture and art style that is still one of the main attractions today, with the Duomo and Uffizi Gallery sitting as some of the most famous Italian attractions.
This point of the tour was the first dramatic change in landscape as the city is surrounded by rolling hillsides speckled with vineyards and expansive villas.
After Florence, a short yet anticipated trip to Rome lay ahead of the Tourists.
The British Tourists had an immense interest in the ancient Roman ruins such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
They used their archeological interest to aid and fund the excavations and often would take home a Roman statue or sculpture, which is why many lie in British museums now.
Exploring Naples: Pompeii, Vesuvius, and a City of Festivities
Following their desire to uncover Roman architecture, Naples grabbed their attention and brought them farther south.
Naples, infact, is home to Herculaneum and Pompeii which were marvels to the foreigners upon seeing the sites for the first time.
Mount Vesuvius looming above attracted their interest in volcanology and the application of new science as several lava flows and eruptions were captured by the Tourists in accounts and paintings.
Other than Vesuvius and the Roman ruins, Naples was a city of parties and musical evenings.
Sorrento's Rise as a Vacation Destination: From the Grand Tour to Today
This leads us to Sorrento, lying only an hour or so away from the city of Naples and known for its vacation villas, stunning views and beaches.
Sorrento attracted wealthy Neapolitans and foreign Tourists for this very reason, and centuries later this phenomenon has only grown.
Numerous artists, writers, and members of European aristocracy visited Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, drawn by its natural beauty, mild climate, and cultural allure.
Some of the best-known visitors include: Lord Byron, the British Romantic poet, known for his travels across Italy and passion for Mediterranean landscapes.
The famous German poet and writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; but also Walter Scott, Richard Wagner, Stendhal, Charles Dickens, Henrick Ibsen (to whom a public park here in Sorrento is dedicated).
As evidence of this, a plaque on the facade of the Correale Museum lists the names of famous writers and artists who visited Sorrento and the Sorrentine Peninsula during those years.
Sorrento is now known as a tourist destination and many of its attractions are only seasonal due to this reason. Without The Grand Tour, who knows if Sorrento would be as popular as it is today?
The Naples Coastline and Beyond
The Grand Tour started in Northern Italy when people would travel over the Alps and ended right here in the Naples area due to its port that could transport themselves and their large collection of souvenirs back to England.
Many people still travel to Italy in the same format starting in Milan or Venice, then heading down through Florence, Rome, Naples, and ending on the beautiful Southern Italian coastline.
The Grand Tour was the start of modern tourism as well as one of the main distributions of Italian artifacts and relics that are now cherished worldwide!
Ciao,
Emma
