Abstract
This paper examines American tourism to Florence, Italy during the first half of the 19th century. American tourists came with different motives: gaining social capital, exploring art and history, enjoying Tuscan scenery. Americans artist and writers (Cooper, Longfellow, Powers, Hawthorne) went to Florence to visit prominent expatriates and practice their crafts in a city renowned for its culture and history. American tourists of all stripes found in Florence a convivial atmosphere well suited to enjoyment or edification. Using primary sources (letters, diaries, newspaper accounts, fiction), the paper examines why Florence became such a popular destination for Americans. It concludes that Florence, as an imagined and actual destination, fulfilled many of the yearnings and imperatives present in 19th-century American culture.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Changing Dimensions of Contemporary Tourism
KEYWORDS
FLORENCE, ITALY, TOURISM, WRITERS, ARTISTS
