Category: October 1876

Departure for Sorrento; on leaving, swimming beggars, among whom a boy distinguishes himself by his brown colour, his beauty, vivacity, and agility, “as though straight from Nature’s workshop,” says R.; he catches the sous in the sea with his mouth. On board, singers and guitar-players and fiddlers, popular songs, merry and plaintive;…

Once more to the Museum, this time with Boni, to let her see a few things acquaint. R. joins me there, and I show him the Farnese Hercules[1] followed by a drive to the Mercato Vecchio; in the evening, a walk along the Chiaia. On our return home, a violinist…

Again, to the museum, where we remained until noon. After dinner, a drive to Capodimonte, returning home by the Via Vittorio Emanuele. In the evening at the San Carlino; Pulcinella as a seller of Cri-Cri—very dramatically acted, but a piece of little merit.

In the morning at the Museum; in the afternoon a drive over the Posilipo, very beautiful! R. likes the great life here very much, and it is indeed the liveliest city imaginable; popular in the most exuberant sense of the word. At the museum today I looked only at the…

R. and I drive by way of Castellamare to Sorrento to seek lodgings there; a beautiful day, full of remarkable prospects. In the evening back in Naples. Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]