Since as far back as the Renaissance, Italy has been the destination of an infinite number of travelers, artists and writers who visited the peninsula to discover its cultural patrimony in order to complete their education. In class we will read and discuss some of the most famous travel accounts and literary works of the Western canon (Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Goethe, Twain, and Jhumpa Lahiri, among others) in order to understand why travelers from different epochs and different backgrounds shared the same fascination with Italy. We will move from North to South visiting different cities (from Florence to Venice, from Rome to Naples) and learn about the great masters (from Leonardo to Michelangelo) about the most tragic moment of Italian history (fascism and the second World War), as well as about its present state in the age of globalization. Finally, the course will also introduce students to several libraries and museums on the Berkeley campus, alternating lectures and discussion sessions in class with onsite visits.

The course is taught in English with readings in English.
Prerequisites: none.