No country has awakened the longing of the Germans more than Italy. Nowhere else do past and present intertwine in such a compelling way, with the foreign and seemingly familiar lying so closely together. Joachim Fest did not travel through this country via the conventional route, but from the south. This has resulted in a vivid, multifaceted portrait. Whether Fest recounts a detour through the nocturnal Sicily, describes the maze of streets in Naples, or discusses Michelangelo's frescoes – sharp observations are always interspersed with pointed reflections or captivating historical sketches. However, the focus is on the people he encounters. A brilliantly written travel journal that is much more than that: a literary masterpiece, artfully composed yet very personal.