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Promenades dans Rome
Rare Book
912 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1829
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418 people want to read
About the author
Stendhal
1,991 books2,165 followersMarie-Henri Beyle, better known by his pen name Stendhal, was a 19th-century French writer. Known for his acute analysis of his characters' psychology, he is considered one of the earliest and foremost practitioners of realism in his two novels
Le Rouge et le Noir
(The Red and the Black, 1830) and
La Chartreuse de Parme
(The Charterhouse of Parma, 1839).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 8, 2013
Si sente sempre parlare della Roma dell'800 come di uno stereotipo. Dei romantici viaggiatori e letterati europei, che affrontavano un viaggio rischioso e scomodo pur di trascorrere qualche tempo tra gli ozi e la magia ispiratrice delle rovine. Oppure della Roma "papalina", cioè antecedente al 1870, indolente, eccentrica e oscura, nella quale il popolino dava del "tu" alla nobiltà. Di quella Roma in cui non esistevano classi intermedie tra l'opulenza e l'indigenza, le quali, sfaccendate entrambe, si aiutavano e tolleravano a vicenda. Una commistione incomprensibile allo straniero; una promiscuità che avrebbero faticato a capire anche i primi impiegati statali piemontesi, la borghesia impiegatizia che vi si trasferì, quando la città divenne Capitale d'Italia...
700 pagine qui la dipingono dal vivo. 700 pagine di osservazioni, descrizioni, conversazioni, cronache e pettegolezzi d'antan, che scorrono via, in lettura leggera. 700 pagine farcite di notizie, curiosità e indicazioni archeologiche preziose, talvolta imprecise, ma fondanti; o di informazioni di costume, vive come fossero di ieri; di saggezza popolare raccolta e meditata; o di nobili raffinatezze, per noi anacronistiche ma rappresentative, a volte ancora ispiratrici. 700 artistiche pagine piene di arte. Una sorta di indispensabile breviario, che lega i ricordi liceali sull'impero romano ... a ciò che Roma è diventata oggi, colmando un enorme buco temporale. Da romano, consiglio questo libro più di qualsiasi altra, pur perfetta, guida turistica a chiunque desideri davvero capire ciò che resta del Tempo e dell'Uomo, nella Città Eterna. In un ultimo, riuscito, tentativo di ignorare l'impossibile, babelico, caos di oggi.
700 pagine qui la dipingono dal vivo. 700 pagine di osservazioni, descrizioni, conversazioni, cronache e pettegolezzi d'antan, che scorrono via, in lettura leggera. 700 pagine farcite di notizie, curiosità e indicazioni archeologiche preziose, talvolta imprecise, ma fondanti; o di informazioni di costume, vive come fossero di ieri; di saggezza popolare raccolta e meditata; o di nobili raffinatezze, per noi anacronistiche ma rappresentative, a volte ancora ispiratrici. 700 artistiche pagine piene di arte. Una sorta di indispensabile breviario, che lega i ricordi liceali sull'impero romano ... a ciò che Roma è diventata oggi, colmando un enorme buco temporale. Da romano, consiglio questo libro più di qualsiasi altra, pur perfetta, guida turistica a chiunque desideri davvero capire ciò che resta del Tempo e dell'Uomo, nella Città Eterna. In un ultimo, riuscito, tentativo di ignorare l'impossibile, babelico, caos di oggi.
August 16, 2020
"No os pido que me creáis bajo palabra sino solamente que, si alguna vez vais a Roma, abráis los ojos y escondáis este libro."
Diario de viaje, guía de la ciudad, directorio de iglesias y museos, acercamiento a la Historia romana y clase magistral de Historia del Arte.
Diario de viaje, guía de la ciudad, directorio de iglesias y museos, acercamiento a la Historia romana y clase magistral de Historia del Arte.
dnf
November 6, 2025Recensione parziale. Dopo un anno a stazionare sul comodino ho deciso che era arrivato il momento di metterlo da parte definitivamente.
Con la sua sagacia e ironia Stendhal racconta il suo viaggio in Italia, concentrandosi principalmente sulle descrizioni delle opere d'arte viste. Personalmente ho fatto fatica a mantenere l'attenzione, soprattutto per quelle opere non proprio famosissime.
Direi che, se non si è esperti o appassionati, la lettura può risultare lenta e difficoltosa.
Con la sua sagacia e ironia Stendhal racconta il suo viaggio in Italia, concentrandosi principalmente sulle descrizioni delle opere d'arte viste. Personalmente ho fatto fatica a mantenere l'attenzione, soprattutto per quelle opere non proprio famosissime.
Direi che, se non si è esperti o appassionati, la lettura può risultare lenta e difficoltosa.
January 11, 2019
Este libro es una especie de diario-guía de viajes. Se requiere una buena comprensión de historia para su aprovechamiento. En mi caso personal, doy una mala puntuación por no haber disfrutado el libro y haberlo dejado a medias. No obstante, el prólogo, que cuenta la vida de Stendhal me pareció muy curiosa y divertida.
December 11, 2024
“la iglesia ocupaba todo el dominio de lo sensible a través de las imágenes, de la música, del espectáculo integral que supone la liturgia católica, y su mistificación de lo trascendente se parecía demasiado a la dramatización del amor que proponía el propio Stendhal: la pasión que lleva al hombre más allá de lo humano. El catolicismo es bello y la belleza es católica. La belleza es por tanto romana y católica.”
La verdad que ha sido divertido leerlo mientras paseaba por Roma, aunque en realidad todo era un acto performático por si me encontraba a Sorrentino que se fijase en esa chica de belleza mediterránea tan interesante e intelectual que lee a Stendhal en un banco de una iglesia o apoyada en una columna del Panteón.
La verdad que ha sido divertido leerlo mientras paseaba por Roma, aunque en realidad todo era un acto performático por si me encontraba a Sorrentino que se fijase en esa chica de belleza mediterránea tan interesante e intelectual que lee a Stendhal en un banco de una iglesia o apoyada en una columna del Panteón.
October 31, 2024
No os pido que me creáis bajo palabra, sino solamente que, si alguna vez vais a Roma, abráis los ojos y escondáis este libro.
June 3, 2022
El Coliseo, la pietà, el Panteón, la Capilla sixtina, los frescos de Il Domenichino, ¿Notas un elevado ritmo cardíaco? La Aurora de Guercino, el San Miguel de Guido Reni, el incendio del Borgo o la expulsión de Heliodoro de Rafael, ¿vértigo, quizás?
Roma, llena de historias, creencias de vida, arte, triunfo y culpabilidad, fue testigo,víctima y verdugo de la historia. Testigo del pudor que vio esconder su escultura en trajes de hojalata y camisas de yeso, pero también verdugo con la sumersión de la papisa Juana al místico terreno de la leyenda, relegada a ser reconocida entre cartas de tarot. Roma aún recuerda con viveza y grave dolor ser víctima del momento exacto en el que Clemente VII huía recorriendo los 400 metros del pasillo que une el Vaticano con el castillo de Sant Angelo mientras sus acalorados pasos contemplaban el saqueo y la destrucción. Pero no todo recuerdo se encuentra gobernado por la tristeza, Roma aún se carcajea ante la noche de estreno de Rossini qué, tras una mala actuación y miedoso al fracaso, se ocultó en su habitación mientras las calles celebraban el éxito fulgurante de su Barbero.
Recuerdos que pertenecen a la eternidad de esta ciudad, y que se agolpan entre sus adoquines, bajo tierra o sobre las cúpulas de sus iglesias mientras el pensamiento hace revivir a Rafael o Miguel Ángel cuando todavía Marco Aurelio, los Médicis y los Borgia continúan sentados como protagonistas de la historia. Un fluir con el que transitar de la mano de Stendhal por la sensación de lo bello, a las puertas de la antigüedad del Imperio Romano y el Renacimiento para evaporar el presente de un siglo XIX empeñado en secundar la absurda veneración por todo lo que estuviera a la moda.
Una joya inagotable sobre la que descubrir, guiarse, evadirse, rememorar o soñar despierta con la citta eterna mientras aprendemos el honorable “oficio del viajero”.
Roma, llena de historias, creencias de vida, arte, triunfo y culpabilidad, fue testigo,víctima y verdugo de la historia. Testigo del pudor que vio esconder su escultura en trajes de hojalata y camisas de yeso, pero también verdugo con la sumersión de la papisa Juana al místico terreno de la leyenda, relegada a ser reconocida entre cartas de tarot. Roma aún recuerda con viveza y grave dolor ser víctima del momento exacto en el que Clemente VII huía recorriendo los 400 metros del pasillo que une el Vaticano con el castillo de Sant Angelo mientras sus acalorados pasos contemplaban el saqueo y la destrucción. Pero no todo recuerdo se encuentra gobernado por la tristeza, Roma aún se carcajea ante la noche de estreno de Rossini qué, tras una mala actuación y miedoso al fracaso, se ocultó en su habitación mientras las calles celebraban el éxito fulgurante de su Barbero.
Recuerdos que pertenecen a la eternidad de esta ciudad, y que se agolpan entre sus adoquines, bajo tierra o sobre las cúpulas de sus iglesias mientras el pensamiento hace revivir a Rafael o Miguel Ángel cuando todavía Marco Aurelio, los Médicis y los Borgia continúan sentados como protagonistas de la historia. Un fluir con el que transitar de la mano de Stendhal por la sensación de lo bello, a las puertas de la antigüedad del Imperio Romano y el Renacimiento para evaporar el presente de un siglo XIX empeñado en secundar la absurda veneración por todo lo que estuviera a la moda.
Una joya inagotable sobre la que descubrir, guiarse, evadirse, rememorar o soñar despierta con la citta eterna mientras aprendemos el honorable “oficio del viajero”.
August 18, 2024
Una guía de viaje curiosa. Se aleja de esas grandes novelas del autor por las que es de sobra conocido.
La guía tiene pasajes que son una auténtica delicia, episodios que atrapan al lector y le sumergen en las antigüedades romanas, clásicas y medievales. Stendhal combina su habilidad narrativa con la erudición de la época para ofrecer anécdotas y detalles del pasado de la Ciudad Eterna.
No obstante, también ofrece esa misma erudición para enumerar, describir y comentar los diferentes monumentos y obras que pueblan la villa. Dicha erudición a veces se hace tediosa, casi soporífera, sobre todo cuando se enreda en dar detalles, inapreciables para el lector que no se encuentra in situ, o medidas arquitectónicas, que se hacen extrañas a alguien familiarizado solamente con el sistema métrico.
Un detalle simpático del autor para quién quiera dejarse acompañar por él en un promenade, real o ficticio, son las listas de lugares que visitar, sean villas, palacios, iglesias o restos romanos, según el criterio de éste. Se repiten en varios puntos y son siempre un aditivo interesante.
En definitiva es un texto instructivo, qué complementado con algún que otro catálogo monumental o litografías, hace delicioso el hecho de preparar la escapada -siempre erudita o formativa-, de no menos de 10 días, según prescripción del autor, o la rememoración en diálogo con él de la estancia en esa ciudad inmortal.
La guía tiene pasajes que son una auténtica delicia, episodios que atrapan al lector y le sumergen en las antigüedades romanas, clásicas y medievales. Stendhal combina su habilidad narrativa con la erudición de la época para ofrecer anécdotas y detalles del pasado de la Ciudad Eterna.
No obstante, también ofrece esa misma erudición para enumerar, describir y comentar los diferentes monumentos y obras que pueblan la villa. Dicha erudición a veces se hace tediosa, casi soporífera, sobre todo cuando se enreda en dar detalles, inapreciables para el lector que no se encuentra in situ, o medidas arquitectónicas, que se hacen extrañas a alguien familiarizado solamente con el sistema métrico.
Un detalle simpático del autor para quién quiera dejarse acompañar por él en un promenade, real o ficticio, son las listas de lugares que visitar, sean villas, palacios, iglesias o restos romanos, según el criterio de éste. Se repiten en varios puntos y son siempre un aditivo interesante.
En definitiva es un texto instructivo, qué complementado con algún que otro catálogo monumental o litografías, hace delicioso el hecho de preparar la escapada -siempre erudita o formativa-, de no menos de 10 días, según prescripción del autor, o la rememoración en diálogo con él de la estancia en esa ciudad inmortal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
Some Stendhalien advice: « Le conseil d’aller en Italie ne doit pas se donner à tout le monde. » (The advice to go to Italy should not be given to everyone). I made the trip last autumn and judging by the hordes in the Vatican and the Colosseum, that advice has fallen on deaf ears.
Stendhal wrote these words in 1829, almost two hundred years ago. Things were different. Napoleon had taken Europe by storm and by 1810 had issued a proclamation that made Rome the second city of the French empire. Stendhal first visited Italy in 1811 and was smitten. However in 1814 he served and survived under Napoleon in the Russian campaign, returning once again to Italy. By 1817 Stendhal had published a book, “Rome, Naples and Florence” under his pseudonym Stendhal (his real name was Henri Beyle). It was an examination of art in Italy and made waves.
A decade later Stendhal published this book “Promenades dans Rome.” It is a comprehensive travel guide on Rome told in a diaristic fashion starting in 3 August 1827 and culminating in the 23 April 1829. He covers all the monuments, churches and of course art. Raphael and Michelangelo were his favourites. He talks about outings, people, music, culture, occasionally food, and of course, politics. He liked lists and there are comprehensive lists of the best churches in Rome, all the Roman emperors, all the popes until his time, and all the best artists (sadly not a woman on the list). In fact, there is even a guide to what to see in ten days. One could do it in four but if one has the time, why not twenty? Gosh, it sure sounds like a tour guide to me. And oddly, it was written completely in Paris.
One could see why Stendhal loved Rome: all that Roman history was contained in and around the Roman walls. The best achievement was the Colosseum. « “Le Colisée est sublime pour nous, parce que c’est un vestige vivant de ces Romains dont l’histoire a occupé toute notre enfance. » (The Colosseum is sublime for us, because it is a living memory of those Romans whose history occupied all of our youth). Everywhere one looks there is that link to the past. Ah, such nobility.
On the other hand, it is the Catholic Church that was front and center of the Italian world. Here is the dichotomy: the noble Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. During the Renaissance period a lot of art was created to fill all those churches (this is an understatement). Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Correggio, Carracci, Caravaggio, the list goes on. The art is resplendent and brilliant. Never has so much art been made at such a high calibre. And yet, « C’est par amour pour les beaux-arts que l’on vient à Rome, et là, cet amour vous abandonne, et, comme à l’ordinaire, la haine est sur le point de la remplacer. » (It is love for the fine arts that one comes to Rome, but when this love abandons you, and it’s so typical, hatred comes to takes its place.) Too much art? Ah, the Stendhal Syndrome!*
*Stendhal was moved to ecstasy in Santa Croce, Florence when seeing the famous tombs on Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Just knowing that Michelangelo’s bones were resting before me, i shuttered. You know what, I think this happened to me!
Stendhal was fascinated by the popes and in 1829 attended the conclave to elect Pope Prius VIII. He gives us the play by play of this monumental event. It was rather exciting. Regarding his politics, he did give a shout out to the Italian people, hoping one day they would become a nation (this doesn’t happen until 1861). Religion and politics, what a mix.
Reading these daily entries was at times interesting, and at other times, challenging to understand who was who (a very thorough notes section helps) or worse, annoyed that I didn’t get to see some famous or out of the way place in his book (hey, you can’t see everything). However Stendhal liked to digress, whether about the history of Raphael, a certain villainous pope, Lucretia Borgia, of even la papesse Jeanne (853-855). That’s right, a female pope.
Of course what caught my attention was his slagging of Montaigne in his travels to Italy, the same book I read while in Italy. Why oh why did M. de Montaigne never mention any of the great art? « Eh bien! Montaigne, cet homme de tant d’esprit, si curieux, si désoccupé, n’en dit pas un mot. La passion de tout un peuple pour les chefs-d’œuvre des arts l’a sans doute porté à les regarder, les dispositions des peuples; mais les fresques du Corrège, de Michel-Ange, de Léonard de Vinci, de Raphaël, ne lui ont fait aucun plaisir. » Maybe it’s a French thing to slag your fellow countryman?
Well at least one could say Stendhal was so intrigued by Italy a that he had to write about his travels, and these books would stand the test of time as a guide book. Or maybe all of this is just fodder for a novel? His classic “Chartreuse de Parme” was written ten years later (1839-40). One can’t say the same for today’s guide books. Last years is so out of date, isn’t it?
I did visit the Stendhal bookstore in Rome and fell in love with all those French books. Reading this book was a way to remember my trip while seeing what a master like Stendhal saw in his day. Ironically, all that art is still there but I wish I had taken this as my guide.
Oh well, to the happy few…
3.5 rating
Stendhal wrote these words in 1829, almost two hundred years ago. Things were different. Napoleon had taken Europe by storm and by 1810 had issued a proclamation that made Rome the second city of the French empire. Stendhal first visited Italy in 1811 and was smitten. However in 1814 he served and survived under Napoleon in the Russian campaign, returning once again to Italy. By 1817 Stendhal had published a book, “Rome, Naples and Florence” under his pseudonym Stendhal (his real name was Henri Beyle). It was an examination of art in Italy and made waves.
A decade later Stendhal published this book “Promenades dans Rome.” It is a comprehensive travel guide on Rome told in a diaristic fashion starting in 3 August 1827 and culminating in the 23 April 1829. He covers all the monuments, churches and of course art. Raphael and Michelangelo were his favourites. He talks about outings, people, music, culture, occasionally food, and of course, politics. He liked lists and there are comprehensive lists of the best churches in Rome, all the Roman emperors, all the popes until his time, and all the best artists (sadly not a woman on the list). In fact, there is even a guide to what to see in ten days. One could do it in four but if one has the time, why not twenty? Gosh, it sure sounds like a tour guide to me. And oddly, it was written completely in Paris.
One could see why Stendhal loved Rome: all that Roman history was contained in and around the Roman walls. The best achievement was the Colosseum. « “Le Colisée est sublime pour nous, parce que c’est un vestige vivant de ces Romains dont l’histoire a occupé toute notre enfance. » (The Colosseum is sublime for us, because it is a living memory of those Romans whose history occupied all of our youth). Everywhere one looks there is that link to the past. Ah, such nobility.
On the other hand, it is the Catholic Church that was front and center of the Italian world. Here is the dichotomy: the noble Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. During the Renaissance period a lot of art was created to fill all those churches (this is an understatement). Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Correggio, Carracci, Caravaggio, the list goes on. The art is resplendent and brilliant. Never has so much art been made at such a high calibre. And yet, « C’est par amour pour les beaux-arts que l’on vient à Rome, et là, cet amour vous abandonne, et, comme à l’ordinaire, la haine est sur le point de la remplacer. » (It is love for the fine arts that one comes to Rome, but when this love abandons you, and it’s so typical, hatred comes to takes its place.) Too much art? Ah, the Stendhal Syndrome!*
*Stendhal was moved to ecstasy in Santa Croce, Florence when seeing the famous tombs on Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Just knowing that Michelangelo’s bones were resting before me, i shuttered. You know what, I think this happened to me!
Stendhal was fascinated by the popes and in 1829 attended the conclave to elect Pope Prius VIII. He gives us the play by play of this monumental event. It was rather exciting. Regarding his politics, he did give a shout out to the Italian people, hoping one day they would become a nation (this doesn’t happen until 1861). Religion and politics, what a mix.
Reading these daily entries was at times interesting, and at other times, challenging to understand who was who (a very thorough notes section helps) or worse, annoyed that I didn’t get to see some famous or out of the way place in his book (hey, you can’t see everything). However Stendhal liked to digress, whether about the history of Raphael, a certain villainous pope, Lucretia Borgia, of even la papesse Jeanne (853-855). That’s right, a female pope.
Of course what caught my attention was his slagging of Montaigne in his travels to Italy, the same book I read while in Italy. Why oh why did M. de Montaigne never mention any of the great art? « Eh bien! Montaigne, cet homme de tant d’esprit, si curieux, si désoccupé, n’en dit pas un mot. La passion de tout un peuple pour les chefs-d’œuvre des arts l’a sans doute porté à les regarder, les dispositions des peuples; mais les fresques du Corrège, de Michel-Ange, de Léonard de Vinci, de Raphaël, ne lui ont fait aucun plaisir. » Maybe it’s a French thing to slag your fellow countryman?
Well at least one could say Stendhal was so intrigued by Italy a that he had to write about his travels, and these books would stand the test of time as a guide book. Or maybe all of this is just fodder for a novel? His classic “Chartreuse de Parme” was written ten years later (1839-40). One can’t say the same for today’s guide books. Last years is so out of date, isn’t it?
I did visit the Stendhal bookstore in Rome and fell in love with all those French books. Reading this book was a way to remember my trip while seeing what a master like Stendhal saw in his day. Ironically, all that art is still there but I wish I had taken this as my guide.
Oh well, to the happy few…
3.5 rating
August 1, 2022
Stendhal amava l'Italia, amava Napoli. Non amava Roma.
Dopo un lungo soggiorno romano, tuttavia, finirà per adorarla e, anche, idealizzarla.
Passeggiate romane è un diario di viaggio, uno zibaldone di appunti, considerazioni, descrizioni storiche, architettoniche, antropologiche, sociologiche dettagliate, ma scritte di getto, alla maniera tipica stendhaliana.
Letto due anni fa, ancora lo consulto per le mie di passeggiate romane; mi emoziona ripercorrere gli stessi luoghi vissuti e commentati dal grande scrittore francese.
Dopo un lungo soggiorno romano, tuttavia, finirà per adorarla e, anche, idealizzarla.
Passeggiate romane è un diario di viaggio, uno zibaldone di appunti, considerazioni, descrizioni storiche, architettoniche, antropologiche, sociologiche dettagliate, ma scritte di getto, alla maniera tipica stendhaliana.
Letto due anni fa, ancora lo consulto per le mie di passeggiate romane; mi emoziona ripercorrere gli stessi luoghi vissuti e commentati dal grande scrittore francese.
November 7, 2021
Un mischiotto di descrizioni di monumenti, aneddoti storici, osservazioni culturali, pettegolezzi, poesie e quant'altro. È interessante esattamente come guardare le fotografie delle vacanze di un parente e sentirli rievocare l'esperienza.
Magari se mi gira lo concludo in futuro, ma per il momento la vedo grigia.
Magari se mi gira lo concludo in futuro, ma per il momento la vedo grigia.
February 8, 2023
Siempre me ha gustado bucear en la impresión que, en otro tiempo, tuvieron los visitantes hacia Roma. Stendhal vivió en la actual Italia varios años y eso se nota en el conocimiento sobre la ciudad a la hora de moverse. También es curioso el comprobar que ose creía en su época sobre algunos de los monumentos más famosos, como el Coliseo.
April 9, 2024
Tenía más expectativas en el libro pero me ha parecido demasiado descripción también comprendo el lenguaje del siglo XIX y de que seguro que si lo hubiera leído mientras visitaba Roma lo hubiera disfrutado mucho más.
March 10, 2023
Reseña completa en la cuenta@descalzaleo IG y TikTok y Spotify
June 29, 2023
Si sólo vas a leer un libro sobre Roma, no lo dudes.
April 18, 2024
se qualcuno mi chiedesse di cosa parla questo libro non saprei rispondere
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews