In 1786, thirty-seven-year-old Johann Wolfgang von Goethe set off for Italy. He traveled incognito, under the name of the merchant Möller, and visited Lake Garda, Verona, Vicenza, Venice, Bologna, Rome and the Alban Hills, Naples, and Sicily. In 1788, the poet returned to his homeland, and in 1816–1817, his Italian Journey was published. This work differed from traditional travelogues in that it was written many years after the author's return from the trip. However, based on diaries and letters from those years, Italian Journey nonetheless retains the freshness of its impressions, supplemented by mature reflections and honed to true literary perfection. Joseph Brodsky, when compiling his list of works that everyone should read to maintain at least a 'basic conversation,' in addition to 'Faust,' included another work by Goethe—the delightful 'Italian Journey.'