Teofila Morawska and Katarzyna Plater: cultural and social landscape of Italy in the second half of the Eighteenth Century

Abstract

In May 1773, Teofila Morawska née Radziwiłł, thirty-six-year-old, married, mother of three children, set off on her European journey. She travelled in companion of her husband’s sister. Over ten years later, in 1785, being around the same age Katarzyna Plater née Sosnowska embarked for a long journey to Italy. She was accompanied by her adolescent daughter and husband on the tour. Both women recorded extensive observations in the travel journals. In my paper I draw attention to the cultural and social landscape of Italy in the second half of the eighteenth century revealed by both women in their travel accounts. I explore the way they experienced Italy in the golden age of the Grand Tour.