Viaggio al Capo Nord

A restless young scholar driven by curiosity and a hunger for distinction sets out on an audacious expedition to the farthest point of Europe. In 1799 he joins the handful of explorers who have brushed the Arctic seas, but he aims to claim the title of the first to stand on the true North Cape and record it in his own words. His account, already praised abroad, now reaches Italian readers, offering a fresh perspective on the geography and cultures of the far north.

The journey begins in Helsinki and quickly moves to the bustling port of Gothenburg, a city the author likens to the lively towns of the Netherlands, with its thriving trade and welcoming atmosphere. From there he sails to Stockholm, where he sketches the capital’s elegant streets, the modest yet refined customs of its people, and the convivial practice of lingering over dinner well into the night. Along the way he notes the stark, basalt‑strewn landscape and the everyday life of Swedes, hinting at the deeper natural and ethnographic observations that will follow.