see Naples and die

English

Alternative forms

»Vedi Napoli e poi muori!« sagen sie hier. »Siehe Neapel und stirb!«

As they say here, “Vedi Napoli e poi muori! — See Naples and die!”

• see Naples and then die

Etymology

Calque of Italian vedi Napoli e poi muori, popularized by a 3 March 1787 letter by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published in his 1816–1817 Italienische Reise. Unknown further derivation, although probably originally in reference to its relative wealth and prosperity as the capital of the Kingdom of Naples in addition to its famous scenery. Compare the various Chinese idioms beginning 生在蘇州／苏州 (Sūzhōu)... praising the surpassing beauty of Suzhou's residents, Hangzhou's scenery, Guangzhou's cuisine, and Liuzhou's coffins and tombs.

Proverb

see Naples and die

1. One can die at peace after having seen Naples, Italy, nothing else on Earth surpassing its beauty.
   • 1962, Wystan Hugh Auden & al. translating Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as Italian Journey, Pt. 2, letter of 3 March 1787 from Naples, p. 180:

     I won't say another word about the beauties of the city and its situation, which have been described and praised so often. As they say here, "Vedi Napoli e poi muori!" "See Naples and die!"

Translations

nothing in life tops seeing Naples

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: vidět Neapol a zemřít
• Danish: se Neapel og dø
• Finnish: nähdä Napoli ja kuolla
• French: voir Naples et mourir, voir Naples et puis mourir
• German: Neapel sehen und sterben, siehe Neapel und stirb
• Hebrew: לִרְאוֹת אֵת נַאפּוֹלִי וְלָמוּת (lir'ót et Nápoli v'lamút)
• Hungarian: Nápolyt látni és meghalni
• Italian: vedi Napoli e poi muori
• Japanese: ナポリを見て死ね (ja) (ナポリをみてしね, Napori o mite shine), ナポリを見てから死ね (ナポリをみてからしね, Napori o mite kara shine)
• Neapolitan: vide Napule e po' muore
• Polish: zobaczyć Neapol i umrzeć
• Portuguese: ver Nápoles e depois morrer
• Russian: уви́деть Неа́поль и умере́ть (uvídetʹ Neápolʹ i umerétʹ)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: види На́пуљ па умри

  Roman: vidi Nápulj pa umri

• Spanish: ver Nápoles y después morir
• Swedish: se Neapel och sedan dö (sv)
• Vietnamese: thấy Napoli rồi chết