Italy in the 16th–17th centuries as described in the travel journals from the grand duchy of lithuania

This work analyses the image of 16th – 17th century Italy as described in the travel journals from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (later – GDL). The main aims of this work are: to relate analysis of Early Modern Period travel journals of GDL to literature geography method; review types of traveling; ascertain reasons why travelers travelled to Italy; to talk about the most likeable GDL travelers journey routes and favorite Italian cities; to sum up Lithuanian stereotypes created by Italians. Three representatives GDL 16th – 17th centuries travel journals were chosen for analysis, whose authors were from different social categories (aristocrat, nobleman, priest), however, they were united by their religion confession. The investigation revealed that all analyzed travel journals emphasized Italian cultural and spiritual heritage, architectural luxuriance, and variety of landscape. Italy is valued as a sacred place to Catholics. Moreover, the Baroque authors mentioned some details from Italian daily life as well as offered some criticism of the foreign lifestyle