Torniamo is a sweeping work of historical fiction that brings to life the remarkable story of Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717–1768), the brilliant scholar whose revolutionary ideas transformed the study of classical art and laid the foundations of modern art history and archaeology.

Told in the first person, the novel follows Winckelmann from his humble beginnings as the son of a poor shoemaker in Prussia to the intellectual circles of Dresden, Rome, and Vienna. Driven by an unwavering belief that beauty could elevate the human spirit, he devoted his life to the rediscovery of the ancient world, inspiring generations of artists and thinkers, including Goethe.

In 1768, after a celebrated journey to Vienna, Winckelmann began the long trip back to Rome. His journey ended unexpectedly in Trieste, where he was brutally murdered under circumstances that have intrigued historians for more than two centuries.

Blending meticulous historical research with vivid imagination, Torniamo explores ambition, friendship, loneliness, faith, the pursuit of beauty, and the enduring power of ideas. Set against the magnificent landscapes of eighteenth-century Europe, it is both an intimate portrait of an extraordinary man and a meditation on the price of genius.

Rich in history, philosophy, and humanity, Torniamo invites readers to walk beside one of the Enlightenment's greatest minds on his final journey—and to discover why his legacy continues to shape the way we see the ancient world today.