Johann Strauss' Opus 364 was written on the occasion of a tour of Italy. The first performance of this waltz took place on 10 June 1874 at the Etablissement Gartenbau in Vienna. A vocal version with the singer Marie Geistinger was performed on June 27, 1874, and a performance of 'Bella Italia' in Milan in May of the same year is already documented.

The title reference can be seen in the song of Mignon in Goethe's novel "Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship", as well as in Thomas Ambriose's opera ...