Which musical ideas are heard in the movements of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony?

Felix Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony is intended to evoke the sights and sounds of Italy. While interpretations of the first three movements are not definitive, musicologists often associate them with specific Italian imagery:1

• First Movement: An extroverted, lively piece that may call to mind an urban scene, such as Venice. It features three distinct themes, with the third introduced during the development section.12
• Second Movement: A reverent, picturesque movement likely representing a religious procession in Rome during Holy Week.12
• Third Movement: A graceful minuet and trio, reminiscent of Mozart, suggestive of an elegant Florentine Renaissance palace.12
• Fourth Movement: A dramatic finale that depicts a rural scene in southern Italy. It incorporates three themes and blends two energetic folk dance styles: the saltarello and the tarantella.12

Would you like to know more about the history of the symphony's composition or its later revisions?