Where It All Goes Down
Italy, 1919
World War I has recently ended, but conflict clearly isn't over in Europe. The comrade has just escaped some brutality in Budapest, and he's eager to see a world revolution. In other words, there is continued political pressure in Europe.
In Italy, however, the comrade experiences a break from turmoil: He enjoys the beautiful countryside, the kind people, and the magnificent artwork. It's kind of a mini-vacation, reminding us that although soldiers experience horrible atrocities because of war, there are also ways in which they encounter beauty and explore the world. In many ways, Italy epitomizes this pursuit of beauty and pleasure—but the comrade's hope for revolution in Italy casts a bit of a shadow, suggesting the possibility of future conflict and bloodshed.
Italy is also important in terms of Hemingway's own biography. He worked as an ambulance driver on the Italian front during World War I. In other words, he's probably writing a bit from his personal experience here.