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It was the splendor and the scandal of the age. In 1506, the ferociously ambitious Renaissance Pope Julius II tore down the most sacred shrine in Europe, the millennium-old St. Peter's Basilica built by the Emperor Constantine over the apostle's grave, to build a better basilica.

Vesuvius is best known for its disastrous eruption of 79CE. But only after 1738, in the age of Enlightenment, did the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii reveal its full extent. In an era of groundbreaking scientific endeavor and violent revolution, Vesuvius became a focal point of strong emotions and political aspirations, an object of geological enquiry, and a powerful symbol of the Romantic obsession with nature. John Brewer charts the changing seismic and social dynamics of the mountain, and the meanings attached by travelers to their sublime confrontation with nature.

Imagine living in Italy for one full year. This was always the dream and promise Ilene and Gary made to each other. This story is an invitation to witness the magic of Italy through the eyes of two new Italian citizens. Listen to their own authentic voices, in alternating chapter format, sharing their story, raw emotions, laughter, triumphs, challenges, and experiences in this intimate format.

this exciting story illuminates the captivating world of the late Renaissance - in this case its plagues, remedies, and alchemy - through the life of Leonardo Fioravanti, a brilliant, remarkably forward-thinking, and utterly unconventional doctor. Fioravanti's marvelous cures and talent for self-aggrandizement earned him the adoration of the people, the scorn of the medical establishment, and a reputation as one of the age's most colorful, combative figures.

Can you imagine painting without Leonardo, opera without Verdi, fashion without Armani, food without the signature tastes of pasta, gelato, and pizza? The first universities, first banks, first public libraries? All Italian. New York Times best-selling author Dianne Hales attributes these landmark achievements to la passione italiana, a primal force that stems from an insatiable hunger to discover and create; to love and live with every fiber of one's being.

Like Michelangelo, Galileo is another Renaissance great known just by his first name - a name that is synonymous with scientific achievement. Born in Pisa, Italy, in the 16th century, Galileo contributed to the era's great rebirth of knowledge. He invented a telescope to observe the heavens. From there, not even the sky was the limit! He turned long-held notions about the universe topsy turvy with his support of a sun-centric solar system.

In the summer of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's legendary revolutionary, was finally forced to abandon his defense of Rome. He and his men had held the besieged city for four long months, but now it was clear that only surrender would prevent slaughter and destruction at the hands of a huge French army. Against all odds, Garibaldi was determined to turn defeat into moral victory.

With a single daring leap from an Italian train carrying prisoners of war, John Miller jumped out of the war of soldiers and into the war as lived by Italian civilians - many of whom risked their lives to help him. The year was 1943 and Captain Miller had been in captivity for over a year. Italian anti-fascists harboured and fed him, first in a remote mountain village, then in Rome itself.

From one of the foremost medievalists of our time, a groundbreaking work on history and memory that goes well beyond the life of this influential saint.

Commissioned in 1750, the Palazzo Venier was planned as a testimony to the power and wealth of a great Venetian family, but the fortunes of the Venier family waned, and the project was left abandoned and unfinished. Yet in the early 20th century, it attracted three fascinating women: Luisa Casati, Doris Castlerosse and Peggy Guggenheim.

Galileo Galilei’s contributions to modern science were so fundamental to a variety of fields that even though he died almost 400 years ago, his name retains international acclaim. This 17th-century natural philosopher is often credited with the invention of the telescope, thanks to his many discoveries using that specific instrument, and though he was not, in fact, its inventor, the myth still persists.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Renaissance, then pay attention.

If you've yet to experience this historical masterpiece, what are you waiting for? Passport to European Travel Guides offers this comprehensive yet quick and concise five-day guide to Rome - one of the world's most iconic cities to visit. Have no idea where to start? Or maybe you have some idea but could use a treasure trove of great insider tips? Well, listen up! You see, we know your trip begins long before you even book the flight, so this guide is chock full of dynamite tips on everything you need to know before you go.

La caduta dell'Impero Romano è stato un processo lento e complicato, iniziato - ben prima del sacco di Roma - con l'avvicinarsi ai confini di quelle stesse tribù che avevano invaso la Cina, e proseguito attraverso gli anni di Costantino e Teodosio. Comincia così per l'Italia un lungo periodo oscuro: le città vengono abbandonate, eserciti barbari percorrono il Paese depredandolo, devastandolo e seminando terrore. Fino al fatidico Anno Mille si susseguono secoli di ferro e di sangue, di lutti e di invasioni. È il momento più difficile da raccontare nella storia italiana.

"Arrestato alle ore 22,30 dell'8 novembre 1926, davanti all'ingresso di via Morgagni 25, dimora dei Passarge, l'onorevole Gramsci venne tradotto al carcere di Regina Coeli. In quella manciata di minuti fu decretata la fine, o quasi, dell'attività politica di un militante appassionato e coraggioso, anche se si aprì la strada all'opera di un gigante del pensiero, politico, ma non solo." Angelo d'Orsi racconta questa storia dall'infanzia in Sardegna agli studi a Torino, da Mosca a Vienna, da Roma al carcere di Turi, fino alla clinica romana dove spirerà il 27 aprile 1937.

Join us on this journey of discovery as we traverse Sardinia's diverse regions, introduce you to its warm-hearted inhabitants, and unveil the magic that lies in every corner of this island. "Sardinia Unveiled" is your passport to Sardinia's hidden gems, offering practical advice, insider tips, and a deep appreciation for the land, culture, and people that make this island a truly remarkable destination.

Of all the trademarks of Venice - and there are many, from the gilded Basilica of San Marco to the melancholy Bridge of Sighs - none is more ubiquitous than the gondola. The internationally acclaimed "American with the Venetian heart," Donna Leon, tells its fascinating story ( The Washington Post). First used in medieval Venice as a deftly maneuverable getaway boat, the gondola evolved over the centuries into a floating pleasure palace, bedecked in silk, that facilitated the romantic escapades of the Venetian elite.

In September 1943, following wave upon wave of Allied bombing, Italy announced an armistice with the Allies. Shortly afterwards, the German army disarmed Italian forces and, despite military and partisan resistance, quickly overran Rome. Rome - City in Terror is a comprehensive history of the nine-month-long German occupation of the city that followed.

Tutti i paesi che ambiscono a diventare superpotenze attraverso il colonialismo e la politica della forza e del dominio devono dotarsi di individui pronti a tutto. È ciò che ha tentato anche l’Italia dalla stessa conquista dell’Unità (il Regno d’Italia nasce nel 1871, la prima impresa coloniale italiana è del 1882) fino alla sconfitta del fascismo. È dunque falsa la convinzione che gli italiani siano, diversamente dagli altri popoli, “brava gente”.

Meditations is former US President Bill Clinton's favorite book. This audio consists of a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor AD 161-180, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy.