The Strange but True Story Behind Valentine’s Day
While this is not your conventional story about Valentine’s Day that’s filled with romance, it’s a fascinating take on a tradition that is widely celebrated on February 14 in many …
6 Fascinating Facts About St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the most-visited sights in Venice, and a must-see on any traveler’s Italy itinerary! But with a history that stretches all the way back to the 9th century A.D., it’s also a church with a lot of interesting stories and legends behind it.
Like the Frescoes of the Sistine Chapel? Then You’ll Love These
There’s nothing like Michelangelo’s world-famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. But as special as the Sistine Chapel is, it isn’t the only architectural space in Italy where you can find …
The Secondhand Origins of Michelangelo’s David
They say there’s nothing new under the sun, that all ideas have been formulated – and reformulated – countless times. In an age when we are bombarded by content, it’s telling that we are insatiably drawn to the ‘classics’ as a purer form of engagement with art.
Literary Venice: 6 Beautiful Descriptions of Venice in Literature
Oh, Venice! Its name alone is enough to conjure images of a time gone by. But why stop there?
The Artists Who Made The Borghese Gallery
Art had a cultural currency beyond monetary value during the Renaissance. Representing the tastes, desires and, often, whims of the elite, paintings and sculptures served as manifestations of power.
Fact vs Fiction: The Story Behind the Two Popes
The resignation of Pope Benedict from the Papal office in 2013 didn’t just make headlines, it made history. For the first time in over 600 years two popes were alive at the same time. For the first time since 1294 a pope had resigned of his own will. And for the first time ever the Vatican became home to two popes.
Vatican on Screen: Behind the Scenes of The Two Popes
One of the most important aspects about a film is the scenery, and as filming locations go there are few places that could be more impressive than those featured in Netflix’s The Two Popes.
From Art History to Modern Art: 7 Podcasts to Download ASAP
Ask any two people their opinion of the same piece of art work, and you’re likely to elicit two very different responses.
Babbo Natale, La Befana & Other Italian Christmas Legends
No Christmas would be complete without some good fireside stories! And Italy is full of interesting tales. So from good Christmas witches to dynamic processions of fire, here are some …