A History of Italy

We explore the fascinating intersection between one of the world’s most famous relics and one of its most brilliant minds: Leonardo Da Vinci and the Shroud of Turin. Was Da Vinci somehow connected to this mysterious cloth? Could he have had the knowledge, access, and motive?

🕯️ What You’ll Hear:

• The scientific investigation into the Shroud of Turin by the STURP team in 1978 and why their results only deepened the ...

Early Life & Education

• Born illegitimate, Leonardo spent his youth sketching and observing nature.
• After moving to Florence, he entered the prestigious workshop of Andrea Verrocchio, where he learned not only painting but also the chemistry behind pigments and the mechanics of sculpture and engineering.

🎨 Artistic Breakthroughs

• By 1472, Leonardo was a member of the painters’ guild and began producing original wor...

Starting from reasons to have a good cry, particularly concerning hair, we then head to Vinci, outside Florence in the mid 1400's to witness the birth and early childhood of Leonardo to see the start of some of the characteristics that will accompany him for the rest of his life. We hear about who gave and didn't give him affection and how his status as an illegitimate child was not all for the worst.

Here is the link to our generou...

In this episode, we dive into the dramatic papacy of Pope Leo X, exploring his efforts to secure Medici power, his architectural and social reforms in Rome, and his role in the early days of the Protestant Reformation. We track how his favoritism toward Florence shaped papal policy, the challenges he faced with Martin Luther, and the growing religious divide that would soon shake Europe to its core.

We also spotlight Leo's political...

Of course! Here's the revised version of the summary show notes with key words and phrases bolded for emphasis:

In this episode, we explore the turbulent political and religious landscape of Italy and Europe in the late 1510s—a pivotal prelude to the Protestant Reformation.

🔹 Power Shifts in Europe

• 1516: Ferdinand of Aragon dies; Charles of Habsbur...

In this episode, we pick up the story of the Medici family as they return to Florence, armed with the great news of Giovanni de' Medicibecoming Pope Leo X. We dive into:

• How the Medici family subtly regained power in Florencewithout taking formal positions, carefully balancing loyalty and governance.
• The undoing of Savonarola's reforms and the reinstatement of Machiavelli.
• Florence’s evolving political culture: from fierce Republi...

Among the many casualties of the battle of Garigliano was Piero de Medici, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Piero, previously exiled from Florence for his poor leadership during the invasion of Charles VIII in 1494, drowned while trying to escape the battle. His body was found and buried at Montecassino Abbey, under the protection of his brother, Cardinal Giovanni de Medici.

Florence in Transition

After the fall of Girolamo Sa...

In this episode, we dive into a personal story that kicks off with a Christmas party invitation and an unexpected wardrobe choice — a kilt. From this quirky start, we delve into the historical significance of Sicily, a land that has shaped centuries of Mediterranean history.

The episode takes us on a journey from the ancient Carthaginian and Greek settlements to the present day, with a special focus on Palermo, Catania, and Messina....

From the Roman fast food joints in the marvel that is Pompei, to the buzzing historical streets of Naples and the witches of Benevento, we're going off, thanks to Explore Worldwide, to explore the southern Italian Region of Campania.

What happened to the tree of the witches?

What is the "Naples Splitter"?

Where is the most iconic coast of Italy?

Can you actually move without tripping over a UNESCO world heritage site?

Which city had b...

After following the adventures of Julius II we go and visit with Venice, who is having ups and downs, losing influence as the attentipn of the world turns to the Atlantic, losing colonies to the Turks and starting to make enemies in Europe, powerful enemies that will come together in the league of Cambrai, leading to the dramatic battle of Agnedello in 1509.

Oh and we also have the mysterious death of would-be doge Filippo Tron: was...

We start from Siena, with the story of how I almost got beaten up and why there is an extra bit of Siena cathedral added on and incomplete. The it's up to Florence to visit with the Medici, Da Vinci, Botticelli and Simonetta Vespucci, his Venus. From the capital of the Renaissance we head to their arch enemy Pisa and their wonky tower and then Lucca, with its Holy Face and medieval walls. After a bit of wine tasting in Val D'Orcia ...

Giuliano della Rovere, after trying for more than a decade, finally manages to become pope Julius II in 1503. He gets to work breaking the last resistance of Cesare Borgia, then has to sort out his Papal States, gobbled up by Venice in the north with a whole series of local lords taking back power.

In all of this, the pope calls in a special decorator to do some touch up work in the Sistine chapel, a certain Michelangelo Buonarroti.

...

We stop and take a look back at the episodes that cover the late 1400's as Italy completed her transition from the middle ages to the Renaissance and the lead up to the Italian Wars after the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent.

We retrace the campaign of king Charles VIII of France, the adventures of Ludovico Sforza, Il Moro, the end of the independence of the kingdom of Naples and, in the background the rise and fall of the Borgias, ...

We take a little trip around the region of Lombardy, going beyond the financial and fashion capital Milan, to explore the beautiful nature of lake Como and hear all about the lake, monster that resides there. On the way, we will hear about a bridge, built by the devil in Pavia and the ghost that horns, the castle above the city of Como.

We will also also make a stop off in the picturesque Bergamo and find out why there is a family e...

Which is the Italian region that can drink you under the table?

Tradition would say it's Veneto and with wines such as Amarone della Valpolicella and Prosecco, it's not gard to believe.

We start our journey trying not to talk too much about Venice and then doing just that, seeing the legend of the heart of brick and why the Gondola got its shape.

The theme of love then, of course, takes us to the Verona of Romeo and Juliet, but before...

Just when the Borgias seem at the top of their game and that nothing could possibly stop them, in August of 1503 pope Alexander VI, after a dinner party at a cardinal's house, becomes seriously ill and died after two weeks.

His son Cesare also becomes very ill and cannot sum up the energy to control the fallout of the situation and outmanoeuvre the Borgia's arch enemy, cardinal Giuliano della Rovere.

In the end the inevita...

In our first episode of the Regional Italy miniseries we explore the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, travelling initially along the ancient Roman road created by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

We start from the beautiful castles of the province of Piacenza, then cross the river to Parma, the culinary capital of Euope. Then it's a visit with Matilda countess of Canossa in Reggio Emilia before visiting with Ferraris and Pavarotti...