All SEE

Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is an imposing Renaissance-style palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal not far from the Rialto Bridge.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRIMANI DI SAN LUCA In March 1556, the noble Girolamo Grimani aquired a ruined palace on the Grand Canal owned by the brothers Bertuccio and Marino Contarini. In the summer of 1557, he decided to build a new palace on this site, and the project was given to the architect Michele Sanmicheli. In 1559, the ground floor was completed, but Sanmicheli died, and the direction of the construction was entrusted in 1561 to Giangiacomo de’ Grigi. The tasks of de’ Grigi was to complete the ground floor with a mezzanine, and to build the first and second floors. In November 1566, a dispute arose between Grimani and de’ Grigi, mainly in relation to the facade and the sum of money that the client still had to pay to the architect. The dispute was resolved thanks to the intervention of three illustrious architects – Andrea Palladio, Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro Guberni, who established what was still to be done, the cost and the date by which the Read more [...]

Palazzo Marcello is a palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Ca’ Vendramin Calergi and Palazzo Molin Erizzo.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MARCELLO Around the middle of the 15th century, the palace belonged to the Molin della Maddalena family. At the time, the structure had only one noble floor, in addition to the mezzanine and the ground floor. The palace passed to the Marcello family in 1517 due to the marriage between Marco Antonio Marcello and Caterina Molin di Nadalin. Towards the end of the 17th century, Palazzo Marcello was rebuilt. The captain Lorenzo Marcello was born in the palace in 1603, and the composer Benedetto Marcello in 1686. In the palace, the English writer Frederick Rolfe died of a heart attack on October 25, 1913.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MARCELLO On the two noble floors, the palace has two large five-light windows decorated with round arches. The five-light windows are flanked by pairs of sigle-light windows, also with rounded arches. The presence of the two water portals suggests that the building was used by two families. In addition to the portals, the ground floor has five rectangular windows. The mezzanine has Read more [...]

Campo Sant’Angelo, known in Venetian dialect as Campo Sant’Anzolo, is a square in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere). The campo owes its name to the homonymous church that once stood there.   SHORT HISTORY OF CAMPO SANT’ANGELO Campo Sant’Angelo was once separated by Rio de Sant Anzolo, which currently delimits its southwestern side, by the Church of San Michele Arcangelo. The church was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, in the wake of the Napoleonic suppression of Italian religious orders.   ARCHITECTURE OF CAMPO SANT’ANGELO Campo Sant’Angelo is a large square located about halfway between Campo Santo Stefano and the smaller Campo Manin. The square is overlooked by palaces of great historical-architectural importance. On its northwestern side, there is Palazzo Trevisan Pisani, also known as Palazzo Somachi, built in the 17th century for the Trevisan family and ceded later to the Pisani family. Adjacent to Palazzo Trevisan Pisani, we can find Palazzo Gritti, also known as Palazzo Gritti Morosini, built in the 16th century for the noble Gritti family. On the eastern part of the square, there is Palazzo Duodo a Sant’Angelo, built in the 15th century for the Duodo family and bought later by Read more [...]

Palazzo Grimani Marcello, also known as Palazzo Vendramin Grimani, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere). The palace overlooks the Grand Canal between Palazzo Cappello Layard and Palazzo Querini Dubois.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRIMANI MARCELLO Palazzo Grimani Marcello was built in the 18th century on the site of an ancient building dating back to the 12th century. In 1825, Carlo Bevilacqua frescoed the internal rooms. After a two-year renovation by the Foundation of the Golden Tree (Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro), the palace was reopened to the public in 2021. Now, the visitors can admire the art collection inside the palace, which is also used for temporary exhibitions.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GRIMANI MARCELLO The tripartite facade, decorated with numerous sculptural elements, is divided by pilasters with Corinthian capitals and covered entirely in white Istrian stone. The ground floor is characterized by the presence of a large water portal with a square arch and four openings with a triangular tympanum. The first noble floor is characterized by a three-mullioned window with a protruding balcony. On the second floor, the balustrade is on the facade line, and the columns dividing the window rest directly on the Read more [...]

Piazza Grande is the main square of Modena, located in the historical center of the city. The square, together with the Cathedral of Modena and the Ghirlandina Tower, was included in 1997 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA GRANDE The residential nucleus of the medieval Modena was formed around the ancient cathedral of the city, starting with the 7th century. Towards the end of the 9th century, the bishop Leodoino fortified the city, and the oldest part of the current Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) was built near the cathedral. In 1099, the construction of the new cathedral began and the square began to take shape. Its northern side was defined by the Cathedral, the western side by the Bishop’s Palace, and the eastern side by the Town Hall. In 1501, Modena was hit by an earthquake, and the merlons of the Town Hall fell. In 1580, the square was cleaned, and the paving was arranged with stones and bricks. At the beginning of the 17th century, a new building was built on the southern side of the square for the Residence of the Judges (Residentia dei Giudici). In the first half of the Read more [...]

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto is a Baroque church in Ravenna, located in Via di Roma, in the southeastern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA IN PORTO In the first half of the 15th century, the Canons Regular of Santa Maria in Porto decided to build their own monastery in Porto Fuori, a village located about 4 kilometers from the walls of Ravenna. However, the Venetian rulers of Ravenna decided that the monastery will be built within the city walls. Therefore, a piece of land near Porta Nuova was purchased in 1496. The canons settled there in 1503, and the construction works on the monastery were completed in 1509. In 1511, the project for a new church was presented by the architect Bernardino Tavella. The construction of the church, however, began only in 1553, and continued in the following decades. On October 8, 1606, the archbishop of Ravenna together with the cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini consecrated the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto. In 1710, the high altar was built and, in 1784, the facade was completed by the architect Camillo Morigia. In 1797, the French plundered the Read more [...]

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a funeral monument in Ravenna, located in Via Galla Placidia, in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF GALLA PLACIDIA According to tradition, the structure was built by Galla Placidia, daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, and mother of the Emperor Valentinian III, for herself, her husband Constantius III and her brother Honorius. She was Queen consort to Ataulf, King of the Visigoths, between 414 and 415, Empress consort to Constantius III between 417 and 421, and managed the government administration as a regent during the early reign of Valentinian III. Although the legend has it that the body of Galla Placidia was brought back to Ravenna and placed in a sarcophagus in the mausoleum, it was almost certain that she died in Rome in 450, and she was buried in the Honorian Mausoleum. The mausoleum was probably used as a chapel of the Church of the Holy Cross (Chiesa di Santa Croce), located nearby. In 1996, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites entitled Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna.   ARCHITECTURE OF THE MAUSOLEUM Read more [...]

Teatro Municipale Romolo Valli is the most important theater in Reggio Emilia, located in Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, in the historical center of the city. Romolo Valli was a well-known Italian actor born in Reggio Emilia, who, throughout his career, collaborated with Vittorio De Sica, Sergio Leone, Roman Polanski, Roger Vadim, and Luchino Visconti.   SHORT HISTORY OF TEATRO MUNICIPALE ROMOLO VALLI The building was designed and completed by the architect Cesare Costa of Modena, and built between 1852 and 1857. The works were directed by the local engineer Antonio Tegani. The theater was inaugurated on April 21, 1857, with the opera Vittor Pisani by the composer Achille Peri.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE ROMOLO VALLI MUNICIPAL THEATER The building has a rectangular plan with a length of 80 meters and a width of about 44 meters, with two additional rectangular loggias. The Romolo Valli Municipal Theater has a Neoclassical facade on two orders, in brick and marble, with Tuscan columns on the ground floor and Ionic pilasters on the upper floor. The upper part of the facade has 13 rectangular windows surmounted by bas-reliefs. Allegorical statues are placed on the entablature of the facade. The interior Read more [...]

Piazza Camillo Prampolini, also known as Piazza del Duomo, is one of the main squares of Reggio Emilia, located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CAMILLO PRAMPOLINI The square was born during the Renaissance period, and was known as Piazza Grande (Large Square), in contrast to Piazza San Prospero, which was called Piazza Piccola (Small Square). In the 19th century, the square was named after Vittorio Emanuele II, and after 1945 it was unofficially dedicated to the socialist politician Camillo Prampolini.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CAMILLO PRAMPOLINI The most important building in the square, located on its eastern side, is the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The Cathedral was built in Romanesque style starting with the 13th century. Its unfinished facade dates back to the 16th century. To the left of the Cathedral stands the Bishop’s Palace (Palazzo Vescovile) and the Baptistery built during the Middle Ages, which was later renovated and deprived of its main apse. On the northern side of the square stands Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, from which the Civic Tower (Torre Civica) with the clock rises. On the opposite side of the square, there Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, located in Piazza Camillo Prampolini, in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA The first documents attesting to the existence of a church in the area date back to the middle of the 9th century. However, the structure was probably built in the 5th century. At the beginning of the 10th century, after repeated incursions of the Magyars, the Emperor Ludovico III entrusted bishop Pietro with the construction of the walls around the episcopal palace and the Cathedral. On December 26, 1228, the bell tower of the Cathedral collapsed. In 1268, under bishop Guido da Fogliano, the octagonal lantern and the current bell tower were built. In 1522, the enormous embossed copper statue of the Madonna with Child, by Bartolomeo Spani, was placed on the lantern. In 1544, Prospero Sogari, also known as Clemente, was commissioned to build the new facade of the church. The work on the facade started shortly after, but, due to lack of resources, it was stopped after a while. In 1557, the statues of Adam and Eve, also works by Spani, were placed above Read more [...]

Teatro Ludovico Ariosto is the second most important theater of Reggio Emilia, after the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater. The theater is located in Piazza della Vittoria, in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF TEATRO LUDOVICO ARIOSTO On this site, the Cittadella Theater (Teatro della Cittadella) was built between 1740 and 1741 to a design by Antonio Cugini. The Citadella Theater was destroyed by fire on the night of April 21, 1851. Traces of the old structure are still visible along the colonnade that borders the southern wall of the current theater, overlooking Corso Benedetto Cairoli. Teatro Ludovico Ariosto was erected in 1878. The project, on a design by the architect Achille Grimaldi, was financed by Ulderico Levi, a member of one of the most important Jewish families in the city. The Ludovico Ariosto Theater was designed as a space with multiple uses, suitable both for prose and for equestrian performances. In 1927, the Municipality carried out a profound renovation. The orchestra space was added, the structures necessary for the equestrian shows were eliminated, and the exterior and interior were decorated by Anselmo Govi with late Art Nouveau motifs. The last major restoration of the theater took Read more [...]

Piazze dei Teatri (Squares of Theaters) are a complex of squares and streets in Reggio Emilia, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city. The squares are overlooked by the three main theaters of Reggio Emilia – Teatro Romolo Valli, Teatro Ludovico Ariosto and Teatro Cavallerizza. Piazze dei Teatri are composed of the following squares – Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, located in front of the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater, and Piazza della Vittoria, located in front of the Ludovico Ariosto Theater.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI From the beginning of the 19th century, the area underwent numerous transformations. Originally, the Cittadella Theater and the Ducal Palace overlooked this area. Both structures were demolished around the middle of the 19th century, and their place was taken by the Ludovico Ariosto Theater and the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater. The square in front of the Ariosto Theater, with the war memorial of the First World War, was the so-called Piazza d’Armi, renamed Piazza della Vittoria after 1918.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI In the western part of Piazza della Vittoria, there is the Ludovico Ariosto Theater, built starting with 1878 on the remains of Read more [...]

The Church of Christ (Chiesa del Cristo), also known as the Oratory of Christ (Oratorio del Cristo), is a Baroque church in Reggio Emilia. The church is located in Piazza Luigi Roversi, commonly known as Piazza del Cristo, in the southern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST The church was built starting with 1758 by the religious congregation Compagnia del Suffragio, to shelter a fresco of a crucifix painted with oil on plaster during the plague which affected the region between 1630 and 1631. The facade of the church was added in 1761, on a project by the architect Giovan Battista Cattani, also known as Cavallari. The church was closed during the Napoleonic era, and it was reopened in 1814. In 1887, the structure was restored under the direction of the engineer Albertini. The church is now home to the Orthodox Romanian congregation.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST The church has a characteristic Baroque convex facade decorated with statues and emblems. The facade has a large portal in the center, flanked by two pairs of columns with Composite capitals. Between the columns, there are niches housing Read more [...]

The Church of San Francesco, also known as the Church of the Immaculate Conception and of San Francesco, is a church in Reggio Emilia, located in Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church was built in the second half of the 13th century on a pre-existing structure dedicated to San Luca, which served as the chapel of the imperial palace. After having undergone various interventions over the centuries, the church was rebuilt in 1725, according to the project of the architect Giovanni Maria Ferraroni. Between 1856 and 1857, the facade of the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style by Pietro Marchelli.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church has a terracotta facade surmounted by a triangular pediment supported by pilasters. Above the main portal, there is a mosaic of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata. The interior, in Baroque style, has a single nave with vaulted ceilings, a cupola and the choir.   HOW TO GET TO THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church is located about 1 kilometer away from the Reggio Emilia railway station. The closest bus stop is located in Via Nobili, about Read more [...]

The Church of San Domenico is a church in Ancona, located in Piazza del Plebiscito, in the historical center of the city. The church occupies one of the two short sides of the square, at the top of a large stairway. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN DOMENICO For the construction of the current church, a pre-existing structure from the 13th century dedicated to the same saint was demolished. The Church of San Domenico was designed by Carlo Marchionni in 1763, and the first stone was laid in 1771. The structure was completed in 1778, without a facade. In 1798, with the French occupation and the advent of the Republic of Ancona, the church was used as a barracks. The upper part of the facade remained unfinished. During the bombings of the Second World War, the church was damaged and the roof partially collapsed. The venerated image of the Incoronata (Crowned), coming from the previous church and placed in a side chapel, was destroyed, as were two statues by Gioacchino Varlè and some paintings. After the war, the church was restored and the destroyed statues and paintings were replaced by others. The church was reopened for worship in 1948. Read more [...]

Piazza Cavour is one of the main squares of Ancona, located in the eastern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CAVOUR In 1861, after the unification of Italy, the engineers Gabuzzi, De Bosis, Bianchi and Daretti drew an urban expansion plan for Ancona. The plan included the construction of a square, designed in detail in 1862 and inaugurated in 1868. In the center of the square was placed a monument to Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, the work of Aristodemo Costoli. Piazza Cavour, with an area of three hectares, was designed together with Corso Vittorio Emanuele, now Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, which starts from the square. The square was then on the edge of the urban area, in contact with a section of the city walls. Porta Cavour, a city gate with a double arch, opened in the walls that bordered the square. Between 1923 and 1925, Porta Cavour and the stretch of wall that bordered the square were demolished to allow the expansion of the city along the axis of Viale della Vittoria. Since then, Piazza Cavour assumed a new role, becoming a link between the historical districts of the city and the Read more [...]

Castel Sismondo, also known as Rocca Malatestiana, is a castle in Rimini, located in Piazza Malatesta, in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF CASTEL SISMONDO Castel Sismondo was built at the behest of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, starting with 1437, in a period of great prosperity for the House of Malatesta. The castle was conceived both as a fortress and a palace of grandiose proportions, to represent the power of the lord over the city. Sigismondo was, in fact, the one who designed the castle, but was supported by various architects, such as Cristoforo Foschi, Matteo Nuti and Filippo Brunelleschi. The fortress was built on a pre-existing structure, a large fortified complex built by Sigismondo’s brother and predecessor, Galeotto Roberto. The construction began on May 20, 1437, and was completed about 15 years later, with some of the decorative works lasting until 1454. During the works, in order to create a large buffer zone around the moat, an entire complex of buildings was demolished, including the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Convent of Santa Caterina. The decline of the House of Malatesta at the end of the 15th century determined the beginning of Read more [...]

Arco di Augusto (Arch of Augustus) is a Roman triumphal arch in Rimini, located in the southern part of the historical center of the city. The Arch of Augustus is the best-preserved Roman arch in the world. Together with the Bridge of Tiberius, the arch is one of the symbols of Rimini, and both monuments appear on the coat of arms of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF ARCO DI AUGUSTO Arco di Augusto was built in 27 BC, by decree of the Roman Senate, in order to honor Emperor Augustus for having restored Via Flaminia, Via Emilia and Via Popilia. In fact, the arch marked the end of Via Flaminia, which connected Rimini to Rome, the capital of the Empire. Back then, Via Flaminia was continued by the decumanus maximus (east-west-oriented Roman road), today’s Corso d’Augusto, which led to the entrance to the ancient Via Emilia. Arco di Augusto remained the main gate of the city, flanked by modest buildings, until the Fascist period. Between 1936 and 1938, at the behest of Benito Mussolini, it was isolated by demolishing the adjacent buildings.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE ARCH OF AUGUSTUS The arch was built in travertine from Nabresina, Read more [...]

Ponte di Tiberio (Bridge of Tiberius), also known as the Bridge of Augustus, is a Roman bridge in Rimini, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PONTE DI TIBERIO The construction of the Tiberius Bridge was started in 14 AD under the government of Emperor Augustus, and was completed in 21 AD under Emperor Tiberius. It served as a bridge over the Marecchia River, before the course of the river was diverted. The bridge is a national monument since 1885, and it appears on the coat of arms of Rimini. Until recently, the bridge was part of the city road network and was open to normal traffic, excluding heavy vehicles. The definitive pedestrianization of the bridge began on an experimental basis on May 30, 2020.   ARCHITECTURE OF THE BRIDGE OF TIBERIUS The Bridge of Tiberius was built in Istrian stone, in a sober, but, at the same time, harmonious style. The bridge is paved with trachyte stones, has a width of 4.80 meters and a length of 74 meters. It is flanked by sidewalks about 30 centimeters high and about 60 centimeters wide. The structure is made up of five Read more [...]

Piazza Tre Martiri is one of the main squares of Rimini, located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA TRE MARTIRI The square is located on the site of the ancient Roman forum of Ariminum, at the intersection between the cardo and the decumanus maximus (the main north-south and west-east oriented Roman roads). In the Middle Ages, the square was known as Piazza delle Erbe, due to the market held there. Piazza Tre Martiri was remodeled in the 16th century, when it assumed its current elliptical configuration with arcades. At the beginning of the century, the small temple dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua was built. In 1547, the structure with the Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio) was erected. The Column of Julius Caesar was placed in the square in 1555 to celebrate the allocution addressed by the Roman general to his soldiers after they crossed the Rubicon. At the beginning of the 17th century, behind the Temple of Saint Anthony of Padua, the Minims of San Francesco di Paola founded the Paolotti Church (Chiesa dei Paolotti), which was rebuilt in 1729. In 1921, Via IV Novembre and Via Giuseppe Garibaldi were enlarged, and Arco dei Read more [...]

Palazzo dell’Arengo, known in the past as Palatium Comunis, is a palace in Rimini, located in Piazza Cavour, between Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Garampi, in the historical center of the city. In the late Middle Ages, the council of the people of Rimini met in the palace.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DELL’ARENGO The loggia of Palazzo dell’Arengo was erected in 1204 by the podestà (chief magistrate) of Rimini, Mario de Carbonesi. The fact is remebered by an epigraph on one of the pillars of the loggia. The palace was restored several times, in 1562, in 1672, and between 1919 and 1923. The original construction was profoundly altered by these renovations. Today, Palazzo dell’Arengo, together with the adjacent Palazzo del Podestà, houses the new Museum of Contemporary Art of the City – PART, Palazzi dell’Arte Rimini.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DELL’ARENGO Palazzo dell’Arengo has a facade in Romanesque-Gothic style, surmounted by battlements, with a large loggia on the ground floor. The loggia is set on a massive colonnade which supports pointed arches. On the upper floor, there is a large hall with mullioned windows (Sala dell’Arengo), in which are preserved frescoes of the Rimini school from the Read more [...]

Palazzo del Podestà is a medieval palace in Rimini, located in Piazza Cavour, between Palazzo dell’Arengo and the Amintore Galli Theater.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ The palace was built in 1334, more than a century after Palazzo dell’Arengo, and was the seat of the podestà, the chief magistrate of the city of Rimini. The palace undergone considerable transformations over the years. Between 1912 and 1922, it was restored by the architect Gaspare Rastrelli. Since 2020, Palazzo del Podestà, together with the adjacent Palazzo dell’Arengo, houses the new Museum of Contemporary Art of the City – PART, Palazzi dell’Arte Rimini.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ The palace has a Gothic facade with three pointed arches on the ground floor and five small windows on the upper floor. The facade is surmounted by battlements.   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ Palazzo del Podestà is located about 900 meters away from the Rimini railway station. The closest bus stop is Duomo, about 450 meters away, on the bus Line 1.

Piazza Malatesta, once known as Piazza del Corso, is one of the main squares of Rimini, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA MALATESTA The square has medieval origins, and was attached to Piazza Cavour until the 17th century, when the public granary was built, and closed its eastern side. In the mid-19th century, the granary was replaced by the Vittorio Emanuele II Municipal Theater (Teatro Vittorio Emanuele II), today the Amintore Galli Theater (Teatro Amintore Galli). Most of the square was formerly occupied by the large moat of Castel Sismondo, filled in the 19th century. In the last decades, the square was used as a parking lot and market area. In 2015, a new renovation project started, which was completed in 2018, when the square returned to its Renaissance appearance.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA MALATESTA The square covers an area of about 11,000 square meters, in front of the magnificent Castel Sismondo. Castel Sismondo, located in the western part of the square, was built at the behest of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, starting with 1437, and completed about 15 years later. In the eastern side of Piazza Read more [...]

Piazza Cavour is the main square of Rimini, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CAVOUR Piazza Cavour became the political and economic center of the city at the beginning of the 13th century, when it gained importance after the construction of Palazzo dell’Arengo. During the 16th century, the square was named Piazza del Comune (Town Square) or Piazza della Fontana (Fountain Square) and underwent important changes. The old Palazzo dell’Arengo was enlarged and joined to the new Palazzo Garampi, in a single large monumental complex, while the Palace of San Silvestro, which closed the square towards Corso d’Augusto, was completely demolished. Between 1615 and 1620, on the western side of the square, the public granary was built, replaced in the mid-19th century by the Vittorio Emanuele II Theater (Teatro Vittorio Emanuele II), today the Amintore Galli Theater (Teatro Amintore Galli).   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CAVOUR Three municipal buildings – Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo dell’Arengo and Palazzo Garampi, define the northern side of the square. Palazzo dell’Arengo was built starting with 1204, and it was the meeting place for the council of the people of Rimini. It has a loggia Read more [...]

Palazzo Massani is a Neoclassical palace in Rimini, located across the street from the city’s Cathedral, Tempio Malatestiano. Today, the palace houses the offices of the Prefecture.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MASSANI Palazzo Massani was built at the end of the 19th century for the nobleman Guglielmo Massani, a great benefactor of the poor. The construction of the palace was entrusted to Ghinelli di Santarcangelo, who designed the structure in Neoclassical style. During the Second World War, the palace was badly damaged by bombings. After the war, it was the subject of a hasty and incomplete reconstruction. Recently, the palace was restored by Paolo Beltrambini.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MASSANI The main facade of the palace overlooking Via IV Novembre has three floors. On the ground floor, there are six large windows, with a large portal in the center. The portal is surmounted by a balcony. Each of the two upper floors has nine rectangular windows. On the second floor, the windows have round pediments, while the windows on the third floor are surmounted by a cornice. Inside, we can find the remains of an ancient Roman domus (house), with a floor in pink marble slabs, and an 18th-century Read more [...]

The Rimini Beach is a beach in Rimini, located along the beautiful coast of the Adriatic Sea.   DESCRIPTION OF THE RIMINI BEACH The Beach of Rimini, about 15 kilometers long and up to 200 meters wide, is one of the most famous and sought after beaches both in Italy and in Europe. The beach, wide, long and made up of fine-grained golden sand, is formed by combining 14 bathing establishments and some free beach areas. The bathing establishments, which are among the best equipped on the coast, are entirely managed. The Free Beach of Rimini (Spiaggia Libera) starts from the pier of the Port of Rimini (Molo di Levante), and continues for about 300 meters. At the base of the pier, there is a large Ferris Wheel (Ruota Panoramica), and near its top we can find a restaurant which recalls the short-lived micronation Isola delle Rose (Republic of Rose Island), the Rockisland. In addition to the classic beach equipment, such as deckchairs, umbrellas and sunbeds, you can rent from the bathing establishments equipment to practice sports both in the water and on the sand. On the beach, during the summer season, you will find lifeguards, beach tennis, soccer, basketball, Read more [...]

Ca’ del Duca is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal next to Palazzo Falier.   SHORT HISTORY OF CA’ DEL DUCA The construction project of the palace was entrusted to Bartolomeo Bon by Marco Cornaro, father of Caterina Cornaro, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus. Unfinished, the palace was sold in 1461 to Francesco Sforza, who entrusted its grandiose reconstruction to Antonio Averulino. However, before the project could be implemented, Ca’ del Duca was expropriated due to the rivalry appeared between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan. A second renovation project was entrusted to Jacopo Sansovino by Vittore Grimani, the Procurator of San Marco, but this project too remained only on paper. In 1618, Alfonso de la Cueva-Benavides y Mendoza-Carrillo, a Spanish nobleman who went to Venice as ambassador, settled in the palace. Soon after, he was forced to flee because he was involved in the Bedmar Conspiracy against the Serenissima. During the 1620s, the palace was used as a studio by Titian, who worked here on many of the canvases intended for the decoration of the Doge’s Palace. In 2011, Ca’ del Duca hosted the Read more [...]

Palazzo Balbi is a Renaissance palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of Dorsoduro, overlooking the Grand Canal between Ca’ Foscari and Palazzo Caotorta Angaran. Palazzo Balbi is the official seat of the President of the Veneto Region and of the Regional Council.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO BALBI Palazzo Balbi was built in the second half of the 16th century, to a design by Alessandro Vittoria, to be the residence of the Balbi family. The construction of the palace started in 1582 and was completed in 1590. Many restorations followed over the years, including that of 1737 commissioned by Lorenzo Balbi, and a subsequent one which saw the addition of the works by Jacopo Guarana. In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte was hosted in the palace, and was able to attend from its balcony the regatta organized in his honor. Over the years, the palace was often rented out, to other families from the Venetian patriciate – the Pisanis, the Valmaranas and the Biondis. In 1887, Palazzo Balbi passed to Michelangelo Guggenheim, who chose it as the seat of his Industrial Arts Laboratories, modernized it and brought there his personal art collection. In 1925, the palace passed to the Adriatic Read more [...]

Palazzo Cappello Layard is a palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Polo, overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Barbarigo della Terrazza and Palazzo Grimani Marcello.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CAPPELLO LAYARD The palace was built in the 16th century and renovated during the same century according to the styles of Renaissance architecture at the behest of its owner, Antonio Cappello, the procurator of San Marco. At the end of the 19th century, the building became the residence of the English ambassador Austen Henry Layard. Layard, a distinguished archaeologist who became famous for the discovery of the city of Nineveh, moved his vast collection of Italian Renaissance paintings into the palace. Later, after his death, the art collection was donated by his wife to the National Gallery in London. Lady Layard died in 1912, and the palace was bought by the Carnelutti family and became the residence of the jurist Francesco Carnelutti. In 1967, Palazzo Cappello Layard passed to the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Currently, the palace houses the headquarters of the Department of Asia and Mediterranean Africa Studies of the university.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CAPPELLO LAYARD The palace has three facades. The facade Read more [...]

Ca’ da Mosto is one of the oldest palaces in Venice and the oldest palazzo on the Grand Canal, located in the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio, not far from the Rialto Bridge.   SHORT HISTORY OF CA’ DA MOSTO The palace was built in the 13th century in Venetian-Byzantine style, when the da Mosto family became part of the Venetian patriciate. In the palace, the famous explorer Alvise Cadamosto was born and died. Between 1454 and 1462, he worked in Portugal for the prince Henry the Navigator. From the 16th century to the end of the 18th century, the palace was used as a hotel. Later, the structure was raised by two floors. After a recent renovation, Ca’ da Mosto is again a hotel, The Venice Venice Hotel.   ARCHITECTURE OF CA’ DA MOSTO In particular, Ca’ da Mosto represents one of the best preserved examples of a Venetian warehouse, and more generally of the Venetian-Byzantine architecture which developed in the lagoon during the 12th and 13th centuries. Initially, the facade developed on two floors and was flanked by towers. When the building was raised by another two floors, the towers were demolished. The building has numerous characteristic elements of Read more [...]

Palazzo Molin Erizzo, also known as Palazzo Erizzo alla Maddalena, is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Marcello and Palazzo Soranzo Piovene.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO The building where the current palace stands today was bought in 1454 by the Molin family, also owners of the adjacent Palazzo Marcello. Shortly after the purchase, the Molin family began the works for the elevation of the structure and for a new facade. In 1650, the palace passed to the Erizzo family following the marriage between Giacomo Erizzo and Cecilia Molin. Over time, the palace underwent numerous renovations, which led to the rearrangement of the ground floor and the mezzanine.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO The facade of the palace has a Gothic layout, due to the numerous pointed arch windows, among which the five-light window on the main floor stands out. Inside, the noble floor (piano nobile) is decorated with 18th-century works, among which the most famous are by Andrea Celesti.   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO Palazzo Molin Erizzo is located about 1 kilometers away from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto Read more [...]

Palazzo Giustinian Recanati is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere al Ponte Longo, overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca). The palace is located a few meters away from Palazzo Clary.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN RECANATI Palazzo Giustinian Recanati was built in the 16th century for a branch of the Giustinian family, linked by marriage to the Morosini family. In the 17th century, the palace passed to the Recanati family, originally from Badia Polesine, a new member of the Venetian patriciate. Today, the well preserved palace still belongs to the descendants of the Giustinian Recanati family.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN RECANATI The facade of Palazzo Giustinian Recanati spreads over three floors – a ground floor, a noble floor (piano nobile) and an attic. On the ground floor, there is a large portal surmounted by the stone coat of arms of the Giustinian family. On the noble floor, there are arched openings accompanied by stone balconies inscribed in rectangular frames. Two pairs of single-light windows flank a large central four-light window supported by small Ionic columns. The attic, surmounted by a indented cornice, has a series of eight Read more [...]

Palazzo Clary, also known as Palazzo Clary-Ficquelmont, is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere, overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca).   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CLARY Palazzo Clary was built in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the palace became the property of the noble Franco-Austrian family of the counts of Ficquelmont, and later of their heirs, the Austrian princes of Clary and Aldringen. The second noble floor of the palace was the historical seat of the Consulate of France, where until 1991 there was the famous red telephone line which connected the United States of America to Russia.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CLARY The facade of the palace, in late Renaissance style, spreads over three floors, plus an attic. On the ground floor, there is a large rectangular portal, surmounted by two sculpted coats of arms. The first noble floor features round arched openings – a pair of single lancet windows on each side of a large central four-light window. The four-light window of the first noble floor is supported by columns with Ionic capitals and equipped with a stone balustrade embellished with small statues depicting lions. The second Read more [...]

Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurable) is a large palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere. Today, the palace is the headquarters of the Venice Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia).   SHORT HISTORY OF OSPEDALE DEGLI INCURABILI By the end of the 15th century, hospitals were founded in many Italian cities for those suffering from syphilis, which was then considered incurable. In 1517, the noblewomen Maria Malipiero and Marina Grimani created a small shelter in Venice for three women plagued by this new disease. The Venetian hospital was founded in 1522 by Gaetano Thiene. In 1531, Girolamo Emiliani took over the management of the hospital. At the beginning, the hospital buildings were made of wood. Only at the end of the 16th century, the hospital was rebuilt in bricks. The institution was hit by a financial crisis in 1755, which was followed by the crisis of all Venetian hospitals in 1775. In 1782, by decree of the Senate, Ospedale degli Incurabili passed to a new administration entirely at the expense of the state. In 1807, it became the most important civic hospital of the city. Starting with February Read more [...]

Palazzo Pisani Gritti is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Ferro Fini and Campiello Traghetto.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PISANI GRITTI Palazzo Pisani Gritti was built in the 14th century. In 1475, it was redesigned in Venetian-Gothic style for the Pisani family. In 1525, the palace became the private residence of the Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti. The palace was owned for a long period of time by the Gritti family, and later became the residence of the Vatican ambassadors to Venice. In the 19th century, it became the property of the Baroness Susanna d’Eyb, widow of the Baron Wetzlar. During this period, John Ruskin and his young wife Ettie spent a long period in the palace, where he wrote his famous book The Stones of Venice. At the beginning of the 20th century, after a meticulous renovation, Palazzo Pisani Gritti was turned into a hotel.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO PISANI GRITTI Palazzo Pisani Gritti has four floors, with a very low ground floor and three noble floors, all in Gothic style. The two central floors have four single-light windows and one elegant pentafora (five-light window) in Read more [...]

Palazzo Giustinian Persico is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Rio di San Tomà and Palazzo Tiepolo Passi.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO Palazzo Giustinian Persico was built in the first decades of the 16th century for the noble Giustinian family, one of the most important and ancient Venetian families. The Persico family, originally from Bergamo, joined the Venetian patriciate on March 18, 1685, after the usual payment of 100,000 ducats to the Serenissima. Not long after its construction, the palace passed to the Persico family.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO The palace is one of the first Venetian structures built in Renaissance style. The facade of the palace, inspired by the work of Mauro Codussi, dates back to the 16th century. The facade is characterized by a lively red plaster on which two superimposed central four-light windows stand out, flanked by pairs of single-lancet windows. The frames of the windows are very valuable and most of them have a balcony. The rear facade of the building, architecturally not very interesting, overlooks a large garden.   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO The palace is located Read more [...]

Palazzo Tiepolo Passi, also known as Palazzetto Tiepolo or Palazzo Tiepoletto Passi, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal, between Palazzo Soranzo Pisani and Palazzo Giustinian Persico.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO PASSI Palazzo Tiepolo Passi has a narrow and tall shape spread over four levels. However, only the first noble floor has architectural merits. The ground floor has a stone base and a water portal with architrave positioned on the right of the facade. The first noble floor has, on the left, a small balcony with a mullioned window with trefoil arches, separated by a central column. On the right of the facade, there are two single-lancet windows also with trefoil arches. The other floors have four openings corresponding to the windows below.   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO TIEPOLO PASSI The palace is located about 1.1 kilometers on foot from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is San Toma, about 200 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.

Palazzo Soranzo Pisani is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Tiepolo and Palazzo Tiepolo Passi.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO SORANZO PISANI The facade of the palace is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The ground floor, without mezzanine, has a water portal of modest dimensions, positioned towards the left side of the facade. The first noble floor has a central five-lancet window and two pairs of lateral single-lancet windows, all with an indented frame. The single-lancet windows have balconies. The second noble floor follows the openings of the first floor, but the windows have round arches, and there is a small balcony placed in front of the three central lights of the pentafora (five-light window).   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO SORANZO PISANI Palazzo Soranzo Pisani is located about 1.1 kilometers on foot from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is San Toma, about 200 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.

Palazzo Tiepolo is a Renaissance palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Soranzo Pisani and Palazzo Pisani Moretta.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO Palazzo Tiepolo was built around the middle of the 16th century on the site of an ancient structure, probably of Venetian-Byzantine origin.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO The facade of the palace, in early Renaissance style, is divided by three stringcourses and spread over four levels: ground floor, two noble floors and a mezzanine. The ground floor is characterized by the presence of twin arched portals in the center. On each of the noble floors, there is a quadrifora (four-light window) with central arches and a balcony. On the sides of the quadrifora, there are two pairs of single-lancet windows in the same style, without a balcony. On the facade, there are still visible the remains of the frescoes made by Andrea Meldola, also known as the Schiavone. Above the eaves line, there is a dormer. The interior of the palace is decorated with polychrome stuccos, while the portego (porch) is embellished with valuable frescoes by Jacopo Guarana.   HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO TIEPOLO The palace Read more [...]

Palazzo Pisani Moretta is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Barbarigo della Terrazza and Palazzo Tiepolo.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PISANI MORETTA Palazzo Pisani Moretta was built in the second half of the 15th century by the Bembo family. In 1629, the palace became the residence of a branch of the noble Pisani family, the Pisani Morettas, whose name derives from the mispronunciation of Almorò Pisani, founder of the family. Later, the palace was owned by Francesco Pisani Moretta, the last male descendant of the family. In 1737, the building passed to the daughter of Francesco, Chiara, who married a member of the Pisani dal Banco family. Chiara restructured the building by demolishing the external staircase and replacing it with the grand staircase by Andrea Tirali, and had the internal rooms frescoed by the most popular painters of her era. Chiara’s son, Vettor, secretly married the bourgeois Teresa Dalla Vedova and had a son with her, named Pietro, not recognized by his father. Vettor also had a second wife and a second daughter, who married Filippo Barbarigo. As the two lived in adjacent residences, the palaces were Read more [...]

Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal, also known as Palazzo Donà dalle Trezze, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Papadopoli and Palazzo Donà della Madoneta.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DONÀ A SANT’APONAL The Donà family, which still exists today, was among the families who founded Venice at the beginning of the 9th century. Built around the middle of the 13th century at the behest of the Donà family, Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal is one of the oldest in Venice. In 1314, it was owned by a certain Michele Zancani, who accurately described it in his will and divided it among his four or five children. In the 15th century, the palace was completely restructured. Other interventions dating back to the 17th century removed all the references to the original appearance of the building.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DONÀ A SANT’APONAL The original building was known for its grandeur. The facade was 21 meters long, while the palace extended inwards for about 60 meters. The facade of the palace overlooking the Grand Canal had nine imposing vaults, five of which were used as warehouses and four for storing wines. The Read more [...]

Palazzo Boldù a San Felice, also known as Palazzo Boldù Ghisi, is a palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzetto Da Lezze and Palazzo Contarini Pisani.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO BOLDÙ A SAN FELICE Palazzo Boldù a San Felice was built during the 16th century at the behest of the Boldù family. Towards the end of the 17th century, the palace became the property of the Ghisi family, who rebuilt it. Subsequently, the palace was purchased by the Contarini family, owners of the adjacent Palazzo Contarini Pisani. The Contarini family wanted to unify the two buildings, but the project never went through.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO BOLDÙ A SAN FELICE The facade of the palace is asymmetrical, with the main openings to the right. The ground floor is covered with rustic ashlar, while the upper floors are plastered with Istrian stone. On the first noble floor, there is a serliana (Palladian or Venetian window), while on the second noble floor there is a trifora of equal width. The left side of the facade has on each floor a pair of single-lancet windows. Inside, are worth mentioning the frescoes in Read more [...]

Palazzo Papadopoli, also known as Palazzo Coccina Tiepolo Papadopoli, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Giustinian Businello and Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal, opposite Palazzo Grimani di San Luca.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PAPADOPOLI Palazzo Papadopoli was built in the second half of the 16th century on a piece of land which previously housed some buildings dating back to the 14th century. The palace was commissioned by the Coccina family from Bergamo, who moved to Venice to became part of the Venetian patriciate, to Giangiacomo dei Grigi, also from Bergamo, son of the more famous architect Guglielmo dei Grigi. The construction of the palace probably started in 1560 and the building was completed around 1570. Palazzo Papadopoli housed a rich collection of canvases, some of them by Paolo Veronese, among which the most famous is The presentation of the Coccina family to the Virgin. After beeing the residence of the Coccina family for many years, Palazzo Papadopoli was sold to Francesco d’Este, Duke of Modena, and in 1748 to the Tiepolo family. In 1745, the remaining part of the art gallery was sold to the Elector of Saxony Read more [...]

Palazzo Grassi, also known as Palazzo Grassi-Stucky, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal. The palace is the last patrician residence built on the Grand Canal before the collapse of the Republic of Venice at the end of the 18th century.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRASSI The land on which Palazzo Grassi stands today was purchased in several phases by the Grassi family between 1732 and 1745. The work on the new building began in 1748, a fact confirmed by a document dating back to that year. The palace was completed in 1772, the year of Paolo Grassi’s death. Between 1840 and 1875, due to the rapid and complete extinction of the Grassi family, the palace had four different owners. In 1840, Palazzo Grassi was sold to the Venetian commercial company of Spiridione Papadopoli, and in 1844 to the opera tenor Antonio Poggi. Almost immediately, Poggi sold the palace to the Hungarian József Agost Shöfft, an internationally renowned painter, and after his death the building was inherited by Giuseppina Lindlau, his second wife. In 1857, the building was sold to a wealthy Greek financier, Baron Simone de Sina, who made Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio, dedicated to Saint Ambrose, is the Cathedral of Vigevano, located in the wonderful Piazza Ducale. Due to its beauty, the concave facade of the Cathedral of Vigevano is considered one of the most refined examples of Baroque architecture not only in Lombardy, but throughout Italy.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANT’AMBROGIO According to a document of 963, a primitive church dedicated to Sant’Ambrogio already existed in Vigevano at that time. The ancient church was rebuilt in the second half of the 14th century. The diocese of Vigevano was created by Pope Clement VII on March 16, 1530, at the request of Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan. In 1532, the construction of the new cathedral began at the behest of the same Francesco II Sforza, based on a project by the architect Antonio da Lonate. Of the previous church, the apse and some fragments of the decorative arches in Gothic-Lombard style were preserved. After Francesco II Sforza died in 1535, the works continued to be financed by the faithful, the Municipality and by various bishops of the city. The construction reached the roof level in 1553. Under the guidance of bishop Giorgio Odescalchi, the Read more [...]

Castello Sforzesco is a castle in Vigevano, located in an elevated position in the historical center of the town, near Piazza Ducale and the Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio. The castle covers an area of about 70,000 square meters, being one of the largest fortified complexes in Europe. Castello Sforzesco houses Pinacoteca Casimiro Ottone, the National Archaeological Museum of Lomellina (Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Lomellina) and the Pietro Bertolini International Footwear Museum (Museo Internazionale della Calzatura Pietro Bertolini).   SHORT HISTORY OF CASTELLO SFORZESCO The primitive castle of Vigevano, built in the 7th century, consisted of a small wooden structure. Before the 10th century, the structure was replaced by a building with brick walls and was separated from the town by a moat. Luchino Visconti, podestà (chief magistrate) of Vigevano between 1319 and 1337, decided to transform the village into a defensive stronghold. With this in mind, in 1341, he built a defensive fortress, located at a certain distance from the ancient castle, on the eastern limit of the village. At the same time, the work of transforming the old castle into a ducal residence began. The new structure had a quadrangular plan formed by crenellated walls, with towers at the corners Read more [...]

The Church of San Pietro Martire is a church in Vigevano, located near the southern wall of Castello Sforzesco, in the historical center of the town. The church is also dedicated to San Cristoforo (Saint Christopher).   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO MARTIRE At the beginning of the 13th century, on the site of the current Church of San Pietro Martire, there was a small chapel dedicated to San Domenico (Saint Dominic). Later, the chapel was replaced by a larger structure, completed around 1363. The current church, dedicated to Saint Peter the Martyr, was built starting with 1445 and consecrated in 1480. The annexed convent of the Dominican friars and the bell tower, with its imposing octagonal structure leaning against the right side of the apse, date back to the same period. In 1840, the interior of the church was modified in Neo-Gothic style.   ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO MARTIRE The facade of the church, in pure Lombard Gothic style, is divided into three parts corresponding to the naves, and surmounted in the central part by three pinnacles. The central part of the facade is divided by four buttresses and has a sloping roof Read more [...]

Piazza Castello is the heart of the historical center of Turin, where the four main axes of the city converge – Via Garibaldi, Via Po, Via Roma and Via Pietro Micca.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CASTELLO The square was born in the 1st century AD near the eastern entrance of the ancient Roman castrum of Julia Augusta Taurinorum. With the consolidation of the Savoy state, and the movement of the capital from Chambéry to Turin in 1563, a vast project of modernization of the city began. In 1583, Ascanio Vittozzi was called to design the shape of what will be the current square. The design envisaged an area of about 40,000 square meters. The existing medieval castle in the center of the square was modernized in 1605 and connected to the Bishop’s Palace by a wall. The wall was demolished in the early 19th century, during the Napoleonic occupation. Ascanio Vitozzi died in 1615 and the direction of the works passed to Carlo di Castellamonte, who, in 1619, had the porticoes built on the southern side of the square, due to the opening of Via Nuova, the current Via Roma. Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) was built starting with 1643, Read more [...]

The Royal Gardens of Turin (Giardini Reali di Torino) is a park in Turin, located near the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROYAL GARDENS OF TURIN The history of the Royal Gardens of Turin began in 1563, the year in which Emmanuel Philibert transferred the capital of the Duchy of Savoy from Chambéry to Turin. During the time of Carlo Emanuele I and his son, Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy, the gardens undergone considerable expansions. However, the current the arrangement of the gardens is largely the work of the architect André Le Nôtre, from the second half of the 17th century. During the Napoleonic period, the gardens have fallen into disrepair. The dark period of the park ended only in 1805, when the gardens became part of the Imperial Park. Following a persistent state of deterioration in the 20th century, the long restoration works of the gardens were completed in July 2021.   DESCRIPTION OF THE ROYAL GARDENS OF TURIN The Royal Gardens of Turin are delimited by Corso San Maurizio to the north, Via Gioacchino Rossini to the east, and Piazza Castello to the south. The gardens are Read more [...]

Piazza Carlo Alberto is a pedestrianized square in the historical center of Turin, located between Via Cesare Battisti and Via Principe Amedeo.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CARLO ALBERTO The square takes its name from the King of Sardinia Carlo Alberto I, son of Carlo Emanuele, Prince of Carignano. The princes of Carignano owned the palace of the same name, whose 19th-century facade overlooks the square. The area was reorganized between 1842 and 1859 by demolishing the surrounding walls and creating the square. In 2006, after long debates, Piazza Carlo Alberto became entirely pedestrian.   INTERESTING FACT: In the northern part of the square, on the third floor of a building on the corner of Via Cesare Battisti with Via Carlo Alberto, Friedrich Nietzsche lived between 1888 and 1889. There, he wrote The Antichrist, The Twilight of the Idols and Ecce Homo.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CARLO ALBERTO On the western side of the square, there is Palazzo Carignano, commissioned in the second part of the 17th century by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, to the architect Guarino Guarini. In 1831, Carlo Alberto became the King of Sardinia, and the palace was ceded to the State Read more [...]