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Piazza Cavour is one of the most important and representative squares in Ancona, located in the eastern portion of the historical city center. Due to its strategic position, Piazza Cavour has long served as a key reference point within Ancona’s urban fabric. The square connects major streets, public institutions, and residential districts, acting as a hinge between different historical phases of the city’s expansion and modernization. The overall layout of Piazza Cavour reflects nineteenth-century urban planning ideals, emphasizing symmetry, wide open perspectives, and monumental surroundings. Unlike medieval squares, it was conceived as a modern civic space, designed to represent order, progress, and the political ambitions of a unified Italy.   Short History of Piazza Cavour In 1861, immediately after the unification of Italy, Ancona entered a period of significant urban transformation. Engineers Gabuzzi, De Bosis, Bianchi, and Daretti were commissioned to design an ambitious expansion plan intended to modernize the city and adapt it to its new national role. The goal of this plan was to restructure Ancona according to contemporary urban planning principles, improving circulation, creating representative public spaces, and extending the city beyond its historical limits. One of the most important elements of this vision was the creation 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 [...]

Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket 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 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 [...]

Galleria Sabauda is an art gallery in Turin, located in the historical center of the city, near the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista. Galleria Sabauda is part of the complex of the Royal Museums of Turin (Musei Reali di Torino), and constitutes one of the most important pictorial collections in Italy.   SHORT HISTORY OF GALLERIA SABAUDA Galleria Sabauda was born on October 2, 1832, at the behest of King Carlo Alberto I, to display hundreds of paintings collected over the centuries by the House of Savoy. At first, the art gallery was named Reale Galleria (Royal Gallery), and was placed in the halls of Palazzo Madama. The first director of the gallery was Roberto d’Azeglio, who in 1836 started the publication of the first catalog of the collection, which brought together 365 works from Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Carignano and from Palazzo Durazzo of Genoa. In 1848, the Senate was briefly transferred to Palazzo Madama. In 1865, Galleria Sabauda was moved to the second floor of Palazzo dell’Accademia delle Scienze, which already housed the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio). In the new building, the paintings were ordered chronological and by the pictorial school to which they belonged, with an important space Read more [...]

Palazzo Civico (Civic Palace), known in the past as Palazzo di Città (City Palace), is a Baroque palace in Turin, the current seat of the city’s Town Hall. Palazzo Civico overlooks Piazza Palazzo di Città, the square which, until the 18th century, was known as Piazza delle Erbe, for the vegetable market held there.   SHOT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CIVICO In 1659, the architect Francesco Lanfranchi was comissioned to design the new seat of the city’s Town Hall. The first stone was laid during the same year by the Archbishop of Turin, Giulio Cesare Bergera, in the presence of Duke Carlo Emanuele II and his mother, Christine of France. The building was completed in 1663. On the occasion of the inauguration of the palace, a great reception was held for the wedding of Duke Carlo Emanuele II with the Princess of France Françoise Madeleine d’Orléans. Two years later, following the death of Christine of France in 1663, and of Françoise Madeleine d’Orléans in 1664, the palace hosted the second wedding of Carlo Emanuele II, with Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours. In the following century, the building was extensively remodeled by Benedetto Alfieri, who added two wings, one facing Via Giuseppe Read more [...]

Piazza San Carlo, nicknamed by the locals the living room of the city, is one of the most important squares in Turin. The square is located in the historical center of the city, bordered by Via Santa Teresa and Via Maria Vittoria to the north, and by Via Vittorio Alfieri and Via Giovanni Giolitti to the south. Via Roma, which passes through the center of the square, connects Piazza San Carlo with Piazza Castello, to the north, and with Piazza Carlo Felice, to the south.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA SAN CARLO When Turin became the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in 1563, it was decided to expand the city towards the south, creating the so-called Borgo Nuovo. The idea began to materialize in 1617, when the architect Carlo di Castellamonte was called to design both the Contrada Nuova, now Via Roma, and the current square. The works for the square began in 1618 and were completed in 1638. The square was inaugurated during the same year by Christine of France, widow of Vittorio Amedeo I, and named Piazza Reale (Royal Square). The perimeter arcades were built later, between 1643 and 1646. During this period, the square was used Read more [...]

Via Giuseppe Garibaldi is a street in Venice, located in the eastern part of the city, in the Castello district (sestiere).   SHORT HISTORY OF VIA GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI Via Giuseppe Garibaldi was built in 1807, to connect the Canal of Saint Peter (Canale di San Pietro) with the Basin of Saint Mark (Bacino San Marco) in a straight line. The architect Giannantonio Selva, who was part of the Commission for the urban planning and architectural management of Venice, was entrusted with the work. To obtain the necessary space, various churches, convents and the Hospital of the Sailors (Spedale dei Marinai), located in the Church of San Nicolò di Castello, were demolished. Originally, the street was called Strada Nuova dei Giardini (New Street of the Gardens) because it led to the Public Gardens. Later, it was called Via Eugenia, in honor of Eugene of Beauharnais, the viceroy of Italy, stepson of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1866, after the entry of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s troops into Venice, the street was dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, to whom a monument was later erected at the entrance to the Gardens. Between 1993 and 1996, repaving and rehabilitation works were carried out with the aim of redeveloping the Read more [...]

Canale di San Donato is a watercourse on the beautiful island of Murano, in Venice.   DESCRIPTION OF CANALE DI SAN DONATO The Canal of Saint Donatus is preceded by Canale San Giovanni to the south and divides into Canale Zenobio to the north and Canale di San Mattia to the west. The canal has a length of about 700 meters and a width between 15 and 25 meters.   ARCHITECTURE Canale di San Donato has on its banks some remarkable monuments. The most important of them is the Basilica of Santa Maria e San Donato, also known as Duomo di Murano, one of the oldest churches in the Venetian Lagoon. The church was originally built in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 11th century. According to legend, the church contains the relics of Saint Donatus of Euroea and three large bones behind the altar said to be the bones of a dragon slain by the saint. On the banks of the canal, we can find ancient structures, such as Palazzo Giustinian, which houses the Glass Museum of Murano (Museo del Vetro), the former Monastery of San Martino, Ca’ Trevisan, Ca’ Pesaro-Pavanello, Palazzo Cappello, and the Tiepolo House (Casa Read more [...]

Rio dei Vetrai is a small watercourse in Venice, located on the beautiful island of Murano. The canal is dedicated to the local glassmakers (vetrai meaning glassmakers), and on its banks you can find many ancient glass factories.   DESCRIPTION OF RIO DEI VETRAI Rio dei Vetrai has a length of about 500 meters and connects the Grand Canal of Murano, to the north, with Canale dei Marani, to the south.   ARCHITECTURE The Church of San Pietro Martire is a church located on the western bank of the canal, in its northern part, dedicated to Saint Peter Martyr, a 13th-century Catholic priest. Across the canal, there is the former Church of Santo Stefano, dedicated to Saint Stephen, with its beautiful Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio), one of the symbols of Murano. The banks of the canal (Fondamenta Daniele Manin on the eastern bank and Fondamenta dei Vetrai on the western one) house many of the Murano glassworks. Among others, there are the former Franchetti Murano Glassworks from the 19th century, the Gino Mazzuccato Furnace, the CAM Furnace from the 16th century, the AVEM Glassworks founded in 1830, and the Mosaic Factory from the 16th century. On the banks of the Read more [...]

The Church of Sant’Andrea, dedicated to the Apostles Andrew and Bartholomew, is a Romanesque church in Orvieto, located in Piazza della Repubblica.   SHORT HISTORY The original church was built in the 12th century, but renovated many times over the centuries. During the Middle Ages, the appointments of Pope Martin IV and of Cardinals Niccolò IV and Bonifacio VIII took place in the church. The Church of Sant’Andrea, together with the adjacent dodecagonal tower, was restored by the architect Gustavo Giovannoni in 1926. During the restoration, modern works were inserted into the facade, such as the high reliefs in the lunette of the portal, the stained glass rose window and the majolica and terracotta of the new portico. However, this restoration completely removed the modifications made during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.   ARCHITECTURE The Church of Sant’Andrea has a Latin cross plan with three naves, a transept and a semicircular apse. The naves are covered with wooden trusses, while the ceiling between the central body and the transept is covered by cross vaults supported by beam pillars. In the center of the quadrangular apse, there is the pipe organ, built by the Migliorini brothers in the first half Read more [...]

Palazzo Soliano is a medieval palace in Orvieto, located in Piazza del Duomo, near the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The palace, also known as Palazzo di Boniface VIII, because was built by the will of Pope Boniface VIII, houses the Emilio Greco Museum (Museo Emilio Greco) and the Opera del Duomo Museum – MODO (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo).   SHORT HISTORY Palazzo Soliano was built starting with 1297, at the behest of Pope Boniface VIII. The construction was interrupted in 1303, after the pope’s death. Starting with 1330, after a period of abandonment, the palace was used for the storage of materials for the construction site of the cathedral. In 1361, a fire caused serious damage to the palace. In 1493, on the occasion of the arrival in Orvieto of Pope Alexander VI, the structure was consolidated. During those times, the palio of Orvieto was held in Piazza del Duomo. In 1504, due to a large number of people who watched the palio from the terrace of Palazzo Soliano, the roof of the palace collapsed. Thirty years later, due to the risks of collapse, the entire structure was subjected to numerous modifications. Over the centuries, the palace underwent numerous Read more [...]

Fortezza Albornoz, also known as Rocca di Albornoz, is a fortress in Orvieto, located in Piazza Cahen, on the eastern edge of the historical center of the town.   SHORT HISTORY Fortezza Albornoz was built starting with 1364 in a strategic point of Orvieto, on the eastern edge of a cliff, as part of the work of reorganization of papal power in the central Italy by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz. The project was entrusted to the military architect Ugolino di Montemarte, whose noble family had possessions in the area. In 1389, the fortress was partially destroyed, during a time when the city was passing through some internal struggles. In 1413, Francesco I Orsini strengthened the defensive system of the fortress, but, in the following year, the new fortification failed to repel the assaults of Ladislaus the Magnanimous, King of Naples. In poor conditions, Fortezza Albornoz was then rebuilt by Antonio da Carpi on the old perimeter, with the addition of a circular tower to protect the gate, and was completed in 1450 under the supervision of Bernardo Rossellino. In 1527, when Pope Clement VII took refuge in Orvieto after the Sack of Rome, he commissioned Antonio da Sangallo the Younger to Read more [...]

The Church of San Fortunato is a church in Perugia, located in Piazza Braccio Fortebraccio, between Via Pinturicchio and Via Bartolo, in the northern part of the historical center of the city. The church, one of the oldest in Perugia, is dedicated to Saint Fortunatus of Todi.   SHORT HISTORY According to tradition, the church was built on the ruins of an Etruscan structure, not far from the Arch of Augustus. However, the presence of the church is attested since 1163. Around 1630, the Sylvestrines (Congregazione Silvestrina) moved here from the Church of Santa Maria Nuova, which in turn was sold to the Servants of Mary. The Church of San Fortunato was rebuilt starting with 1634. In 2017, after long restoration works following the 1997 earthquake, the church was reopened for worship, and also became a multipurpose space for cultural activities.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE On the facade of the church, there is a round arched portal, surmounted by a rose window. Above the rose window, there is a mullioned window in the center, and two other single windows on the sides. The portal and the windows have terracotta frames. The roof and the bell-gable are remains of the medieval Read more [...]

The Church of Gran Madre di Dio, dedicated to Mary, Mother of Jesus (Great Mother of God), is a Neoclassical church in Turin, located in Piazza Gran Madre di Dio, on the eastern bank of the Po River.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GRAN MADRE DI DIO The church was built to celebrate the return of King Vittorio Emanuele I of Savoy on May 20, 1814, after the retreat of Napoleon’s army and the end of the French domination. The project was entrusted to Ferdinando Bonsignore, the official architect of the court of Savoy, who designed the structure in Neoclassical style, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The first stone was laid by Vittorio Emanuele on July 23, 1818. The construction of the church was then interrupted for about a decade, and resumed only in 1827, under the reign of Carlo Felice. The church was inaugurated in 1831 under the reign of his successor, Carlo Alberto.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF GRAN MADRE DI DIO The church rises above the surrounding square thanks to a high base consisting of a wide staircase. At the end of the staircase, there is a large pronaos, consisting of Read more [...]

Porta Palatina is a Roman city gate in Turin, which once allowed access from the north to the ancient city of Iulia Augusta Taurinorum. The gate is located in Piazza Cesare Augusto, not far from the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista.   SHORT HISTORY OF PORTA PALATINA The Palatine Gate was built in the 1st century BC during the Augustan or the Flavian Age, preceding the construction of the city walls. Porta Palatina maintained its function as a city gate for a long time, and in the 11th century it was transformed into a fort. In 1404, after centuries of decay, the left tower was rebuilt, and both towers were completed by battlements for defensive purposes. In the early decades of the 18th century, the urban renewal process initiated by Vittorio Amedeo II provided also for the demolition of the Palatine Gate. However, the dismantling was not carried out thanks to the intervention of the architect Antonio Bertola, who managed to convince the duke to preserve the ancient monument. Starting with 1724, the towers of the gate were used as a prison. In 1860, with the construction of the new prison of the city, Porta Palatina was restored. In the Read more [...]

Palazzo Carignano is a large palace in Turin, located between Piazza Carignano and Piazza Carlo Alberto, in the historical center of the city. Together with Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano was placed in 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. Today, the palace houses on the ground floor the offices of the regional directorate of the museums of Piedmont, and on the noble floor the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento (Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano).   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CARIGNANO Palazzo Carignano was commissioned by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, to the architect Guarino Guarini, one of the greatest exponents of Piedmontese Baroque. The work began in 1679, under the direction of Guarini’s collaborator, Gian Francesco Baroncelli, and was completed in 1685. In 1831, Carlo Alberto became the King of Sardinia, and the palace was ceded to the State Property, which housed here the Council of State and the Post Office. Starting with 1848, the palace was used as the seat of the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament. On this occasion, the architect Carlo Sada modified the splendid ballroom, located Read more [...]

Piazza della Repubblica is one of the main squares in Florence, located in the historic center of the city, within the UNESCO-listed area. The rectangular square measures about 75 meters by 100 meters, covers roughly 7,500 square meters, and stands around 250 meters from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The square is one of the clearest examples of how Florence changed between ancient times, the Middle Ages, and the late 19th century. Its modern appearance belongs mainly to the Risanamento, the large urban redevelopment that transformed the old central market area after Florence became capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Today, Piazza della Repubblica is a pedestrian and commercial space, bordered by historic cafés, hotels, shops, porticoes, and 19th-century buildings. It is crossed by central streets such as Via Roma, Via degli Speziali, Via degli Strozzi, Via dei Brunelleschi, Via Pellicceria, and Calimala.   Short History of Piazza della Repubblica The Roman Forum of Florentia Piazza della Repubblica has been connected with the center of Florence since Roman times. In ancient Florentia, this area corresponded to the Roman forum, the main public space where the city’s most important civic, commercial, and religious functions were concentrated. The Roman layout Read more [...]

The Basilica di Santo Spirito (Basilica of the Holy Spirit) is a Renaissance-style church in Florence, located in the Oltrarno district, in Piazza Santo Spirito.   SHORT HISTORY In 1250, Spinello Accolti and Omodeo di Guido donated to the Augustinian friar Aldobrandino a house and two vineyards in the Oltrarno area for the construction of a church, which was originally dedicated, in 1252, to the Virgin Mary, to the Holy Spirit and to all the Saints. In 1269, a community of Augustinian friars settled permanently in Florence, and began on this site the construction of a church dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Starting with 1397, the Municipality provided funds for the construction of a new basilica, but the work began only in 1434, when the project was entrusted to Filippo Brunelleschi. After the death of Brunelleschi in 1446, the construction site passed into the hands of his three disciples, Antonio Manetti, Giovanni da Gaiole and Salvi d’Andrea. In 1471, a serious fire destroyed many works of art in the church. Salvi d’Andrea built the dome between 1479 and 1481, and the internal facade between 1483 and 1487. Consecrated in 1481, the basilica was completed in 1487. Giuliano da Sangallo’s sacristy Read more [...]