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In all of human history there has never been an era as richly endowed with human creativity as the Italian Renaissance. When the economic boom of the Late Middle Ages had allowed a flourishing and wealthy merchant class to emerge, a plethora of artists, sculptors, architects, and thinkers followed in their wake. In an astonishingly short period of time, Italy was transformed mentally, physically, and spiritually.

The mystical floating city of Venice has inspired awe for generations and continues to be one of the most visited European cities for good reason. Tourists are drawn to the stunning blend of classical, Gothic, and Renaissance-inspired architecture across the picturesque towns and villages, the charming open-air markets, the mouthwatering traditional cuisine, and of course, the famous gondolas drifting down the twinkling blue waters.

Based on a wealth of documents long buried in the Vatican archives, Prisoner of the Vatican tells the story of the Church's secret attempt to block the unification of Italy and seize control, not in ancient times, but in the late 19th century. For more than 50 years, the pope was a self-imposed prisoner within the Vatican walls, planning to flee Italy, to return only as the restored ruler of Rome and the Papal States.

"Living in Italy" - A true story about life in Italy by Stef Smulders is an engaging and insightful memoir that takes readers on a journey through the author's experiences of relocating to Italy with his partner, Nico. From navigating the intricacies of Italian bureaucracy to adapting to the country's vibrant culture, Smulders shares his candid observations and amusing anecdotes about life as an expat in Italy. Through his vivid storytelling, Smulders paints a vivid picture of the joys and challenges of living in a foreign country.

Perhaps no country has had such a lasting impact on Western culture as Italy. Whether it’s the frescoes of the Renaissance, the politics of ancient Rome, or the formation of the Catholic Church, Italy holds a central place on the world’s stage. This audiobook gives a quick but detailed overview of Italy’s grand, sweeping history, from ancient city-state to modern cultural mecca. Whether you’re a student of Italian history looking for a refresher or a brand-new learner looking for an introduction, this audiobook is a concise, easy-to-follow overview.

Is it possible to identify a starting point in history from which everything else unfolds — a single moment that can explain the present and reveal the essence of our identities? According to Massimo Montanari, this is just a myth: by themselves, origins explain very little and historical phenomena can only be understood dynamically — by looking at how events and identities develop and change as a result of encounters and combinations that are often unexpected.

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

Discover Italy's captivating history, from the enigmatic Etruscans to the modern marvel of today. Together, we will unveil the secrets of ancient civilizations, experience the rise of Rome's grandeur, and immerse ourselves in the Renaissance's artistic brilliance. Witness Italy's unification and its transformative triumphs, leading to its modern role in the European Union. This book, enriched with vivid narratives, invites you to traverse the epochs and relish Italy's rich past.

Un pellegrinaggio lungo 900 chilometri, sui passi degli antichi pellegrini che percorrevano la via Francigena. Un pellegrinaggio è molto più che un viaggio a piedi, e un viaggio a piedi è molto più che un viaggio. Il mondo che si attraversa , che sia asfalto, natura, città, paesi, chiese, alberghi o poveri ostelli, risuona con il viandante e forma un’unica sinfonia le cui parole sono i pensieri, le emozioni, le preghiere, i sogni.

The First Italian War: The History and Legacy of the Italian Wars’ Initial Conflict at the Height of the Renaissance chronicles the various nations and city-states that jousted for power throughout the peninsula during the late 15th century. The audiobook presents places and events that'll help you learn about the First Italian War like never before.

La saga des Médicis, sous la plume du grand Dumas. Les Médicis sont une des familles les plus riches et les plus influentes de Florence. Des ressources financières considérables leur permirent d'investir dans l'architecture, la sculpture, la peinture mais aussi dans la collection de pierres précieuses et d'objets d'orfèvrerie. La maison de Médicis est apparue, au XIIe siècle, au sein de la République de Florence, et devient, au XVIe siècle, la famille régnant sur le grand-duché de Toscane.

Iris Origo, one of the twentieth century's great diarists, was born in England in 1902. As a child, she moved between England, Ireland, Italy and America, never quite belonging anywhere. It was only when she married an Italian man that she came to rest in one country. Fifteen years later, that country would be at war with her own. With piercing insight, Origo documents the grim absurdities that her adopted Italy underwent as war became more and more unavoidable.

In the aftermath of the First World War, the seeds of fascism were sown in Italy. While the country reeled in shock, a new movement emerged from the chaos: one that preached hatred for politicians and love for the fatherland; one that promised to build a ‘New Roman Empire’, and make Italy a great power again.

La convivialità dei banchetti, il ricorso a pratiche divinatorie, la condizione emancipata della donna, la proprietà privata terriera, la pianta della città basata su cardo e decumano: elementi disparati di una medesima eredità, quella che ci deriva da un popolo fra i più affascinanti, gli Etruschi.

Greater Than a Tourist: Rome, Italy offers the inside scoop on Rome. As part of the Greater Than a Tourist series, this book will give you travel tips from someone who has lived at your next travel destination. You will discover advice that will help you throughout your stay.

Galileo Galilei began his career as a mathematician. Yet as fate would have it, he became far more than a numbers whiz. Here was a true Renaissance man; one who was greatly educated and a genuine lover of the arts. He was a fan of poets and a fine lute player. When in 1609 Galileo created his first telescope and turned his attention to the skies, everything changed.

The Moors are well-known for their presence on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages and for the conflicts they fought in Europe, but the term Moor is a historical rather than an ethnic name. It is an invention of European Christians for the Islamic inhabitants of Maghreb (North Africa), Andalusia (Spain), Sicily, and Malta, and it was sometimes used to designate all Muslims.

Naples (or, in Italian, Napoli) is the local capital of Campania and Italy's third-largest city, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 967,069 people living within the city's administrative limits since 2017. With a population of 3,115,320 people, its province-level town is Italy's third-most inhabited urbane city, and its city periods for around twenty miles outside the city walls. Naples, established by Greeks in the first millennium BC, is just one of the world's oldest constantly occupied cities.

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

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