Italy On This Day

Versatile musician wrote for stringed instruments and for films Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco began composing music for the piano when he ...

Dramatic life of Italian sex goddess Rosanna Schiaffino became a movie goddess in the mould of Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida Fi...

Castruccio Castracani was a career soldier who ruled Lucca for 12 years Mercenary soldier who ruled Lucca  Castruccio Castracani, a ...

Star of Antonioni classics also excelled in comedy roles Monica Vitti made her name playing enigmatic characters in Antonioni films ...

Short rule of the grandson of Lorenzo Il Magnifico Lorenzo II de' Medici ruled Florence from 1513 to 1519 but died aged only 26 ...

Ruler received a valuable education at the papal court Federico Gonzaga, aged about 10, painted by Francesco Francia Federico Gonzag...

The day Venice lost most of its territory The French painter Pierre-Jules Jollivet's depiction of the Battle of Agnadello Venetia...

Legacy of emperor famous for wall across Britain A bust of Hadrian from the Farnese Collection in Naples The Roman emperor Hadrian,...

Friend of Machiavelli among first to record history in context A portrait by an unknown artist of Francesco Guicciardini The histori...

Renaissance prince turned his back on the Church Altobello Melone's portrait of Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alex...

Scheming pontiff married off his children to secure power Pope Alexander VI: a portrait by Cristofano  dell' Altissimo, property o...