Italy On This Day

Prolific writer had huge influence on the development of religious music Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was once sacked by St Peter...

Renaissance pope supported art but did not foresee the Reformation Pope Leo X, with cardinals Giulio de' Medici  and Luigi de Ross...

Pope for just 12 days but introduced world's first smoking ban Pope Urban VII banned not only smoking but chewing tobacco and snuf...