Italy On This Day

Bruno Sammartino - wrestling champion How a sickly kid from Abruzzo became king of the ring Bruno Sammartino , who found fame as a professio...

Mary of Modena – Queen of England Catholic wife of James II greeted with suspicion Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este, who w...

NEW - The Gregorian Calendar Why a 16th century Pope decreed that 10 days would not happen The Gregorian Calendar, which is used today by ...

Why a 16th century Pope decreed that 10 days would not happen The cover page of the first printed edition of the calendar, in 1582 The Grego...

Francesco Bianchini - jockey 19th century rider who contested Palio di Siena 55 times The jockey Francesco Bianchini, who holds the record f...

Joe Profaci - Mafia boss Sicilian who influenced profile of Mario Puzo’s Godfather The Mafia boss Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Profaci, one of the real-li...

NEW - Sylvano Bussotti – classical composer, opera director and writer The productive life of a Renaissance man with many strings to his bo...