Italy On This Day

Tenor star who turned Verona’s ancient Arena into major venue Giovanni Zenatello sang all the major tenor roles in a 35-year career The earl...

Domenico Ghirardelli – chocolatier Built famous US business with skills learned in Genoa The chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli , founder of t...

The Barber of Seville premieres in Rome Rival fans wreck debut of Rossini’s most famous opera The Barber of Seville, the work that would co...

Massimo Troisi – actor, writer and director Tragic star died hours after completing finest work Massimo Troisi, the comic actor, writer and...

NEW - Francesco Redi - biologist and poet Renaissance scholar who debunked scientific myths The physician Francesco Redi, famous for chal...

Renaissance scholar who debunked scientific myths Francesco Redi proved that maggots resulted from flies' eggs The physician Francesco R...

Giordano Bruno - 'martyr of science' Dominican friar condemned as a heretic Giordano Bruno, a Dominican friar, philosopher and cosm...

Edda Dell’Orso – vocalist Soprano was wordless voice of Morricone soundtracks The singer Edda Dell’Orso, best known for the extraordinary r...

Charlie Cairoli - circus clown Milan-born performer who became a Blackpool legend The circus clown Charlie Cairoli, who would at his peak se...