Work began on this building in 1201. In the middle ages it was the residence of the Podestà, the most important figure of authority in the town. In 1484 Giovanni II Bentivoglio, the ruler…

  Situated 10 kilometres from the coast of Tuscany, the Island of Elba is one of the most popular destinations for tourists coming from all over the world. This small natural paradise offers 147…

Via Luigi Zamboni, named in honour of the 18th century Italian patriot, is one of the historic streets of the city centre. It leads from under the Two Towers to the University quarter and…

The archaeological site called Domus del Chirurgo – “the house of the surgeon” – was discovered in 1989 and after 18 years of restoration work it was opened to the public in 2007. The…

  While Filippo Brunelleschi is famous throughout the world for the dome of Florence Cathedral, not everyone knows that he was also a skilled clockmaker. There are two texts which refer to the Renaissance…

Before entering the Doge’s Palace, that masterpiece of the Venetian gothic style, walk around the outside of the Palace and admire its exterior, just as John Ruskin suggests in the Stones of Venice.On the…

When seen from afar, the domes of St Mark’s Basilica often give the impression that they are about to take to the sky like hot air balloons. The journey into its history is a…

Many visitors hurriedly cross St Mark’s Square, have a quick look at the historic cafes, visit the Basilica, and then leave. Our advice is take things more slowly. Stand in the centre of the…