Giulia Louise Steigerwalt

The Roman Empire was the largest empire in classical antiquity, and among the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military forces of its time. At its zenith in 117 AD, it covered 6.8 million square kilometers and held sway over …

On October 17th, a panel of 13 independent experts responsible for assessing Italian cities competing for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2019, selected Matera for the honor. This award started in 1985. Since then more than 40 …

The portrait of “La Bella Principessa” (“The Beautiful Princess”), also known as “A Young Fiancée”, is an extraordinary portrait in colored chalks and ink on vellum paper, representing a young lady from Milano in fashionable costume and hairstyle of the …

Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519 –1574) was one of the most important members of the Florentine de’ Medici family. He was the second Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, and eventually became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. If …

The ancient Maya considered chocolate the Gods’ drink, and through the centuries the “black gold” with its many ancient properties has created rich and fascinating history. In Perugia, at the heart of Umbria in Italy, there’s a magical place where …

In 1986 Carlo Petrini founded the organization Slow Food to resist the opening of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Three years later, in 1989, delegates from 15 countries gathered in Paris signed the founding manifesto of the …

On September 17th 1515, Cardinal Ippolito d’Este wrote a letter to the Marquis of Mantova announcing that Ludovico Ariosto had just finished writing “Orlando Furioso” (Mad Orlando). The epic poem was published in 1516, and soon became the first best …

The Vatican Museums, Musei Vaticani, were officially founded by Pope Benedict XIV in 1756, although Pope Julius II started the collection in 1503 when he set the statue of Apollo in the inner courtyard of Pope Innocent VIII’s Belvedere Palace. …

When Mina Gregori, one of the greatest living Caravaggio experts, found herself in front of a portrait of a young girl in the private collection of a European family, she said “Finally, it’s her”. The painting was found this past …

Two days ago, in Carbognano in the Resurrection Chapel of the town church, restorers from the “Soprintendenza ai beni storico artistici del Lazio” (Superintendency for Lazio’s historical and artistic properties) noticed that the Resurrection frescos continued behind the altar. Upon …