Heritage

The Domus Aurea, or “Golden House,” is perhaps the most recognizable and widely known symbol of Emperor Nero’s extravagant ambitions; built between 65 and 68 AD after the Great Fire of Rome — remembered because of the (fictitious) image of …

The discovery of a 17,000-year-old skeleton in Grotta delle Mura, near Monopoli in Puglia, offered new insights into the genetic history of early human populations in southern Italy. The child, who died at just 16 months of age, is one …

Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge’s Palace, is one of Venice’s most prominent landmarks, a symbol of the city’s immense power and prestige during the height of the Venetian Republic. For centuries, it served as the residence of the Doge — the …

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was famously destroyed in AD 79 by the sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Within moments, the town was buried under at least six meters of volcanic ash and pumice, capturing in chilling detail the …

On November 4th, we mark the 58th anniversary of the devastating 1966 Florence Flood, a tragedy that also highlighted extraordinary resilience. In recognition of this milestone, L’Italo Americano had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Greenwald, author of The Mud Angels …

While names like Antonio Meucci, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison dominate the pages of technological history, not many know Innocenzo Manzetti, an Italian inventor whose remarkable innovations included one of the earliest prototypes of the telephone and, very importantly …

Garibaldi purportedly once said, “I swear it will be spaghetti that unifies Italy.” It was at the time a Southern Italian dish associated only with the lower classes. Naples’ lazzaroni, the infamous street beggars, for little more than a penny …

As Columbus Day was celebrated this year in the United States, on the other side of the Atlantic, a new and highly charged debate over Christopher Columbus’ nationality reignited between Spain and Italy. The catalyst for this renewed controversy was …

A newly discovered manuscript of Il Milione, Marco Polo’s famous account of his travels, has been found in the Biblioteca Diocesana Ludovico Jacobilli in Foligno, a historic town in the Umbria region of central Italy. The discovery is significant also due to …

Spooky month may be over, but a good historical true-crime story is always welcome, especially when it’s about a woman widely considered one of the most infamous villains of 17th-century Italy.  Giulia Tofana gained infamy for her creation and distribution of …