Key men and women of Renaissance Florence Regarded as the ‘birthplace of the Renaissance’, Florence from 1400 to 1600 was in a religious, cultural and political ferment that was crucial to shaping the modern world. …
Who led Rome? There are plenty of lead characters that rose to Roman power throughout its empire. While some of them are very well known, others are less so. Some ascended to leadership via lineage …
Venetian maps ruled the world “Venice was always a frontier,” Peter Ackroyd (2009) declares in Venice: Pure City. “When the empire was divided in the time of Charlemagne, the lagoons of Venice were ascribed neither …
Secrets of Florence Florence, capital of the Italian region of Tuscany, is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and left behind a legacy that shaped the Italy we know today. This article reveals some of …
Seeking Caravaggio’s “Nativity” The hunt for Caravaggio’s stolen “Nativity” painting may just be the most high-profile art crime of the 20th century. One stormy night in 1969, an altarpiece painted by Italian master Michelangelo Merisi da …
The Roman Empire The Roman Empire at its peak covered an area of five million square kilometres (1.9 million square miles) and included territories in Asia, Africa, and the Western European nations around the Mediterranean Sea. …
Southern Italy: from Magna Graecia to Italian Unification When you ask people about Italy, more often than not one of the first places they mention is the capital city, Rome, or the submerged streets of …
Early History of Sicily: From the Phoenicians to the Arab Conquest (Antiquity to the 10th Century) Sicily in Southern Italy is the largest island in the Mediterranean, separated from the mainland by the Strait of …
Practising Responsible Travel In January 2018 we reported on a growing problem: the overcrowding that affects tourist cities across the world. Time Magazine recently called it “The Tourist Trap”, because it is not as simple as …
Uncovering Caravaggio The following article picks up on, and extends, our general introduction to Caravaggio. Here, we we delve further into the details of Caravaggio’s early life and relationships, and use available evidence to piece …
Who was Caravaggio? Caravaggio became the greatest painter of religious works of the early 17th century. His dramatic but naturalistic style of painting emphasised the common humanity of his subjects, the apostles and martyrs of …
Italian Renaissance Families: Mantua and the Gonzaga. This blog is part of a series on five influential Italian Renaissance families that shaped Italy, especially during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It is based on both …
This article (blog)is part of a series on five influential Italian Renaissance families that shaped Italy, especially during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It is based on both our Italian Renaissance Summer School course, and …
This blog is part of a series on five influential Italian Renaissance families that shaped Italy, especially during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It is based on both our Italian Renaissance Summer School course, and …
Sicilian people; A cosmopolitan society While popular images of Sicily might focus on the active volcano, Mount Etna, or the poverty that led to the mass migration of Sicilians to America, forming today’s communities of …
Florence, Italy Florence is one of the most enduring tourist destinations in Europe, if not the world. For many people it is a short stop in a world heritage city. Odyssey has put together a …
For tours of Italy, 10 great books to consider reading before you visit.
- 8 mins read
Blog, Europe, Italy, Reading lists for Travellers, Travel tips
A collection of books for those mature or senior travellers thinking about taking a small group tour of Italy. This suggested list of 10 books on Italy may assist you with your planning and learning …
About Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica: islands of the western Mediterranean Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica Many civilisations and empires arose, flourished and declined around the shores of the Mediterranean. Its islands bear the marks …
Thinking about taking small group tours? A small group trip for your next holiday/vacation is a terrific way to meet like-minded travellers. By small group tours, these are groups ofRead more