In this episode of A History of Italy , we explore the extraordinary life of Isabella d’Este , one of the most influential women of the Italian Renaissance and arguably the closest thing the 15th and 16th centuries had to a modern celebrity influencer. Born into the powerful House of Este in Ferrara and married into the Gonzaga dynasty of Mantua, Isabella navigated the violent and unstable political world of Renaissance Italy with intelligence, diplomacy and cultural sophistication. While others...
May 26, 2026•20 min•Ep. 206
We are opening a new section of the podcast website with contributions from you, dear listener! You can send in articles, thoughts, family stories and so on. They should be: Pertinent to Italy, trips to I taly Italian culture and history or Italians abroad. Not contain vulgarity /unless required for the story of quoted) hate speech, promote gambling and so on Contain references to sources You can also add a quick bio if you like hello@ahistoryofitaly.com...
May 14, 2026•3 min
When the president of the brand new Republic of Italy, Luigi Einaudi decides in 1946 he wants to exercise his right to select 5 illustrious Italians to be senators for life, one of his choices falls on world famous conductor Arturo Toscanini . The candidates, however, must have a spotless reputation and the check into the conductors life soon reveals that he was present in the small sleepy Tuscan of Piazze at the time of an infamous murder, that of a famous doctor, Alberto Rinaldi. Retired Colon...
May 05, 2026•27 min
Episode Summary The 16th century didn’t start kindly for the Republic of Venice—but if history has taught us anything, it’s that Venice had a knack for bouncing back. In this episode, we follow Venice from near-collapse during the War of the League of Cambrai through its remarkable recovery by 1516. But survival came at a cost: a shifting role in European trade, rising global powers, and increasingly complex political alliances. As Venice navigates between France, the Holy Roman Empire, and the ...
Apr 21, 2026•18 min•Ep. 205
Here are your show notes , in the same structured style and tone as before: Show Notes Link to Trentino tour: https://voicemap.me/tour/trento/italy-s-gateway-to-europe-from-medieval-to-modern-trento Episode Overview In 1525, revolutionary ideas inspired by the Protestant Reformation spread from Germany into the Alpine valleys of Trentino. What followed was a dramatic — if short-lived — uprising of peasants against nobles and clergy. In this episode, we explore how social tensions, natural disast...
Apr 07, 2026•19 min•Ep. 204
Episode Overview Continuing our tour of the Italian peninsula in the early 1500s, we move north from the Kingdom of Naples , through the Papal States and Tuscany, across the Apennines, past Genoa, and into what is today the region of Piedmont . In this episode we explore the key political players in the region — the Marquisate of Saluzzo, the Marquisate of Monferrato, and above all the Duchy of Savoy . Once an expanding Alpine power controlling vital mountain passes, Savoy would find itself caug...
Mar 17, 2026•15 min•Ep. 203
Episode Overview Having toured Spanish Sardinia and turbulent Sicily, we now complete our circuit of southern Italy by turning to the Kingdom of Naples . Once secured for Spain by the legendary Gonzalo de Córdoba, Naples became one of the crown jewels of the Spanish Empire — wealthy, strategic, and politically delicate. In this episode, we follow the kingdom from consolidation under Spanish rule through internal tensions, shifting viceroys, the Battle of Ravenna, and finally to the dramatic Fren...
Feb 24, 2026•20 min•Ep. 202
Episode Overview Having raced through the early 1500s following the Italian Wars, the Medici popes, Leonardo da Vinci, and the creation of the Medici duchy in Florence, it’s time to slow down and look at the parts of Italy we’ve left slightly out of focus. In this episode, we take a tour of the Italian peninsula’s two great islands — Sardinia and Sicily — and the Kingdom of Naples’ wider Mediterranean context. Though often treated as peripheral, these territories were central to Spanish power in...
Feb 03, 2026•17 min•Ep. 201
To celebrate the 200th anniversary episode, which coincided with the 8th anniversary, we decided to hear from you, dear constant listener to create a special episode to celebrate this great milestone with many more hopefully to come. As well as greetings, we'll hear about: Sieges vs Battles Moving Michelangelo artwork An influential writer at the court of pope Leo X The legend of the heart of bricks hidden among the alleyways of Venice A warning from the lovely town of Carpi The story of the uns...
Jan 03, 2026•29 min•Ep. 200
Episode Summary With Giovanni dalle Bande Nere gone, we return to Florence to witness the dramatic collapse of the centuries-old Florentine Republic and the emergence of Medici princely rule. Against the backdrop of the Sack of Rome, religious extremism, political infighting, and imperial intervention, this episode follows Florence’s final republican experiment and introduces one of its most controversial rulers: Alessandro de’ Medici, the first Duke of Florence. Key Topics Covered The Aftermath...
Dec 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 199
In this episode, we trace the final chapters in the life of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, the last great condottiero of Renaissance Italy, and his unlikely, enduring friendship with the scandalous writer Pietro Aretino. From political satire in Rome to blood-soaked battlefields in Lombardy and Umbria, this story intertwines art, warfare, ambition, and the sweeping changes that transformed European conflict forever. Key Topics Covered Pietro Aretino: Scandal, Satire & Survival Early life in Arez...
Dec 09, 2025•20 min•Ep. 198
Episode Summary Picking up where we left off, Giovanni de’ Medici , son of Caterina Sforza and known to history as Giovanni of the Black Bands , continues his meteoric rise through the bloody and chaotic world of Renaissance warfare. Backed by a Medici pope and driven by his fierce loyalty to his men, Giovanni’s legend as a mercenary commander — and his troubles with the powerful Medici family — only grow. Host Mike Corradi unpacks the dangerous charisma, discipline, and contradictions of this l...
Nov 11, 2025•14 min•Ep. 197
Hello You! for our 220th and 8th anniversary episode I thought I would invite contributions from the most VIP I could think of... YOU! So please send in a sound file or, if you don't feel like it, written message with a contribution, consideration, question, something i didn't mention or talk about enough. Please send by 31st December at the very latest.
Nov 01, 2025•2 min
In this episode, we reunite with an old friend of the show — Caterina Sforza , the indomitable “Tigress of Forlì.” From her, we follow the turbulent and violent early life of her son, Giovanni de’ Medici , known as Il Gran Diavolo — the Great Devil — a man whose passions, battles, and excesses would shape the future of both the Sforza and Medici dynasties. We go through the tangled lineage and fiery temperament of one of Renaissance Italy’s most fascinating figures, tracing his path from rebelli...
Oct 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 196
In this episode, we pick up with Emperor Charles V consolidating his power over Italy after the Battle of Pavia (1525) , where the French king Francis I was captured. The uneasy Italian states, including Pope Clement VII (Giulio de’ Medici) , soon realized they had traded one master for another and formed the League of Cognac (1526) — an anti-imperial alliance including France, Venice, Florence, the Papal States, Milan , and under English protection, Henry VIII . The league’s formation was steep...
Oct 07, 2025•19 min•Ep. 195
After three episodes exploring the life of Leonardo da Vinci, we return to the turbulent stage of the Italian Wars. In this episode, we pick up in the early 1520s, a period shaped by papal politics, dynastic rivalries, and the shifting fortunes of France and Spain. Highlights include: The succession of popes after Leo X: Hadrian VI and Clement VII, and their struggles with reform, neutrality, and survival. The tug-of-war between France and Spain over Milan and Naples, with Spain ultimately gaini...
Sep 16, 2025•17 min•Ep. 194
This is a guest episode by Dirk Hoffmann of the history of the German podcast, in which he tells us all about the impact of one of the most important inventions in human history, Gutenberg printing press.
Sep 02, 2025•38 min
Just to let you know I haven’t disappeared!
Aug 16, 2025•1 min
We explore the fascinating intersection between one of the world’s most famous relics and one of its most brilliant minds: Leonardo Da Vinci and the Shroud of Turin . Was Da Vinci somehow connected to this mysterious cloth? Could he have had the knowledge, access, and motive? 🕯️ What You’ll Hear: The scientific investigation into the Shroud of Turin by the STURP team in 1978 and why their results only deepened the mystery. The carbon dating shock: how the Shroud was traced back not to 1st centu...
Jul 29, 2025•21 min•Ep. 193
Early Life & Education Born illegitimate, Leonardo spent his youth sketching and observing nature. After moving to Florence, he entered the prestigious workshop of Andrea Verrocchio, where he learned not only painting but also the chemistry behind pigments and the mechanics of sculpture and engineering. 🎨 Artistic Breakthroughs By 1472, Leonardo was a member of the painters’ guild and began producing original works. His first known portrait was of Ginevra de’ Benci, and his collaboration on...
Jul 09, 2025•19 min•Ep. 192
Starting from reasons to have a good cry, particularly concerning hair, we then head to Vinci, outside Florence in the mid 1400's to witness the birth and early childhood of Leonardo to see the start of some of the characteristics that will accompany him for the rest of his life. We hear about who gave and didn't give him affection and how his status as an illegitimate child was not all for the worst. Here is the link to our generous sponsor https://sterlinghe.com/...
Jun 24, 2025•18 min•Ep. 191
In this episode, we dive into the dramatic papacy of Pope Leo X, exploring his efforts to secure Medici power, his architectural and social reforms in Rome, and his role in the early days of the Protestant Reformation. We track how his favoritism toward Florence shaped papal policy, the challenges he faced with Martin Luther, and the growing religious divide that would soon shake Europe to its core. We also spotlight Leo's political maneuvers in Italy, from annexing Urbino and Perugia to negotia...
May 27, 2025•19 min•Ep. 190
Of course! Here's the revised version of the summary show notes with key words and phrases bolded for emphasis: In this episode, we explore the turbulent political and religious landscape of Italy and Europe in the late 1510s —a pivotal prelude to the Protestant Reformation . 🔹 Power Shifts in Europe 1516 : Ferdinand of Aragon dies; Charles of Habsburg inherits Spain . Peace between Charles and Francis I of France stabilizes Italy ( Treaty of Noyon ). Venice regains its former territories after...
May 13, 2025•16 min•Ep. 189
In this episode, we pick up the story of the Medici family as they return to Florence, armed with the great news of Giovanni de' Medicibecoming Pope Leo X. We dive into: How the Medici family subtly regained power in Florencewithout taking formal positions, carefully balancing loyalty and governance. The undoing of Savonarola's reforms and the reinstatement of Machiavelli. Florence’s evolving political culture: from fierce Republican ideals to the tentative acceptance of centralized rule. The cl...
Apr 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 188
Among the many casualties of the battle of Garigliano was Piero de Medici , son of Lorenzo the Magnificent . Piero, previously exiled from Florence for his poor leadership during the invasion of Charles VIII in 1494, drowned while trying to escape the battle. His body was found and buried at Montecassino Abbey , under the protection of his brother, Cardinal Giovanni de Medici . Florence in Transition After the fall of Girolamo Savonarola , Florence entered a period of unstable governance: Two ma...
Apr 28, 2025•19 min•Ep. 187
After the release of the series " Secret Kingdom - God's banker " we talk with the podcast creator Nicolò Majnoni about the Roberto Calvi affair and talk about Italy in the early 80's, the Vatican, the Cold War, Freemasons and the Mafia
Mar 25, 2025•36 min
In this episode, we dive into a personal story that kicks off with a Christmas party invitation and an unexpected wardrobe choice — a kilt . From this quirky start, we delve into the historical significance of Sicily , a land that has shaped centuries of Mediterranean history . The episode takes us on a journey from the ancient Carthaginian and Greek settlements to the present day, with a special focus on Palermo , Catania , and Messina . We hear about the Normans , the Arabs , and the rise of t...
Mar 18, 2025•28 min
Venice is reeling from the defeat at Agnadello , but immediately starts the comeback egged on by doge Lorenzo Loredan . After some promising victories they suffer another defeat at the hands of the League of Cambra i at Polisella . When all seems once again lost, Pope Julius II changes sides, allying with Venice and seeking to expel the French from Italy, which he manages to do after forming the Holy League of 1512....
Mar 12, 2025•15 min•Ep. 186
From the Roman fast food joints in the marvel that is Pompei, to the buzzing historical streets of Naples and the witches of Benevento, we're going off, thanks to Explore Worldwide, to explore the southern Italian Region of Campania. What happened to the tree of the witches? What is the "Naples Splitter"? Where is the most iconic coast of Italy? Can you actually move without tripping over a UNESCO world heritage site? Which city had bad wind? How many people can you fit on a scooter? You'll find...
Mar 04, 2025•28 min
After following the adventures of Julius II we go and visit with Venice , who is having ups and downs, losing influence as the attentipn of the world turns to the Atlantic, losing colonies to the Turks and starting to make enemies in Europe, powerful enemies that will come together in the league of Cambrai , leading to the dramatic battle of Agnedello in 1509. Oh and we also have the mysterious death of would-be doge Filippo Tron : was he murdered, or just seriously overweight?...
Feb 25, 2025•15 min•Ep. 185
