Every historical age has produced its fair share of hilarious portraiture. From the hapless Habsburgs (sorry again Habsburgs) and the demonic Danish Royal Family to former president George Bush's woeful rendition of Vladimir Putin (so bad it's a miracle it didn't trigger World War Three), here are 10 of the most heinously unflattering portraits in history.
Spanning the River Tiber are several ancient bridges, each of which preserves its own fascinating story. Read on to find out all about them.
When the Roman Empire fell, the city of the Caesars fell with it—its pagan monuments mainly destroyed, converted into churches, or simply built over. We’ve uncovered but a fraction of the ancient city that underlies the modern metropolis. And while some monuments, like the Pantheon, have survived haphazardly many of the Eternal City's monuments lie hidden. Until now.
The Eternal City is truly captivating. Quite literally, these days, as we cannot leave the house. Rome’s enchanting beauty has been consigned to mere memory. Or to incriminating photos people take while outside breaking quarantine. But there’s a lesser-known attraction…
Running always helps to clear the mind. But when you’re in the midst of a pandemic, and confined to running on your roof, your mind has a way of keeping up with you. There’s been a lot to think about…
Matera is a city quite unlike any other - not just in Italy, but anywhere in the world. Find out why in this explorative article.
Of the venerated titans of Florence’s cultural Renaissance, none left quite the same mark as Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519). This article walks you through lesser-known aspects of his life.
Between Worlds is partly a travel article, partly a treatise on time and transience inspired by a diving session in Baia, Italy. It was first published in the salutary edition of the Scene and Heard.
From delicacies derived from intestinal slurry to poultry dressed up as mythical beasts, should you have the stomach for this article, read on.
Erasure as a form of posthumous punishment stretches back as far as human history. With the burning of books, destruction of images and retelling (or rewriting) of histories. The Romans, however, seem to have first formalized the practice in what we now refer to as 'damnatio memoriae.'
