Temple of Hercules Victor: The Oldest Building in Rome
The oldest building in Rome doesn’t call much attention to itself. For a culture which showed the world how to build big, it’s rather petite….
Italy: Central
A Guide to Rome’s Ancient Churches and Basilicas
Looking at Rome today, it’s easy to forget 1,000 years elapsed between the ancient Roman Empire and the city’s Baroque splendor. We’re often encouraged to think…
Borromini's Baroque: Rome Beyond the Gilt
It’s easy to overdose on gilt, colored marble, and cherubs when visiting Baroque buildings in Rome. The Roman church used excessive ornamentation to impress the…
A Guide to Rome’s Ancient and Historic Bridges
Roman bridges don’t get as much attention as their cousins the aqueducts and the arenas, perhaps because we still use them every day. Ancient Romans…
The Striped Cathedrals of Orvieto and Siena
Most of us associate medieval European architecture with bare stone, limited colors, and above all, solemnity. The cathedrals of Siena and Orvieto are a delightful…
The Stendhal Syndrome: How to Avoid Sensory Overload in Florence
I’m not sure what to make of the Stendhal Syndrome. Dr. Graziella Magherini coined the term in 1979 after documenting over 100 cases of visitors to…
Brunelleschi's Hospital of the Innocents and San Lorenzo: the First Buildings of the Renaissance
Most people associate Brunelleschi with his dome for Florence’s cathedral, perhaps the most iconic structure of the Renaissance. Not many realize that, with just a…
Lucca and Pisa: a Tale of Two Romanesque Cities
Once upon a time, two Tuscan city-states grew rich from trade. They used their wealth to build a slew of cathedrals, towers, piazzas, and palaces…