On this day in history: feast day of Saint Rosalia
On 4th September each year, the people of Palermo celebrate the feast day of their beloved patron, Saint Rosalia. She is affectionately known as “La Santuzza” or “the Little Saint.”
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Category: History of Italy
On this day in history: Isabella de’ Medici born
Isabella de’ Medici, born on 31st August 1542 in Florence, was a prominent figure in the powerful and influential Medici family. Her life, marked by both privilege and tragedy, reflects the complexities faced by women of noble birth during the Renaissance period.
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On this day in history: Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy dies
Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy, died on 30th August 1580 in Turin. He was a significant figure in European history, credited with revitalising the Duchy of Savoy after years of decline. Known as Testa di Ferro (Iron Head) due to his resolute determination, he played a pivotal role in restoring Savoy’s sovereignty and modernising its […]
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On this day in history: Talkshow host Maurizio Costanzo born
Maurizio Costanzo was an iconic figure in Italian television and journalism. Born on 28th August 1938 in Rome, Costanzo became a household name thanks to his long-running talk show, Maurizio Costanzo Show.
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On this day in history: Birth of Zanetta Farussi
Zanetta Farussi, born on 27th August 1707 in Venice, was a celebrated comedy actress in 18th-century Italy and the mother of the infamous adventurer and womaniser, Giacomo Casanova.
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On this day in history: Michelangelo’s La Pietà Commissioned
On 26th August 1498, one of the most iconic sculptures in the history of art, La Pietà, was commissioned, marking a pivotal moment in the career of the young Michelangelo Buonarroti.
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On this day in history: World’s First Air Raid
On 22nd August 1849, the city of Venice witnessed a historic and unprecedented event: the world’s first air raid. Long before the age of aeroplanes and modern warfare, this remarkable feat was achieved by primitive, unmanned balloons. It marked a pivotal moment in military history, laying the groundwork for the concept of aerial bombardment.
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On this day in history: Author Emilio Salgari born
Emilio Salgari, often hailed as the father of Italian adventure novels, was a prolific writer whose works captivated generations of readers with tales of swashbuckling heroes, exotic locales, and high-seas adventures. He was born in Verona on 21st August 1862.
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On this day in history: Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel, poet and revolutionary, hanged
Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel, born in Rome in 1752, was an exceptional figure in the history of Italy, whose life intertwined poetry, intellectual rigour, and revolutionary fervour. As one of the most prominent women of her time, she played a crucial role in the short-lived Neapolitan Republic of 1799. She was hanged on 20th August, 1799.
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On this day in history: Death of Emperor Augustus
Augustus, born Gaius Octavius Thurinus on 23rd September 63 BCE, in Rome, is best remembered as the first emperor of the Roman Empire and one of the most influential figures in Western history.
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