On this day in history: Mary of Modena born
Mary of Modena, the controversial Queen Consort of James II of England was born on 5th October, 1658. She was the daughter of Alfonso IV, Duke of Modena, and his wife, Laura Martinozzi.
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Category: History of Italy
On this day in history: Introduction of The Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western or Christian calendar, is the most widely used calendar system in the world today. The date of 4th October 1582 was the last date of the Julian Calendar.
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Pompeii politician bought votes with bread
Pompeii Archaeological sites unearth tangible proof that vote buying was not uncommon in ancient Pompeii. In one particular case, bread was the dough which brought in the votes.
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On this day in history: Adventurer Scipione Borghese born
Scipione Borghese was a remarkable adventurer and nobleman hailing from Italy. Born on 11th September, 1871 into the illustrious Borghese family, Scipione embarked on a life of adventure and exploration during the early 20th century.
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On this day in history: Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli was born
Born on 10th September 1890, Elsa Schiaparelli was a prominent Italian fashion designer known for her innovative and surrealistic approach to fashion during the early to mid-20th century.
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Theatre of Nero discovered near Vatican
Archaeologists uncover remains of what they believe is the Ancient Theatre of Nero. During excavations on the west bank of the Tiber, the exceptional discovery came to light.
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On this day in history: Artist Giorgio Morandi born
On this day in history, July 20th 1890, one of Italy’s most revered artists, Giorgio Morandi was born in Bologna. Morandi’s legacy as a painter has left an indelible mark on the art world, particularly in the realm of still-life compositions.
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On this day in history: Galileo Galilei convicted of heresy
On 22nd June 1633, Galileo Galilei – astronomer, mathematician, philosopher and engineer – often described as ‘the father of science’, was convicted of heresy. It was his second trial, having already been warned about his heretical thoughts in 1616.
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On this day in history: Savonarola dies
On the morning of 23rd May 1498, the Dominican friar Savonarola was executed in Piazza della Signoria, Florence. He had been found guilty of heresy.
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On this day in history: Birth of Pietro Bembo
On this day in history, 20th May 1470, the scholar and poet Pietro Bembo was born. A lover of Lucrezia Borgia, he was influential in the development of the modern Italian language.
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