Episodes
Feb. 11, 2025
184 - Julius II: Warrior pope rising (1503 - 1508)
Giuliano della Rovere, after trying for more than a decade, finally manages to become pope Julius II in 1503. He gets to work breaking the last resistance of Cesare Borgia, then has to sort out his Papal States, gobbled up by...
Feb. 4, 2025
Recap 08 episodes 161 - 183
We stop and take a look back at the episodes that cover the late 1400's as Italy completed her transition from the middle ages to the Renaissance and the lead up to the Italian Wars after the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent....
Feb. 4, 2025
Regional Italy episode 03 - Lombardy
We take a little trip around the region of Lombardy , going beyond the financial and fashion capital Milan , to explore the beautiful nature of lake Como and hear all about the lake, monster that resides there. On the way, we...
Jan. 21, 2025
Regional Italy episode 02 - Veneto
Which is the Italian region that can drink you under the table? Tradition would say it's Veneto and with wines such as Amarone della Valpolicella and Prosecco , it's not gard to believe. We start our journey trying not to tal...
Jan. 14, 2025
183 - The fall of the Borgias (1503 - 1507)
Just when the Borgias seem at the top of their game and that nothing could possibly stop them, in August of 1503 pope Alexander VI , after a dinner party at a cardinal's house, becomes seriously ill and died after two weeks. ...
Jan. 7, 2025
Regional Italy episode 01 - Emilia Romagna
In our first episode of the Regional Italy miniseries we explore the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna , travelling initially along the ancient Roman road created by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. We start from the beautifu...
Dec. 31, 2024
Regional Italy launch and Buon Anno!
While wishing you a "Buon Anno" (Happy New Year" we are also excited to announce the launch of our new miniseries on the Italian regions: Regional Italy! Thanks to the support of our friends at Explore Worldwide, we'll be loo...
Dec. 24, 2024
Seasons greetings: A Visit from Alaric
Just a quick one to wish you a happy whatever you are celebrating, or not celebrating and give you the gift of my rendition of the famous poem "a visit from Alaric" also known as "T'was the night before Saturnalia".
Dec. 10, 2024
182 - Cesare Borgia: Betrayal and vengeance (1502 - 1503)
People in Italy are getting very nervous about Cesare Borgia's successes, at times reached with treachery, and some of the unhappy party are actually Il Valentino's captains. When rebellion breaks out they see their chance an...
Dec. 4, 2024
Autumn 2024 update - episode, sketches, Italian schools and politics
Just a quick update to apologise for a publishing delay and tell you a little about our sketches, the Italian school system and the current political situation in Italy
Nov. 19, 2024
181 - Cesare Borgia flying high (1501 - 1502)
After doing his part for the French in the second Italian War Cesare Borgia heads back to Rome to concur with his father pope Alexander VI. They take care of some internal business with the Colonna, Orsini and Savelli and Ces...
Nov. 5, 2024
180 - The Challenge of Barletta (1503)
We first follow the life of the military captain Ettore Fieramosca (Hector Proudfly) and his troubled love story with Ginvenra da Monreale which ended tragically after the intervention of Cesare Borgia. We then move to the le...
Oct. 22, 2024
179 - Italian Wars 9: The Fall of Naples and France vs Spain
Naples once again falls to the French of king Luis XII, but once again they can't hold on to it for long as the delicate agreement with the Spanish of Queen Isabella and king Ferdinand quickly melts away and the legendary gen...
Oct. 8, 2024
178 New triumphs for Cesare and Naples under three (again) 1500 - 1501
We follow Cesare Borgia as he continues his conquest ousting Giovanni Sforza from Pesaro, Pandolfo Malatesta from Rimini and Astorre Manfredi from Faenza. We are also introduced to one of his most important generals, Vitelozz...
Sept. 24, 2024
177 - Italian Wars 8 - Il Moro back in Milan… for a bit (1500 - 1508)
With the French hold on Milan looking weak, Ludovico il Moro sees his chance to take his duchy back, but only manages for a while before he is defeated at the Battle of Novara, made prisoner and taken to France where he will ...
Sept. 10, 2024
176 - Cesare the conqueror (1499 - 1500)
As we set the scene for the start of Cesare Borgia's military campaign, we start to observe the ominous signs of what is to come in Rome with the arbitrary accusation and confiscations of the Roman nobility. Then we go explor...
Aug. 27, 2024
175 - The Italian Wars 7 - Milan under threat (1499)
King Louis XII prepares to descend upon Milan to stake his claim to the duchy. Before he sees out he needs to make deals with England, The Swiss and the Italian powers, Savoy and Ve3nice. Meanwhile, duke Ludovico il Moro is ...
Aug. 13, 2024
174 - The last stand of the tigress - Caterina Sforza part IV
We follow the last stand of Caterina Sforza as the French once again descend upon Italy with king Louis XII and Cesare Borgia, made representative of Romagna by his father Pope Alexander VI, closes in on the lands of Caterina...
July 30, 2024
173 - The roar of tigress - Caterina Sforza part III
After the assassination of her husband Girolamo Riario , Caterina is in full control as regent for her son, Ottaviano Riario. She has to navigate regional issues in Romagna , another assassination in Faenza and then the trick...
July 16, 2024
The Tigress in her Den - Caterina Sforza part II
After settling in to their new signoria, Caterina Sforza and her husband Girolamo Riario have to deal with continuous plots, the War of Ferrara and the death of uncle pope Sixtus IV . After that Caterina will really show what...
July 2, 2024
171 - The Tigress rising: Caterina Sforza part 1
We look at the early years of the woman who would come to be known as "The Tigress of Forlì", Caterina Sforza starting with her youth at the court of her father, duke of Milan Galeazzo Maria. We then move on to the traumatic ...
June 18, 2024
170 - The Gonzaga of Mantua Mantua
Having met Francesco II Gonzaga, at the battle of Fornovo, we take some time to go back and have a look at the beautiful city of Mantua from its legendary origins, surrounded by lakes created by the tears of a prophetess, thr...
June 4, 2024
Special: Republic Day 2024
To celebrate 2nd June, Republic Day as well as the release of the related film " C'è ancora domani" (There's still tomorrow ) by director Paola Cortellesi, we are brushing up our episode on the Historical events that lead up ...
May 21, 2024
169 - The Italian Wars 6 - round 1 aftermath, the north
After leaving the Papal States with Cesare Borgia waiting for us, we head into the Republic of Florence to look at the struggle with the other Italian powers over Pisa and also stop to talk a little about the man who named Am...