Rebuilding The Renaissance

Situated on a hill about 550 meters above sea level, the Castel del Monte is one of the most celebrated examples of medieval architecture. Commissioned by Frederick II in the 13th century, it was most likely used either as a fortification or a hunting lodge by the emperor and his court. The octagonal plan of the structure is punctuated by eight octagonal towers at each corner and entrances on the eastern and western sides. The design of the Castel del Monte is a harmonious combination of Greco-Roman, Islamic, and Medieval Gothic styles.

Located in the Italian region of Puglia, Alberobello is classified as "one of the most beautiful villages of Italy." This small town of some 11,000 inhabitants is celebrated throughout the world for its unique habitations called "trulli." Trulli are stone huts with sloping canonical stone roofs. Italy meets the Shire!

From the natural beauty of its countryside and coast, to the man-made beauty of its architecture, to the beauty of its artisanal and culinary traditions, the Italian region of Puglia is simply astonishing. The capital city of Bari is the resting place of one of Christianity's best-known saints - St. Nicholas. The city of Lecce is referred to as "the Florence of Southern Italy" for its beautiful art and architecture.  The historic coastal city of Otranto feels more like Greece than Italy. in fact, Puglia is so rich in art, beauty, and tradition that you feel like you are being carried away by some invisible force, which the Apulian singer Domenico Modugno sang about in his 1958 hit song "Volare!"

From the weird shading in Masaccio's "Expulsion of Adam and Eve,", to whether Michelangelo's "David" is left or right handed, to how to find out about upcoming exhibitions dedicated to Italian Renaissance art, to my opinion about the "Cupid" sculpture attributed to Michelangelo by the Met, to why more people don't listen to Rab Hatfield, and much, much more - this episode answers the very questions that you ask me about the great art, artists, and history of the Italian Renaissance.

Originally built in the 3rd century BCE, the ancient Greek theater of Taormina is the second largest Greek theater in Sicily after Siracusa. Constructed against the natural slope of Mt. Taurus, the structure can accommodate up to10,000 spectators and offers spectacular views of the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna. It is still used today for musical performances and film festivals.