Rebuilding The Renaissance

Episode 380 - The Soul of Sicily

Apr 29, 2026

The Italian Island of Sicily is one of the most magical places on earth. Embraced by the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas, kissed by warm sunshine nearly year-round, home to three active volcanoes – the largest of which, “Her Majesty,” Mt. Etna, looms over the island like a sleeping giant – and a...

Episode 379 - Answers to Open Questions Part XXVIII

Apr 22, 2026

From the origins of the name “Rialto," to mysterious statues on the facade of Florence Cathedral, to the connection between Piero della Francesca and Caravaggio, to the reason why the red pigment in Fra Angelico’s frescoes glitter, to great Italian Renaissance art in England, and much, much more - this episode...

Episode 378 - Florence: Palazzo Davanzati

Apr 15, 2026

Built in the 14th century for the Davizzi family, before being sold to the Davanzati family in the 16^th century, the Palazzo Davanzati is today home of the “Museum of the Old Florentine House.” The various floors showcase domestic spaces and household objects to recreate life in a medieval Florentine...

Episode 377 - Florence - the Museum of Santa Maria Novella

Apr 8, 2026

The Museum of Santa Maria Novella is in the convent of the great Dominican complex of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. It consists of a series of cloisters and spaces that house various artistic masterpieces including the frescoes of the Spanish Chapel, Paolo Uccello’s “Stories of Noah, Abraham, and...

Episode 376 - Florence: The Museum of Santa Croce

Apr 1, 2026

The Museum of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, occupies the former refectory and wing of the Franciscan convent that separated two cloisters. It includes the celebrated Pazzi Chapel, a “God the Father” statue by Bacio Bandinelli, Taddeo Gaddi’s “Lignum Vitae,” Donatello’s “St. Louis of Toulouse,” and...