Jumièges Abbey: the ruin that survived because somebody bought it
Jumièges Abbey was sold as a stone quarry after the Revolution and saved in 1852. It stands roofless today, and anyone under 26 gets in free.
Monumenti 10 min
Archive
Monuments & landmarks
The Seu Vella of Lleida: a cathedral that served as a barracks for 241 years
The Seu Vella of Lleida has its cloister in front of the church rather than beside it, and it was an army barracks from 1707 to 1948. The walls still show it.
Monumenti 11 min
Tarragona Cathedral: this is where the altarpiece that ends in Zaragoza begins
Tarragona Cathedral holds Pere Johan's alabaster altarpiece, the largest Romanesque cloister in Catalonia and an Arabic inscription dated to the year 960.
Monumenti 12 min
Pont du Gard: the extraordinary thing is not the height, it is the gradient
The Pont du Gard is the tallest stretch of a fifty-kilometre aqueduct that fell only centimetres per kilometre. Walking in to see it costs nothing at all.
Monumenti 11 min
The Sagrada Família is not a church to look at: it is a machine for light
The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is read through the colour of its light: blues and greens to the east, reds to the west. Since June 2026 the tallest church.
Monumenti 15 min
The two cathedrals of Zaragoza: why one city has a pair of them
Zaragoza is the only city in the world with two working cathedrals: La Seo, with its Gothic alabaster altarpiece, and El Pilar, with its Goya domes.
Monumenti 14 min
The Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza: the missing link between Córdoba and the Alhambra
The Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza holds the only 11th-century taifa royal seat still standing, a ceiling dated 1492 and the cells of the Inquisition.
Monumenti 13 min
Arena of Nîmes: the best preserved Roman amphitheatre
The Arena of Nîmes is the best preserved Roman amphitheatre: what to look at inside, the centuries it spent as a walled neighbourhood and 2026 prices.
Monumenti 11 min
St Peter’s Basilica: what to see, what you pay for and what you do not
What to see in St Peter's Basilica: the stars on the floor, the Pietà, the baldachin, the climb to the dome, and what is paid for and what is free.
Monumenti 14 min
The Trevi Fountain: the history, what you are looking at and the new access rules
What to know about the Trevi Fountain: it is Oceanus and not Neptune, the ancient aqueduct feeding it, the coins, and the 2-euro ticket of 2026.
Monumenti 12 min
The Pantheon in Rome: what to see, what the ticket costs and why the dome stands up
What to see at the Pantheon in Rome: the largest concrete dome in the world, the oculus, Raphael's tomb, and the 7-euro ticket introduced in 2026.
Monumenti 13 min
The Roman Forum and the Palatine: what to see and how to read the ruins
What to see at the Roman Forum and on the Palatine: the Curia, the Arch of Septimius Severus, the Lapis Niger, the imperial palace, with tickets checked.
Monumenti 13 min
The Colosseum: how to visit it, which ticket to choose and what to really look at
How to visit the Colosseum: which ticket to choose between standard, arena and underground, what to look at inside and prices verified in 2026.
Monumenti 13 min
7 churches to visit in Paris besides Notre-Dame (updated 2026)
The 7 most beautiful churches to visit in Paris besides Notre-Dame, between Gothic art, history and masterpieces. From Saint-Denis to the Sainte-Chapelle.
10 min
How to visit Bracciano Castle: everything you need to know (updated 2026)
A guide to Bracciano Castle near Rome: the history of the Orsini and Odescalchi families, the legend of Isabella de’ Medici, opening hours and 2026 prices.
Castelli 8 min
The Memorial Church in Berlin: the "hollow tooth", a warning against war (updated 2026)
The Memorial Church in Berlin, devastated by war and left in ruins as a warning, has a truly unusual history. Here’s why the "hollow tooth" matters so much.
Opere d’arte 7 min
Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina: the most venerated of antiquity (updated 2026)
The sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina is a masterpiece of antiquity and a great oracular site. Here is what to see and why to visit it.
Arte romana Musei 10 min
Mont Saint-Michel: the complete guide to visit it in 8 points (updated 2026)
Mont Saint-Michel: its history, legends, tides and all the practical information you need to visit the abbey and the mount at its best.
13 min
Paestum: 8 things to see and to know about this beautiful archaeological park (updated 2026)
Paestum: what you don’t know about the archaeological park, why it’s famous, and what you really can’t miss in this Magna Graecia site.
Arte greca Musei 13 min
Notre-Dame de Paris: 8 things to know about the 2019 fire and the rebirth (updated 2026)
What caused the Notre-Dame fire, what was lost and how it was rebuilt up to the reopening of December 2024. All the answers.
Opere d’arte 11 min
Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris: 5 tombs you absolutely must visit and practical info (updated 2026)
The Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, the most visited in the world. Its history, the 5 tombs not to miss (Géricault, Wilde, Jim Morrison) and my practical tips.
Opere d’arte 13 min
The Eiffel Tower in Paris: 7 things to know to visit the symbol of Paris (updated 2026)
All the numbers, the history and the curiosities about the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, plus the tricks to go up without queuing.
Opere d’arte 12 min
The Malatesta Temple in Rimini: the complete guide to the cathedral (updated 2026)
The Malatesta Temple in Rimini: its history, Leon Battista Alberti’s design, the chapels and the masterpieces by Piero della Francesca and Agostino di Duccio.
10 min
What to see in Sperlonga: the villa of Tiberius in one of Italy’s most beautiful villages (updated 2026)
I tell you what to see in Sperlonga: the village and the archaeological park where emperor Tiberius built his villa to escape Rome.
Arte romana Musei 12 min
Off the beaten track in Paris: the royal necropolis of Saint-Denis (updated 2026)
The Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris, the first great Gothic building in France and necropolis of the kings: history, royal tombs and practical tips.
Arte gotica Basiliche e Cattedrali 10 min
The Japanese Garden of Paris: the hidden message among the flowers of the Albert-Kahn museum (updated 2026)
The Japanese garden of Paris at the Albert-Kahn museum, built in the name of peace and interculturality. Its history, the walk through the gardens and my tips.
6 min
Monti Sibillini National Park: 2 things you certainly didn’t know (updated 2026)
The Monti Sibillini National Park, between Umbria and Marche, is perfect for walking in nature: what to see, the boundary stone and the pantani.
Guide di viaggi 6 min
Visiting Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli: the secrets of the emperor’s palace (updated 2026)
Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli is an enchanted place where you feel transported to another age. Here is what to see, its history and how to visit it.
Arte romana Opere d’arte 12 min
The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica: the secrets of a scandalous masterpiece (updated 2026)
The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome: the story, Mario Rutelli’s four nymphs, the scandal of the nudes and the square today.
Opere d’arte 6 min
The Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle: my interpretation of these visionary works (updated 2026)
The Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle in Capalbio: the story, my interpretation of the 22 arcana sculptures and all the practical information to visit it.
Arte contemporanea Opere d’arte 16 min
Altare della Patria: everything you should know about the Vittoriano in Rome (updated 2026)
The Vittoriano is one of the most famous and photographed monuments in Rome. Discover its history and all the symbolic meanings it holds.
Piece of Art 11 min
All the secrets of Castel del Monte: the manor of Federico II and its mysteries (updated 2026)
Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s octagonal castle in Puglia: its history, the symbolism of the number 8 and everything you need to know to visit it.
Castelli Opere d’arte 10 min
Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa: everything you always wanted to know (updated 2026)
The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa is a monumental complex unique in the world: history, symbolism and everything you need to know before visiting.
Arte medievale Opere d’arte 13 min
Sainte-Chapelle in Paris: the magnificent stained glass of Saint Louis’s shrine (updated 2026)
The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is a Gothic masterpiece, built by a saintly king to house the most precious relics of Christendom.
Opere d’arte 9 min
What to see outside Paris: the remains of Soissons Abbey (updated 2026)
Soissons and its abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, an hour from Paris: a Gothic façade still standing and the cloisters that survive.
Opere d’arte 6 min
Villa Torlonia and its enchanted houses: a beautiful, little-known place in Rome (updated 2026)
Villa Torlonia on Via Nomentana: the park, the Casino Nobile where Mussolini lived and the Casina delle Civette, a Liberty-style gem, with visiting info.
Musei 8 min
Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in Pistoia: all the secret meanings of a masterpiece (updated 2026)
Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in Sant’Andrea, Pistoia: the story, the symbols of the columns, the scenes from the life of Christ and how to visit it.
Arte medievale Opere d’arte 6 min
Why you should visit Eltz Castle: one of the most beautiful castles in Germany (updated 2026)
Eltz Castle, one of Germany’s most beautiful: a fairytale manor held by the same family for 33 generations, its history, what to see and 2026 prices.
Castelli 7 min
Curiosities about the Sistine Chapel: 5 Anecdotes You Do Not Know (updated 2026)
Five stories about the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s work, plus practical tips for visiting it at the Vatican Museums.
Arte del Rinascimento Opere d’arte 10 min
The unfinished abbey of Venosa: the story of the Trinity, from the Romans to today (updated 2026)
The unfinished abbey of Venosa: a history spanning Romans, Lombards and Normans to the Middle Ages, among ruins, spolia and the tomb of Robert Guiscard.
Arte medievale Arte romana 10 min
The Triton Fountain in Rome: 5 things to know and a few anecdotes (updated 2026)
The Triton Fountain in Rome is one of Bernini’s most underrated works. I tell you its story, its secrets and a few anecdotes.
Arte barocca Opere d’arte 8 min
What you don’t know about Place des Vosges: one of the most beautiful squares in Paris (updated 2026)
Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris in the heart of the Marais. Its history, Victor Hugo’s house, the harmony of the arcades and my tips.
Guide di viaggi Opere d’arte 7 min
The sad story of San Galgano Abbey and the sword in the stone (updated 2026)
San Galgano Abbey is one of the most striking places in central Italy, home to a real "sword in the stone". Here is its history and legends.
Arte medievale Opere d’arte 9 min
The Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo: what to see and the secrets of the Sacred Wood (updated 2026)
The Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo, Vicino Orsini’s Sacred Wood: the story, the symbolism of the sculptures, the inscriptions and how to visit it today.
Opere d’arte 8 min
The Coppedè district in Rome: a unique place suspended between dream and reality (updated 2026)
A walk through the Coppedè district in Rome, between Art Nouveau, esoteric symbols and curiosities: history, what to see and how to reach it.
Guide di viaggi Opere d’arte 7 min
Cologne Cathedral: here’s why it’s one of the most visited monuments in Germany (updated 2026)
Visiting Cologne Cathedral is an indescribable emotion: its six-century history, the treasures it holds and all the practical information you need.
Arte medievale Opere d’arte 11 min
Fougères Castle: the largest medieval fortress in Europe (updated 2026)
Fougères Castle, in Brittany, is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe: its history, what to see, opening hours, prices and how to get there.
Arte medievale Castelli 9 min
Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra: the complete guide with all the useful information (updated 2026)
A guide to the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra: the initiation well, the esoteric symbols, architect Luigi Manini, opening hours and 2026 prices.
Opere d’arte 9 min
Tomar and the Convent of Christ: one of the finest Templar sites in Europe (updated 2026)
Visiting Tomar was the last stop of my journey through Portugal. Here’s the story of the Convent of Christ, the Templars and the Order of Christ.
Castelli Guide di viaggi 10 min
Royal Palace of Caserta: what to see in one of the most beautiful palaces in the world (updated 2026)
What to see at the Royal Palace of Caserta and in its beautiful gardens. I tell you its history, curiosities and all the practical information for your visit.
Arte barocca Opere d’arte 12 min
The trulli of Alberobello: what to see in the town of trulli, between history and curiosities (updated 2026)
The trulli of Alberobello: what to see in the UNESCO town, from Rione Monti to the Trullo Sovrano, and the origins of these unique dwellings.
Guide di viaggi 11 min
The Appian Way: 5 things to discover on the queen of roads, a UNESCO site (updated 2026)
Along the Appian Way you’ll find treasures from ancient Rome to the Middle Ages: here is what to see and why you should take a walk there.
Arte romana Opere d’arte 12 min
Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola: all the information and curiosities about this gem of the Viterbo area (updated 2026)
Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola: Vignola’s pentagonal villa, the Royal Staircase, the Zuccari frescoes and the gardens. What to see and how to visit it.
Arte del Rinascimento Opere d’arte 9 min
The Bagatelle rose garden in Paris, an oasis of wonders and scents (updated 2026)
The Bagatelle rose garden in Paris, in the Bois de Boulogne, a paradise for rose lovers. Its story born of a bet, the rose competition and my tips.
5 min
What to see in Matera: 7 things to try in the city of the sassi (updated 2026)
What to see in Matera: the rupestrian churches, the Palombaro Lungo cistern, the viewpoints over the Sassi, the Murgia Park and the local food.
Arte romanica Guide di viaggi 11 min
Milan Cathedral: 7 essential things to know before you visit (updated 2026)
Milan Cathedral: its history, the secrets of the Madonnina and all the practical information to climb the rooftop terraces. Discover it now!
Opere d’arte 13 min
The Reichstag building in Berlin: the German parliament between past and future (updated 2026)
The Reichstag in Berlin is one of Germany’s symbols: its history from the 1933 fire to Foster’s dome, how to visit it and how to book the dome for free.
Opere d’arte 7 min
What to see in Amiens in one day: the "Bible in stone" cathedral and Jules Verne’s city (updated 2026)
Amiens, an hour from Paris: what to see, from the largest Gothic cathedral in France to the Saint-Leu quarter and Jules Verne’s house.
Guide di viaggi 8 min
Visiting Ostia Antica: one of the most beautiful archaeological parks in the world (updated 2026)
Visiting Ostia Antica means discovering a place where the history of Rome is visible and almost tangible: what to see, how to get there, prices.
Guide di viaggi 11 min
What to see in Rouen in one day: cathedral, Joan of Arc and Flamboyant Gothic (updated 2026)
Rouen, one of the most beautiful cities in Normandy, an hour from Paris: the cathedral painted by Monet, the Gros-Horloge and the places of Joan of Arc.
Guide di viaggi 10 min
The cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia: why I loved it so much (updated 2026)
The cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia is a gem of Apulian Romanesque with a unique hypogeum. History, what to see, the crypt and the famous Talos Krater.
Opere d’arte 6 min
The Priory of Malta on the Aventine: the most romantic spot in Rome (updated 2026)
The Priory of Malta in Rome is an ancient, unusual place, between Piranesi’s famous keyhole, the Knights of Malta and one of the finest views over the capital.
Arte neoclassica Guide di viaggi 12 min
Lucca Cathedral: all the mysteries of San Martino, from the labyrinth to the Volto Santo (updated 2026)
A mysterious labyrinth, a spotless knight, a sleeping beauty and a black Christ: all the secrets of Lucca Cathedral, between myth and reality.
Opere d’arte 11 min
El Retiro Park in Madrid: the green lung between the Crystal Palace and history (updated 2026)
A walk through Madrid’s Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Crystal Palace, the monument to Alfonso XII, the Rosaleda and the Bosque del Recuerdo.
Guide di viaggi 7 min