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Meraviglie
Intermediate
128 Videos

Alberto Angela, the well-known science popularizer on Italian television, takes us on a journey to discover the "Wonders" that make Italy a "peninsula of treasures." The sites we visit, recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, range from artistic and architectural masterpieces to incredible natural wonders.

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Pages: 1 of 9 
─ Videos: 1-15 of 128 Totaling 7 hours 39 minutes

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela, well-known presenter of historical TV documentaries, takes us on a journey to discover some of the "wonders" — both man-made and natural — of this "treasure peninsula" called Italy. The journey begins at the Royal Palace in Caserta.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

It's hard to fathom the scale of this royal palace. We learn how many workers it took and how long it took to build. The grand staircase is of amazing dimensions, and, when seen from the top, our host seems like a small dot at the bottom of it.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We visit the magnificent, immense Throne Room, with its small but elegant throne, and vaulted, frescoed ceiling.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela takes us from the public throne room to the private chambers of the Royal Palace. In order to obtain the desired wall coverings, a whole complex was built for manufacturing silk. It's still operating today. Incredibile!

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The narrator makes us aware of the vast number of people necessary to run the Palace. We visit the most intimate place in the Palace: the queen's dressing room and bathroom. It is fascinating to learn all the ways in which it was outfitted to both pamper and protect the queen.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

If we thought the interior of the Royal Palace of Caserta was amazing, we should get ready for even more amazement as we go outside and see the spectacular park — a true capolavoro (masterpiece) — which Luigi Vanvitelli, architect and engineer, designed, giving water the starring role.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Exploring the gardens further, we come upon a grotto, as well as what looks like an ancient Roman site, replete with original statues. It was all part of Vanvitelli's plan.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We leave the Royal Palace of Caserta and head towards Cilento in Campania where there is a huge Benedictine monastery. When we see the term convento, we might assume it is a convent for nuns, but in Italian, un convento can be a religious community for either monks or nuns (or both).

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela us takes back in time, to a city that came about in a totally different way: splendid Matera in Basilicata. It's definitely worth a trip.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Matera is all about caves and grottoes. There were many natural caves that were expanded to be used as dwellings and churches, and other man-made grottoes as well.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We enter a fascinating church carved right into the rock: the Church of the Madonna di Idris. There are some surprising discoveries awaiting us.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We see the inside of house built into the rock. It is fascinating to learn how families coped with the problems of water, humidity, and cramped quarters.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Living conditions were so different at the time of the cave dwellings. Imagine having a mule and rabbits running around the house! The government eventually put a stop to this type of dwelling, and much was gained, but much was lost. On the other hand, people had to live somewhere. The Civita, the oldest part of Matera, filled up quickly around the imposing cathedral, and there was no more room for building houses.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In Matera, various epochs shake hands, as Alberto Angela put it. Matera continues to amaze us with what's hidden underneath the piazza of the Baroque quarter: Il Piano.

Meraviglie - EP. 1 - Part 15

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

There is more to tell about the incredible, huge cistern in the center of Matera. With this, the episode concludes, with an invitation to join in the next journey of discovery.

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