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

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Our final stop in the Baroque south of Italy is the church of San Giorgio, a masterpiece of architecture, admired by the entire world. The cathedral appears in the opening credits of the Italian TV series "Inspector Montalbano," and it also features in some episodes.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

By observing the damage wrought by earthquakes, architects were able to figure out the best way to build churches to withstand future seismic events. So, in addition to the Baroque style present in cities like Ragusa, in Sicily, practical considerations were also at the source of certain architectural choices.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Our journey takes us to Modica, in Sicily, where the historic center of the city had to be rebuilt entirely because of an earthquake in 1693. There was also a great flood in the twentieth century, resulting in some other major changes in the layout of the city. It remains a beautiful Baroque city, full of wonders.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

There are a good ninety rooms in Palazzo Nicolaci. As on the outside of the building, symbolism pervades every space, as if there were the fear of emptiness. And, in true Baroque style, it was all created to amaze the eye of the beholder.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata is one of the largest private residences in all of Noto. Built in the eighteenth century in Baroque style, it was the urban residence of the noble Nicolaci family. Its splendid Baroque balconies, together with the façade of the Church of Montevergine, contribute to creating one of the most characteristic corners of all Noto.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In Noto, there are two churches facing each other, with the interesting characteristic of having being built to house Benedictine nuns. One of them, the church of Santa Chiara (Saint Clare), went on to become one of the most important examples of Baroque architecture in Sicily.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In 1693, there was a terrible earthquake in the south-eastern part of Sicily, and much of it was razed to the ground. The subsequent rebuilding of the cities followed the tenets of the Baroque style that had already taken hold during the Spanish reign.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We're back in the center of Lecce, where there's one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy, the Piazza Duomo (cathedral square). It can be described as theatrical and eye-poppingly stunning, but it also had an important practical function in its past.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The monastery boasts a beautiful, wide staircase from the first half of the 18th century, with some curious charcoal drawings whose purpose remains a mystery. The monastery went through several transformations before becoming what it is today, the seat of the University of Salento.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We visit a famous monastery near Lecce, which got its name from the Olivetan monks who lived there. They had come from another famous monastery in the province of Siena, the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Alberto Angela describes the symbolism of the beautiful, mid-sixteenth century canopy well in the cloister. Today, the monastery houses the University of Salento.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In addition to its Baroque art and architecture, Lecce has a rich ancient history, underscored by a Roman amphitheater, in part still standing, right in the middle of the city. But Lecce's history goes even further back than that.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Visiting Piazza Falconieri makes you feel as if you were in a fairytale. The stone used for these beautiful buildings and decorations has a particularly interesting story.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

What's so special about Lecce? It has something to do with the kind of stone found there. And masters of art and architecture knew how to make beautiful buildings with it, giving rise to the Lecce Baroque.

Meraviglie - S2 EP3 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In this episode, we travel to Lecce, to the very heel of the Italian "boot," at the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula. Lecce is an iconic example of the Italian Baroque, which encompassed music, art, literature, and philosophy.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Bel canto (beautiful singing) and lyric opera began in Italy, and, not surprisingly, this country has the highest number of opera theaters in the world. Thus we conclude this episode of Meraviglie (wonders).

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Gioachino Rossini had great success as an opera composer at the San Carlo Theater in Naples, writing a large number of operas while still quite young. When he left Naples for Paris, he was replaced by another star composer, Gaetano Donizetti.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela continues showing us some of the details of the decorations within the San Carlo Theater. He recounts a special coffee beverage invented there, and an anecdote about the composer Gioacchino Rossini who was the musical director there for a time.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The San Carlo Theater was the largest in Europe. Alberto Angela focuses on the shape of the theater and provides some insight into what went on in the box seats.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Teatro San Carlo was renowned in all of Europe for its beauty as well as for its music, theater, and opera productions, so when it caught fire in 1816, it was a major tragedy. King Ferdinand I had it rebuilt immediately, and it became even more magnificent than before.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

In the eighteenth centiury, the San Carlo Theater was a magnificent center for opera and culture, and still is today. It's one of the most beautiful theaters in all of Europe.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Our journey takes us to the region of Campania, and to Naples, where we visit one of the oldest theaters still functioning: il Teatro San Carlo.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Amalfi's cathedral is one of the best known and most interesting buildings of the entire Amalfi coast. Alberto Angela points out some elements that have clear links to cultures far away, geographically, and in time.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Let's find out why this church or cathedral was dedicated to Saint Andrew — Sant'Andrea. The structure had collapsed in the nineteenth century and was rebuilt, but the doors, with their bronze door knockers, are original.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

During its brief period of dominion, Almafi made its mark with the Amalfi Tables — regulations for navigation and trade — that became a general model. The cathedral of Sant'Andrea is a symbol of two different cultures: Roman and Byzantine.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Amalfi was one of the four maritime republics on the Italian peninsula. Tradition has it that an Amalfitano, Flavio Gioia invented, or at least perfected the compass, called bussola in Italian.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Mediterranean Sea was a center for activity from as far back as the Etruscans who settled on its coast. The sea brought goods and knowledge, but also war.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

From Paestum, we head north towards the Gulf of Salerno and the stunningly beautiful Amalfi Coast.

Meraviglie - S2 EP 2 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This new episode takes us to Campania in the southern part of Italy, near Naples, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Beautiful drone photography shows us the ancient city of Paestum, formerly called Poseidonia by the Greeks, in the province of Salerno. Apart from the ancient city itself, there are 3 well-preserved Greek temples.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 15

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela talks about how Mont Blanc was formed over millennia, and concludes this episode with a breathtaking view, as well as some lines from a poem by Shelley. Here is the original English:
Far, far above, piercing the infinite sky,
Mont Blanc appears,—still, snowy, and serene—
In the calm darkness of the moonless nights,
In the lone glare of day, the snows descend
Upon that Mountain;
[Nor when] the flakes burn in the sinking sun,
[Or] the star-beams dart through them:—Winds contend
Silently there, and heap the snow with breath
Rapid and strong, but silently! Its home

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

One reason people would climb Mont Blanc was to find quartz. Alberto Angela explains why there is so much of this precious gemstone here.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We move to the French side of Mont Blanc, which has a much milder slope than the Italian side. Mont Blanc stands out as having had an important role in the development of mountain-climbing as a competitive sport.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We learn about the curious names of some of Mont Blanc's magnificent peaks and glaciers. Normally there are 42 glaciers but that number can change!

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Mont Blanc has always been considered the highest peak in Europe. But is it? Alberto Angela discusses this and another question: What's the real height of Mont Blanc and why do they have to measure it every two years?

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We are back visiting nature's own wonders, this time up in the mountains, on Mont Blanc, to be precise, at an altitude of over 4000 meters.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Castle of Roccascalegna stands on a high, rocky bluff dominating the valley of Rio Secco in the province of Chieti. Breathtaking drone footage allows us a bird's eye view of this fascinating construction, begun by the Lombards as a watchtower.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Great Cave of the Wind in Frasassi is a natural wonder, but it also bears witness to the passing of time. Speologists are still exploring it and discovering new wonders.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We spend some more time in the spectacular Frasassi Caves, and this time we see the famous "Room of the Candles" filled with stalagmites that look like candles ready to be lit. Alberto Angela also discusses the colors in this place, as well as the "sounds of silence."

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela tells us how these caves and their internal structures were created. The key is something very simple. Water.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The magical Frasassi caves look like something out of a fairy tale, but there's a more scientific explanation.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela describes the discovery of the Ancona Abyss, named after the city the speleologists were from. It’s part of the Great Wind Cave.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela tells us how these natural wonders were discovered by a group of young cave explorers from the nearby city of Ancona.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela brings us to the Ancona Abyss, an immense cave chamber in the Natural Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi in the Marches region. The spectacular Ancona Abyss and other innermost caves in the Frasassi cave system were only discovered in 1971.

Meraviglie - S2EP1 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Nature offers us some extraordinary wonders, and this time, Alberto Angela takes us to the Frassassi Caves, in the Marches region, and explains what the caves were used for by prehistoric man.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Ancient culture merged with "modern" culture, especially after Constantine created the new capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople. Near Matera in Basilicata, even caves built into the rock face became churches. The frescoes on those walls are quite stunning.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

If you have ever visited Italy, you have probably run across the term pinacoteca describing a picture gallery, and wondered where it came from. You will find out in this video about a room called the "tablinum" in the Assisi domus, discovered because they wanted to build an elevator!

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Parking is a problem in medieval hilltop towns and cities (especially those attractive to tourists), so one solution is to build an elevator to get from parking further down the hill, up to the center of town. But, you never know what you are going to find when excavating. In Assisi, they certainly hit the jackpot, right in the center of town: A roman domus.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We're in Assisi, where, during some excavations, a domus was discovered. It's clear it belonged to a wealthy family because of the richness of the wall and floor decorations, and might even have been the home of the poet Propertius.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

With a look at one of the greatest Etruscan masterpieces in the Villa Giulia museum, we take our leave of Rome to journey to the Umbrian city of Assisi, or, as it was called in Roman times, Assisium.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Etruscans were influenced by other ethnic groups, particularly the Greeks. On display in the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, we find evidence of this in the terracotta objects and fine gold jewelry and precious objects dating from the period.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We get a look at the tomb, in terracotta, of a noblewoman. The clay allows for detail, where tombs in Macco do not. We then go to Rome, to the most important Etruscan museum, where we see once again, what an important role the afterlife played in the lives (and deaths) of the Etruscans.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We're still in Tarquinia and we visit the tomb of Aninas. We gain some insight into the alphabet the Etruscans used, allowing us to recognize some names, but unfortunately, they didn't leave much in the way of writings to allow us to know much more.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This magnificent, colorful tomb, dating to twenty-five hundred years ago, depicts a banquet in honor of the deceased, who is clearly a young man. It's a virtual time capsule.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Matuna family tomb contains many plaster reproductions of everyday objects, adding to the story of how the Etruscans lived. We move on to Tarquinia, where the tombs were carved out of a sedimentary limestone called Macco, allowing the colorful wall paintings to be preserved.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

One of the most famous tombs is that of the Matuna family. The reproductions and depictions of objects found there, ranging from everyday tools to ceremonial and funereal ones, allows us a glimpse of what life would have been like in this ancient civilization.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

There were different kinds of tombs built by the Etruscans. Alberto Angela explains how and why they were made the way they were. He also takes us into one of the most famous and beautiful Etruscan tombs.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Etruscans were an important part of Italy's ancient history, and its lands extended for a large expanse of the peninsula. We visit Banditaccia a Cerveteri, a necropolis north of Rome.

Meraviglie - EP. 6 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This episode takes us to Sardinia where we see the ancient, majestic stone buildings, unique to Sardinia, called nuraghi.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 15

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This episode of Wonders concludes, as we await more treasures to discover.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We visit the interior of Villa Coldogno and see to what extent Andrea Palladio was ahead of his time as an architect, and how he was able to combine functionality and elegance.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The city of Vicenza and its surroundings enjoyed an architectural golden age in the middle of the 16th century with, as its shining star, architect Andrea Palladio. Alberto Angela tells us the story of how it all came about.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Amazing aerial views of Venice and the Venetian Lagoon provide an introduction to this episode on the Veneto Region. Andrea Palladio, one of the world's greatest architects, was from Vicenza and some of his most famous villas are highlighted in this segment.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We say goodbye to the Dolomites and, after enjoying the extraordinary panorama from those peaks, go on to Venice, one of the most marvelous cities in the world.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

There is a legend about the Dolomites, which has to do with a famous rose garden.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela gives us a simplified but fascinating description of how the Alps, and the Dolomites in particular, were formed from the sea. He goes on to tell a completely different story involving the Dolomites.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We finally learn where the name "Dolomites" comes from. We also learn the fascinating story of how these mountains came to be.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela explains how these wooden boards of red spruce become important parts of stringed instruments. The Dolomites are also a very unique place in terms of the land itself and how it is managed by the people who live there.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela takes us to the place where the best wood for making stringed instruments can be found: the Paneveggio Forest.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela takes us to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, the Dolomites. How did they become so popular? It's a fascinating story.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We discover an amazing spot in the Italian Alps that overlooks the Chisone valley: an eighteenth-century fortified boundary wall, one of the longest in the world.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Grinzane Castle houses a Museum of Peasant Civilization. Alberto Angela shows us a huge wine press and explains how it worked.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This segment is about how the famous wine Barolo came into being. It all started in the Grinzane Castle in the mid-1800s.

Meraviglie - EP. 5 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We go to the northern part of Italy: Piedmont, and here, in the southern part of the region, called le Langhe, what's worthy of being a World Heritage Site is about the land itself and what it produces, rather than about art and architecture.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 15

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The final segment of this tour of Umbria and Tuscany brings to the walls of Pisa and its famous schools of higher learning. As usual, Alberto Angela gives us some insight into how and why things happened as they did, as Pisa developed into one of the most beautiful and important cities in Italy.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 14

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The fresco depicting the Last Judgement is almost like a photograph of the Middle Ages. Alberto Angela shows us where the sinners ended up and what happened to them in Hell.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We're still at the Camposanto in Pisa. Alberto Angela shows us a wonderful fresco of the Last Judgment, and tells us the story of the artist as well as what is depicted.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela takes us through what is actually a gallery of ancient art inside this cemetery, and focuses on the sarcophagi, each with its story to tell.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela recounts some interesting facts and legends surrounding the roof of the Bapistery and the Camposanto [cemetery].

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We learn a great deal about the third structure at the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa: the Baptistery. We learn about wonders we can see and wonders we can't see.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We go inside the Pisa Cathedral and see how marvelous it is, from the granite columns to the majestic pulpit designed by Giovanni Pisano, which, miraculously, survived the fire of 1595.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean? Alberto answers this question and others about one of the most famous monuments in the world.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela gives us a look at one of the most famous monuments in the world. We look at the Leaning Tower of Pisa through the lens of those who wanted it built.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We move from Umbria to Tuscany and visit the evocative ruins of the abbey of San Galgano. Next will be Pisa, a prime example of how Tuscany, in medieval times, was experimenting with very "modern" ideas.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela points out how realistic Giotto's frescoes are compared to earlier ones. He also mentions the important fact that Saint Francis composed one of the first poems in the vernacular

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We move from the lower basilica to the upper one, which has an entirely different feel to it. Here, we are surrounded by a show of light and color in colorful frescoes and stained-glass windows.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

What did Saint Francis look like? There are clues in a fresco in the lower basilica of the church dedicated to him in Assisi.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

People often wonder how the Basilica of St. Francis could be as imposing and rich as it is, when the saint to whom it is dedicated had taken an oath of poverty. Alberto Angela explains this and other contradictions.

Meraviglie - EP. 4 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This episode will take us to Umbria. We start with one of the most beautiful cities in the region, Assisi, a city that's practically synonymous with the Franciscan monastic order and its founder, Saint Francis.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Two geniuses left their indelible marks on civilization: Leonardo with the Last Supper and Michelangelo with his David.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We look at Leonardo's Last Supper from close up — the details, the symbolism — but also from the refectory floor, seeing how Leonardo's genius made the fresco part of the room itself.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

This video focuses on one of the most famous artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. In particular, we start looking at one of his greatest masterpieces, the Last Supper.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Republic of Siena ends in the 16th century and power goes to Florence, where we go next, to see some of the architectural wonders there.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela shows us a volume from 1554 that bears witness to one of the most dramatic moments in Sienese history. We then go on to the beautiful city of Pienza.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

How could accounting books be so fascinating? The ones from the State Archives in Siena are veritable works of art and tell some interesting stories.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We have a look at two important medieval manuscripts in the State Archives. They are the original Constitution of the Republic of Siena. Alberto Angela gives us some fascinating facts concerning it that reaffirm how wise the rulers of that republic were.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Siena Cathedral is large, but it was supposed to have become much, much bigger. Alberto Angela tells the fascinating story.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela explores the Piccolomini Altarpiece with sculptures by Michelangelo, and the beautiful frescoed Piccolomini Library within the walls of the Siena Cathedral

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela focuses on one of the floor inlays depicting the story of Siena according to tradition. Siena shares a city symbol with Rome.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Siena Cathedral is one of the most notable examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic cathedrals, and is well worth a visit, for both the beauty of the exterior and the unique marble artwork on the interior.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela brings medieval Siena to life, with the help of some breathtaking aerial shots.

Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We are now in the heart of Italy: Tuscany. One of the most beautiful and important cities in Tuscany is Siena with its very particular piazza.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 13

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angelo tells us the fascinating story of how trulli are built. Some of the most characteristic trulli can be found in Alberobello.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 12

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We visit the land of the trulli, curious dry stone huts. Alberto Angela gives us some background about these unique dwellings.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 11

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

As opposed to the classical palaces of the powerful, with their throne rooms and great halls, Castel del Monte has some smaller and more intimate spaces, conducive to more personal encounters. Over the centuries, the castle was exploited in different ways, well into modern times.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 10

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela takes us inside Castel del Monte and helps us imagine what it might have looked like when it was "alive." He uses the term piano nobile, which indicates the floor of a mansion where the noblemen or landowners lived, as opposed to the floors where the servants' quarters and kitchens would have been.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 9

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Wonderful aerial photography shows Castel del Monte and its crown-like octagonal shape. Frederick II was particularly fond of the castle because it was an ideal location to hunt small game with his falcons.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 8

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The first stop is Italy's easternmost point, the Punta Palascìa and its 19th century lighthouse. Alberto Angela then shows us another site in the Apulia region, Castel del Monte, a breathtaking crown-shaped castle built by Frederick II in the early 1200s.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 7

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We say goodbye to Agrigento's Valley of the Temples and get a close look at the awesome Riace Bronzes in Reggio Calabria. The two life-size Greek bronzes date to the 5th century BC and were discovered off Riace by a scuba diver in 1972.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 6

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The Ephebe of Agrigento is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Greek sculpture of the fifth century BC in Sicily. It is held in the Regional Archeological Museum of Agrigento, in which we also find a Roman sarcophagus in marble from the second century AD with scenes depicting the life of a child who died at an early age.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 5

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Although we don't know their function, the Telamons, gigantic statues alternating with the semi-columns of the Temple of Jupiter, were as high as a six-story building. A reconstruction of the temple in the Pietro Griffo Regional Archeological Museum allows us to imagine just how imposing they must have been.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 4

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela shows us how the Greek Temple of Zeus was built to be seen from great distances.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 3

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

Alberto Angela talks about how Akragas came to be, how its name changed over time, and about what information has been obtained from archeological digs.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 2

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

The temple dedicated to Concordia was built on an ancient seabed from two million years ago, and is one of the most remarkable structures from the Greek world. Alberto Angela explains why it is the only one still standing.

Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 1

Difficulty: difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate

Italy

We're in the south of Italy, where many cultures have merged. Alberto Angela takes us to visit the magnificent Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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