Italian Art for Travelers
Your passport to culture, history, and art

Gerriann Brower

Caravaggio’s Rome

Caravaggio was a violent man and a number of his paintings depict violent scenes. What was Caravaggio's Rome like?

Gerriann Brower

Four Emperors that Built Rome

Debauchery and megalomania seem to define most Roman emperors. Four come to mind: Augustus, Nero, Vespasian, and Hadrian.

Gerriann Brower

Four Popes that Built Rome

Four popes did much to shape the Rome we see today. The della Rovere, Farnese, Borghese, and the Barberini families each placed their own ma

Gerriann Brower

Michelangelo and Titian: Endings

Michelangelo and Titian, the two sixteenth century powerhouse competitive artists, decided to create their own memorial as the end of their

Gerriann Brower

Ancient Rome in Six Iconic Symbols

The Colosseum, public baths, togas, wall paintings are some of the iconic symbols of Rome, made possible through creativity and invention. A

Gerriann Brower

Saint Carlo's Relics

How did a piece of an Italian saint make it from Milan, Italy, to St. Paul, Minnesota, USA? I found answers to most of my questions, includi

Gerriann Brower

That's Amore!

Meet three couples, real and mythical, and their romantic stories: Federico and Battista’s arranged marriage, Apollo’s longing for Daphne, a

Gerriann Brower

Caesar's Calendar

Even the humble calendar has an intriguing history. Meet the Caesar and the Pope who shaped the calendar to what it is today.

Gerriann Brower

Eat Like an Italian

Salty fermented fish sauces really made Roman meals special. A piping hot bowl of cinnamon spiced pasta satisfied the medieval appetite. Pe

Gerriann Brower

Finders Keepers: Looted Italian Art

A krater, an amphora, and a marble sculpture tell the story of the illegal art trade in Italy. The Italian art squad nabbed the culprits an