History Didn't Repeat. It Traveled
Also dates for the April Ask Me Anything and Destination Deep Dive
I am an art historian, and I have always hated the phrase "those who don't learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." As though that ever stopped anyone.
Instead, I believe that history becomes an agent of positive change when we can see ourselves in the tapestry of the human experience. That’s why my posts and podcasts have been much more history-focused lately, and based on the number of downloads, it seems these topics are resonating!
If you missed them, here’s a quick summary:
I spoke about the unusual historical connections that made mozzarella di bufala possible, the most delicious thing you can taste in Southern Italy.
Last week, I published a podcast about a guidebook from the 1890s that describes “vanishing Naples” and made me realize that every generation sees the last of something, and nothing is ever as constant as we’d like it to be.
There was a second podcast last week — unusual for me — but with the threat to annihilate a “whole civilization,” I felt compelled to share the fascinating story about how the dome of Florence was not a revival of ancient Rome, but of innovation from medieval Iran that Florentine merchants acquired on the Silk Road. This isn’t hypothetical; it was proven in 1971 by Professor Piero Sanpaolesi, but his work has been ignored in favor of the myth. Now, a new generation of scholars has taken up the work where Sanpaolesi left off in 1980. I really hope you’ll listen to this episode.
And don’t worry, I haven’t abandoned Italy travel advice! This Thursday, April 16th, at 8 pm ET is the April Ask Me Anything About Italy Zoom call. The Destination Deep Dive on Tuscany will be delivered as a podcast late this month to paid subscribers only.
Happy Sunday!