Reading Cities

The Englishmen's Castle

In the Tuscan hills, a medieval castle stands — but not all is as it seems. This is the story of John Temple Leader, an eccentric 19th-century Englishman who rebuilt Vincigliata as a Gothic dream. Inspired by medievalism, the Oxford Movement, and the theories of Viollet-le-Duc, Leader turned ruins into a romantic stage set, filled with antiques and imagined history. Was it preservation or invention? As the castle shifted from private fantasy to wartime prison and beyond, it became a monument to nostalgia and the modern urge to remake the past.

The Renaissance Paradox

In this episode, we dive into the complex life of a concept: the Renaissance. Far from being a stable period label, the Renaissance was constructed both from within—by thinkers like Petrarch and Vasari—and later by historians like Burckhardt, who saw it as the cradle of modern critical judgment. But is this narrative still viable? We explore how the Renaissance became both a cultural canon and a historiographical puzzle, questioned by medievalists, feminists, and social historians alike. Despite its contested status, the term endures—less for its explanatory power and more for its seductive aura. What remains is not a coherent historical era, but an evocative label, rich in contradictions. Based on Stefano Cracolici, Renaissance, in Encyclopedia of Italian Literary Studies (2007).

Reading Cities

What if cities could be read like books, their streets and buildings inscribed with hidden histories? In this episode, we explore Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and the idea of the urban palimpsest through Zaira—a city defined not by its monuments but by the memories embedded in its spaces. Using this lens, we rethink how to experience Italian cities, from the Colosseum’s battle scars to Florence’s worn staircases. Discover how slowing down and looking closer can reveal the unseen layers of history shaping the cities we think we know.

Beyond the Postcard

In this episode, we explore Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities through the lens of Bauci, a fictional city perched on stilts, where inhabitants observe the world from a distance. This becomes a powerful metaphor for how Italy is often experienced—curated, romanticized, and viewed from afar. From tourist hotspots to theme park replicas, we examine how “Bauci Syndrome” shapes perceptions of Italy, disconnecting visitors from its lived reality. Join us as we discuss ways to step off the stilts and engage with Italy beyond the postcard-perfect image.

Leandra's Tiny Gods

In this episode, we explore Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, focusing on Leandra and its two types of guardian spirits: the Lares and the Penates. Representing the tension between tangible and intangible heritage, these mythological figures debate whether a city’s true essence lies in its physical structures or the people who inhabit it. We draw parallels to Italy’s cultural identity, where the weight of history coexists with a vibrant, ever-evolving present. Join us as we unpack Calvino’s vision of heritage as a dynamic interplay between past, place, and memory.