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Italy

Some of the marks seen on the woman's skull predated her death, while others were likely left by natural forces following her burial.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Solve Mystery of 5,600-Year-Old Skull Found in Italian Cave

Natural forces moved a Stone Age woman’s bones through the cavern over time

A descendant of art collector John Skippe donated the painting to the parish in 1909.

Cool Finds

Forgotten Last Supper Scene Linked to Renaissance Master Titian Spent Century Hidden in Plain Sight

Researchers spotted the artist’s signature, among other clues to the 16th-century painting’s provenance, on the canvas

The team speculates that ancient Romans used the vehicle for festivals, parades, weddings and other ceremonial events.

Cool Finds

‘Miraculously’ Well-Preserved Ceremonial Chariot Found at Villa Outside of Pompeii

The carriage’s intricate decorations include metal medallions depicting satyrs, nymphs and cupids

The newly restored artworks highlight predator-prey conflicts in the natural world.

Newly Restored Pompeiian Frescoes Capture Hunting Scenes in Vivid Detail

Researchers used a laser to clean the ancient artworks before retouching their faded sections

The main oven at Pizzeria Da Michele is near customers’ tables. The waiter in the background holds marinaras.

Coastal Cities of Europe

Inside Naples’ World-Famous Pizza Culture

For hundreds of years, artisans in the southern Italian city have been cooking up the ultimate fast food

Villa Adriana, or Hadrian's Villa, is a Unesco World Heritage Site in Tivoli, Italy, that spans 200 acres and was built around 210 A.D. by Roman leader Hadrian.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Discover Ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s Ornate Breakfast Chamber

In the second century A.D., the Roman ruler entertained his guests on a raised marble platform surrounded by elaborate fountains

Dante Alighieri, as depicted in Luca Signorelli's Orvieto Cathedral fresco

Dante’s Descendant Wants to Overturn the Poet’s 1302 Corruption Conviction

More than 700 years ago, a magistrate sentenced the “Divine Comedy” author to be burned at the stake if he ever returned to Florence

Young Man Holding a Roundel is one of just three Sandro Botticelli portraits housed in a private collection.

One of the Last Privately Owned Botticelli Portraits Just Sold for $92 Million

The 15th-century painting, which went up for auction at Sotheby’s Thursday, depicts a young Florentine man

Trove of amulets unearthed in Pompeii

Pompeii’s Museum Reopens With Dazzling Display of Archaeological Treasures

Artifacts on view at the Antiquarium include ancient frescoes, protective amulets and casts of Mount Vesuvius victims’ bodies

The Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington is hosting a photography exhibit, PHotoEspaña, posted on the fence surrounding its historic mansion.

Virtual Travel

Their Doors May Be Closed, but Embassies Are Still Showing People the World

From cooking demonstrations to poetry readings to special exhibitions, exploring another country has never been easier

A screenshot of the new V&A; digital tool, which allows viewers to explore high-resolution scans of Raphael's cartoons for his Sistine Chapel tapestry sequence. Here, Jesus speaks to Simon in The Miraculous Draught of Fishes (Luke 5: 1-11).

New Online Tool Reveals Raphael’s Sistine Chapel Cartoons in Stunning Detail

High-resolution scans from the V&A offer an unprecedented view of the Renaissance drawings, down to every last line and wrinkle

The gardens, which will go on view this spring in a subterranean museum, featured intricate marble designs.

Cool Finds

Caligula’s Gardens, Long Hidden Beneath Italian Apartment Building, to Go on View

The infamous Roman emperor’s extravagant tastes included opulent marble and exotic animals

This 1465 fresco by Domenico di Michelino depicts Dante, holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to hell.

Follow Dante Into Purgatory With Online Exhibition of ‘Divine Comedy’ Drawings

The Uffizi Gallery’s digital show features 88 illustrations by 16th-century artist Federico Zuccari

The snack bars depicts a Nereid riding a sea-horse.

Ancient Pompeiians Stopped at This ‘Snack Bar’ to Feast on Snails, Fish and Wine

Archaeologists have uncovered food remnants at one of the city’s fast food joint, called thermopolia, where hungry ancients grabbed quick meals

This year's top stories included an explainer on murder hornets, a list of fun facts about love and sex in the animal kingdom, and a look at the true history behind Hulu's "The Great."

Our Ten Most Popular Stories of 2020

From Anglo-Saxon artifacts to copper’s antibacterial properties, systemic racism and murder hornets, these were the most-read stories of the year

An aerial view of the Mauseoleum of Augustus, which was recently renovated and will open to the public in Rome in 2021.

Virtual Travel

Take a Virtual Tour of the World’s Largest Circular Tomb, Augustus’ Mausoleum

The Roman landmark will reopen in 2021 after a 13-year restoration

The Colosseum is one of Italy's biggest tourist attractions, welcoming millions of visitors every year.

Italy Will Rebuild the Colosseum’s Floor, Restoring Arena to Its Gladiator-Era Glory

Officials plan to host concerts and theater productions on the new, retractable platform

Archaeologists made plaster casts of the pair, who are thought to be a high-status older man and a younger enslaved individual.

Cool Finds

Well-Preserved Remains of Two Vesuvius Victims Found in Pompeii

The pair’s clenched feet and hands testify to the agonizing nature of their death by thermal shock

Italy's Stromboli volcano erupting on January 13, 2011.

Watch This Recent Giant Eruption at Italy’s Stromboli Volcano

Stromboli is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, but this latest eruption was exceptionally intense

A carving on the wall of Florence's Palazzo Vecchio may be the work of Michelangelo.

Did Michelangelo Carve a Graffiti Portrait Into This Florentine Facade?

New research highlights similarities between an etching on the Palazzo Vecchio and a sketch attributed to the Renaissance artist

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