After the release of the series "Secret Kingdom - God's banker" we talk with the podcast creator Nicolò Majnoni about the Roberto Calvi affair and talk about Italy in the early 80's, the Vatican, the Cold War, Freemasons and the Mafia

In this episode, we dive into a personal story that kicks off with a Christmas party invitation and an unexpected wardrobe choice — a kilt. From this quirky start, we delve into the historical significance of Sicily, a land that has shaped centuries of Mediterranean history.

The episode takes us on a journey from the ancient Carthaginian and Greek settlements to the present day, with a special focus on Palermo, Catania, and Messina. We hear about the Normans, the Arabs, and the rise of the Roman Empire in Sicily. Along the way, we uncover the island's rich cultural layers, including its enduring connection to mafia resistance, the tragic story of Giuseppe Impastato, and heroes like Falcone and Borsellino who fought to bring justice to Sicily.

In the second half of the episode, we explore the stunning beauty of Sicily's landscapes from Mount Etna, its picturesque coastline, and its ancient Greek ruins. 

Then of course there are the local wines, like this eof the Donna Fugata winery  and the 100 passi, which embody Sicily's resilience and spirit.

Finally, we hear about Explore Worldwide’s immersive tours of the island, including family-friendly adventures and activities like zip-lining, sea kayaking, and visiting archaeological gems like Giardini Naxos and Siracusa.

Key highlights:

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• Sicilian ancestry and the influence of Scottish heritage.
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• The island's multicultural past: from Carthage to Greek colonization.
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• Catania, Messina, and the legendary Mount Etna.
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• Anti-mafia heroes, and community resilience.
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• The importance of local wine and sustainable tourism with Explore Worldwide.
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If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Sicily, this episode will inspire you to explore its timeless beauty, history, and culture. Don’t miss out on the chance to learn about one of the world’s most fascinating regions — packed with legends, landscapes, and a true sense of adventure!

Takeaway: Whether you're a history buff, an adventure seeker, or a wine lover, Sicily offers something for everyone. Tune in for an unforgettable journey into one of the Mediterranean’s most captivating islands!

Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore!

Venice is reeling from the defeat at Agnadello, but immediately starts the comeback egged on by doge Lorenzo Loredan. After some promising victories they suffer another defeat at the hands of the League of Cambrai at Polisella.

When all seems once again lost, Pope Julius II changes sides, allying with Venice and seeking to expel the French from Italy, which he manages to do after forming the Holy League of 1512.

From the Roman fast food joints in the marvel that is Pompei, to the buzzing historical streets of Naples and the witches of Benevento, we're going off, thanks to Explore Worldwide, to explore the southern Italian Region of Campania.

What happened to the tree of the witches?

What is the "Naples Splitter"?

Where is the most iconic coast of Italy?

Can you actually move without tripping over a UNESCO world heritage site?

Which city had bad wind?

How many people can you fit on a scooter?

You'll find the answers to these questions and many more in this Episode.

Thanks as always to our partner for this series:

Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore!

After following the adventures of Julius II we go and visit with Venice, who is having ups and downs, losing influence as the attentipn of the world turns to the Atlantic, losing colonies to the Turks and starting to make enemies in Europe, powerful enemies that will come together in the league of Cambrai, leading to the dramatic battle of Agnedello in 1509.

Oh and we also have the mysterious death of would-be doge Filippo Tron: was he murdered, or just seriously overweight?

We start from Siena, with the story of how I almost got beaten up and why there is an extra bit of Siena cathedral added on and incomplete. The it's up to Florence to visit with the Medici, Da Vinci, Botticelli and Simonetta Vespucci, his Venus. From the capital of the Renaissance we head to their arch enemy Pisa and their wonky tower and then Lucca, with its Holy Face and medieval walls. After a bit of wine tasting in Val D'Orcia with some Brunello di Montalcino and Montepulciano we head to the seaside in Orbetello, province of Grosseto to visit the archeological site of Cosa and the unusual tarot garden park.

Giuliano della Rovere, after trying for more than a decade, finally manages to become pope Julius II in 1503. He gets to work breaking the last resistance of Cesare Borgia, then has to sort out his Papal States, gobbled up by Venice in the north with a whole series of local lords taking back power.

In all of this, the pope calls in a special decorator to do some touch up work in the Sistine chapel, a certain Michelangelo Buonarroti.

In the sketch we imagine the conversation between the two.

We stop and take a look back at the episodes that cover the late 1400's as Italy completed her transition from the middle ages to the Renaissance and the lead up to the Italian Wars after the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent.

We retrace the campaign of king Charles VIII of France, the adventures of Ludovico Sforza, Il Moro, the end of the independence of the kingdom of Naples and, in the background the rise and fall of the Borgias, as well as the last stand of the Tigress of Forlì, Caterina Sforza.

We take a little trip around the region of Lombardy, going beyond the financial and fashion capital Milan, to explore the beautiful nature of lake Como and hear all about the lake, monster that resides there. On the way, we will hear about a bridge, built by the devil in Pavia and the ghost that horns, the castle above the city of Como.

We will also also make a stop off in the picturesque Bergamo and find out why there is a family emblem with three sets of testicles in front of the chapel in Piazza Duomo, before ending our tour in the unique peninsula, that is the city of Mantua created when the profit Manto cried the lakes into existence.

As always, we are lucky to have as our guide, our good friends at Explore Worldwide.

Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore!

Which is the Italian region that can drink you under the table?

Tradition would say it's Veneto and with wines such as Amarone della Valpolicella and Prosecco, it's not gard to believe.

We start our journey trying not to talk too much about Venice and then doing just that, seeing the legend of the heart of brick and why the Gondola got its shape.

The theme of love then, of course, takes us to the Verona of Romeo and Juliet, but before we get there we will hear the true story of how the Venetians took a fleet overland and up and down mountains to get it into Lake Garda.

Our stay in Verona will allow us to talk about factional fighting and Guelphs and Ghibellines and then it's East to the Vicenza of Andrea .Palladio, before heading north into the mountains of Belluno.

We then get some more Venice like experience in Treviso, home of Prosecco and tiramisu where we hear where the habit of counting sheep came from with the powerful Ezzelino da Romano.

We of course can't avoid a trip to Padova, to hear about their local boy, St Anthony.

Our guide in the tour will be Explore Worldwide:

Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore!

Just when the Borgias seem at the top of their game and that nothing could possibly stop them, in August of 1503 pope Alexander VI, after a dinner party at a cardinal's house, becomes seriously ill and died after two weeks.

His son Cesare also becomes very ill and cannot sum up the energy to control the fallout of the situation and outmanoeuvre the Borgia's arch enemy, cardinal Giuliano della Rovere.

In the end the inevitable happens and he becomes pope Julius II, sealing the impeding doom of Cesare Borgias who, after some time in captivity, seems to take the option of going out in a blaze of glory.