Leslie Livingston 
History books love their kings. But Medieval and Tudor England were shaped just as much by the women standing beside (or against) them. Some ruled outright, some pulled strings behind the scenes, and some simply refused to be erased. They navigated politics, ambition, marriage markets, betrayals, and the occasional attempted usurpation with more strategy and … Read more
Orsanmichele is a niche museum in Florence that’s basically a crash-course in Florentine civic identity and early Renaissance sculpture. It’s one of my favorite spots in the city. The statues are a sculptural timeline of the Renaissance. You get Donatello, Ghiberti, Verrocchio, but in their guild-commissioned mode. Everyone expects a grain depot turned church to be … Read more
Torn between two of Rome’s greatest museums? I’ve been there. Both are world class, both are packed with masterpieces, and both offer very different experiences. One is a sprawling, high-octane marathon through centuries of art. The other is a concentrated hit of sculptural genius and Baroque drama. If you’re torn, I break down what you … Read more
The Ambrosiana is one of Europe’s great sleeper museums. Most travelers don’t even know it exists, which is strange given what’s sitting inside its walls. This is the kind of collection that would headline a museum in almost any other city. But Milan, being Milan, tucks it inside the historic Ambrosian Library and doesn’t make … Read more
Gloucester flies under the radar, but its medieval core is the real deal. The city’s cathedral began life as a 7th century abbey and took on its current form between the Norman period and the late Middle Ages. The result is a mix of solid Romanesque mass and soaring Perpendicular Gothic. This magnificent structure dates … Read more
Henry II was arguably the most formidable of the Norman kings — brilliant, restless, and impossible to ignore. He was a gifted commander, a shrewd politician, and a strategist who built an empire that stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. Under his rule, England became stronger and more centralized than ever before. At his … Read more
Britain doesn’t just have history. It’s practically tripping over it. Dig a garden, build a bypass, or wander a coastal path, and you’ll bump into something Roman, Celtic, or Neolithic. True, the UK ruins don’t rival the grandeur of those in Italy or France. No soaring aqueducts or marble temples here. But what survives feels … Read more
Dover Castle is truly one of the greatest fortresses in England and will warm the cockles of any fan of medieval history. Built by Henry II, it rises high above the White Cliffs of Dover. The castle was once the “Key to England,” a place so critical that the castle was a focal point of … Read more
The Tudor dynasty may be remembered for its ruthless kings, but the queens were just as fascinating. They were intelligent, ambitious, tragic, or quietly resilient. They were political pawns, cultural patrons, and survivors in an age that didn’t make too much room for powerful women. This guide follows the Tudor queens in order, tracing how … Read more
Not every king leaves behind glory, pageantry, and a few good laws. Some leave chaos, debt, or … a body count. England’s monarchy has seen its share of crowned disasters. Men who mistook the throne for a personal stage, or simply weren’t equipped for the job. Here are the worst of the lot. Worst Kings … Read more