Episodes

  • Italian Hours Chapter 13 - From a Roman Note-Book Part 1

    Italian Hours Chapter 13 - From a Roman Note-Book Part 1
    Mar 6 2026
    In which a reflective sojourner returns to Rome and quietly contemplates its mingling of antiquity and modernity, finding both charm and melancholy in its streets, gardens, and sacred spaces. Through leisurely walks, conversations, and sunlit musings, the city reveals its layered character—from mossy terraces and faded frescoes to vibrant public scenes and the subtle shifting of old grandeur into a new era.
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 12 - The After-Season in Rome

    Italian Hours Chapter 12 - The After-Season in Rome
    Mar 6 2026
    In which the authentic charm of Rome reveals itself most luminously as the throng of tourists thins and the city resumes its dignified grace, inviting a more intimate communion with its gardens, history, and solemn corners. The observer finds delight in the mingling of ancient grandeur and tender human mourning, all against the gentle backdrop of spring’s smile and the city’s subtle current of social unrest.
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 11 - Roman Neighbourhoods Part 1

    Italian Hours Chapter 11 - Roman Neighbourhoods Part 1
    Mar 6 2026
    In which the author meanders through the rustic and somewhat faded charm of the Alban Lakes neighbourhood, reflecting on villages with their dilapidated grandeur and the subtle melancholies of decline that blend with nature's tender wildflowers and solemn convents. He contrasts these quiet retreats and their impassioned crowds with the art and architecture they cherish, offering a gentle meditation on the enduring delight found in Italy's scenery, social customs, and historical whispers.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 11 - Roman Neighbourhoods Part 1

    Italian Hours Chapter 11 - Roman Neighbourhoods Part 1
    Mar 5 2026
    In which the meditative wanderer contemplates the ancient and picturesque Roman neighbourhoods, from the half-forgotten viaduct of Albano to the grey façades and mossy fountains of Ariccia, weaving reflections on faded grandeur, the lingering presence of feudalism, and the poignant solitude of once-glorious churches. The narrative meanders through fragrant woods, cold ilexes, and spectral convent gardens overlooking volcanic lakes, all infused with a gentle melancholy and a tender reverence for the landscape’s rich, if decaying, heritage.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 10 - Roman Rides Part 1

    Italian Hours Chapter 10 - Roman Rides Part 1
    Mar 5 2026
    In which the narrator recounts the exquisite pleasure and poignant charm of riding through the Roman Campagna, capturing the interplay of light, landscape, and ancient ruins that lend the countryside a timeless and contemplative grace. An evocation both of serene solitude and vibrant, if fleeting, human encounters, these rides reveal a double life between the bustling modern city and the expansive, melancholic sweep of Italy’s rural heart.
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 10 - Roman Rides Part 2

    Italian Hours Chapter 10 - Roman Rides Part 2
    Mar 5 2026
    In which the gentle expanse of the Roman Campagna is unveiled in its myriad moods, where classic lines and ruined arches meet the tender stirrings of spring amid rich, contemplative landscapes and pastoral idylls. The narrative wanders with a softly observant eye through ancient solitude, poetic airs, and the intimate harmonies of nature and history, culminating in scenes at celebrated villas where one may savor the delicate interplay of light, vegetation, and human presence.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 9 - A Roman Holiday Part 2

    Italian Hours Chapter 9 - A Roman Holiday Part 2
    Mar 4 2026
    In which the author leads us through the quietly perfect corners and bustling precincts of Rome, capturing the textured charm of its churches and the peculiar life that clings to their ancient stones. With an eye for the grand and the grotesque alike, he invites reflection on the mingling of solemn tradition and vibrant modernity amidst the city's unfolding scenes.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Italian Hours Chapter 9 - A Roman Holiday Part 1

    Italian Hours Chapter 9 - A Roman Holiday Part 1
    Mar 4 2026
    In which the reverie of the Roman Carnival is tenderly set against the solemn realities of a city caught between its illustrious past and a briskly modern present, revealing contrasting scenes of spirited folly and devout isolation. Amidst the grit and gaiety of salted flour and masked throngs on the Corso, one finds solace in the quiet repose of ancient ruins and the humble devotions of a young priest, evoking a poignant meditation on the endurance of faith and tradition.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins