Episode 30: Michelangelo’s Italy with Gene Openshaw

Episode 30: Michelangelo’s Italy with Gene Openshaw [ 1:11:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, hosts Sara, Jessica & Michelle talk about the new hotel tax in Rome, the discovery of Caligula’s tomb, and the moving of Pope John Paul II’s body, and then we chat with author Gene Openshaw about Michelangelo’s Italy, including several places associated with the great artist besides Rome and Florence.

Eye on Italy News Stories:

• New Rome hotel tax
• Caligula’s tomb found
• Pope John Paul II to be beatified May 1, body moved into St. Peter’s Basilica
• Wiretaps of Berlusconi’s teenage friend emerge

Special Guest:

Gene Openshaw is a writer, composer, tour guide, and lecturer on European art and history. He’s the co-author of ten books in the Rick Steves travel series, including “Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler.” He also contributes to the Rick Steves TV shows on PBS. (For more information on the Rick Steves world of travel, see www.ricksteves.com.) As a composer, Gene has written a full-length opera, a violin sonata and dozens of songs. Besides his interest in Italy and Michelangelo, Gene’s two main passions in life are his ten-year-old daughter and the Seattle Mariners.

Eye on Italy Angolo d’Italiano:

• auricolare and cuffie
  
  • earpiece and headphones

Eye on Italy Picks of the Week:

• Sara: Legacy of Letters: Italy Typographic tour; Survive Milano & 02 blog current events / locals blogs’ about Milan (both in Italian)
• Jessica: When Rome Ruled, National Geographic Channel
• Michelle: Conde Nast Best of Italy iPad App ($4.99) h/t Poynter
• Gene: Virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel
• Deal of the Week:
  • NY-Venice roundtrip in April from $352 – and even Seattle-Venice roundtrip in late March/early April from $788
  • See the WhyGo Italy travel deals page for the latest travel deals

Video of the week:

The Guardian’s tour around a small market in Lazio [via @MyMelange on Twitter]: