Roads to Rome

Italian neorealism wasn’t just a film movement—it was a blueprint for a radically different kind of cinema, one grounded in moral conviction rather than spectacle. In this episode, we explore how neorealism’s quiet revolution—its long takes, non-professional actors, and commitment to the everyday—became a framework adopted across the globe. From Bicycle Thieves to Down by Law , from Satyajit Ray’s...

In 19th-century Rome, artists sought to capture nature’s truth just as photography began to redefine it. This episode explores the tension between brush and lens, from the meticulous landscapes of Giovanni Battista Bassi to the bold experiments of painters working en plein air . Against the backdrop of a transforming city—its ruins, its light, its living history—we uncover how art shifted from rec...

In this episode, we unpack Eat Pray Love and its picture-perfect vision of Rome. The film presents the Eternal City as a sun-drenched playground for self-discovery, but does it truly capture its essence? We explore how cinematic techniques create an alluring yet curated version of Rome, catering to a tourist gaze that glosses over the city’s complexities. From romanticized food culture to idealize...

Rome’s grandeur is legendary, but what about the unseen forces that shaped its modern landscape? In this episode, we uncover abusivismo , the phenomenon of illegal construction that redefined the city after World War II. From desperate migrants building makeshift homes to powerful developers exploiting legal loopholes, we explore how nearly 20% of Rome’s built environment emerged outside the law....

In this episode, we explore Pier Paolo Pasolini’s complex relationship with Rome, a city he both revered and rejected. Far from romanticized postcards, his Rome was found in the periphery—shanty towns, council housing, and the raw energy of the ragazzi di vita. Through films like Accattone and Hawks and Sparrows, Pasolini mapped an alternative Rome, exposing the tensions between ancient grandeur a...

In this episode, we explore how Italian cinema and fashion redefined Rome’s image on the world stage. From the postwar fascination with Hollywood to the rise of La Dolce Vita , Italian filmmakers and designers crafted a distinct vision of glamour—rooted in authenticity, heritage, and effortless elegance. We uncover how stars like Silvana Mangano and designers like the Fontana sisters blended tradi...

How did postwar Rome transform into a global fashion capital, rivaling even Paris? In this episode, we explore the powerful synergy between film, fashion, and the Made in Italy brand. With Cinecittà Studios attracting major Hollywood productions and Italian designers redefining elegance, Rome became a hub of cinematic glamour and high fashion. From artisan craftsmanship to the city’s visual allure...

In this episode, we explore how the people of Rome were seen and depicted in the 19th century, caught between the grandeur of their ancient past and the Catholic world’s influence. From romanticized portrayals of the Trastevere neighborhood to photography’s role in shaping a new realism, we uncover how artists, writers, and travelers constructed enduring images of Roman identity. Discover how ever...

In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Palma Bucarelli, the trailblazing director of Rome’s Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna. From safeguarding Italy’s artistic treasures during World War II to championing avant-garde art in a city steeped in tradition, Bucarelli transformed how Rome engaged with modernity. Her daring acquisitions, innovative exhibitions, and unwavering belief in ar...

In this episode, we uncover the distinct character of Italian pop art, also known as La Scuola di Piazza del Popolo. Emerging alongside American pop art in the 1960s, this movement blended consumer culture with Italy’s rich artistic history. Artists like Renato Mambor and Mario Schifano redefined mass imagery, balancing fascination with critique. Through their artisanal processes and critical enga...

In this episode, we explore Mussolini’s transformation of Rome into a symbol of fascist power, from monumental avenues like Via dei Fori Imperiali to the creation of EUR. Balancing modernism with classical grandeur, architects like Piacentini navigated the tension between progress and tradition. We uncover the human cost of these urban visions, the propaganda woven into everyday spaces, and the su...

In this episode, we explore how Rome became a battleground of ideas during the rise of fascism in Italy. From the Risorgimento’s vision of a unified capital to the futurists’ disdain for its ruins and Mussolini’s calculated embrace of Romanità, we uncover how the city’s rich symbolism was manipulated to serve competing ideologies. Discover how Rome’s ancient legacy was reframed as a symbol of nati...

In this episode, we explore how Mussolini’s vision of a “Third Rome” reshaped the Eternal City during the fascist era. From grand avenues like Via dei Fori Imperiali to the EUR district, Mussolini used architecture to tie ancient Roman glory to modern fascist power. We examine his projects, including demolitions and the uneasy relationship with the Vatican, and consider the ideological and cultura...

In this episode, we venture beyond Rome’s iconic landmarks to uncover the fascinating story of its public housing projects. From the early 20th century courtyard blocks of Testaccio to the whimsical Garbatella and the rationalist Borgate of the fascist era, these neighborhoods reveal the city’s evolving social and architectural ambitions. We explore how styles like neorealism and modernism shaped...

In this episode, we explore Elio Petri’s Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion , a searing critique of authority and corruption set in Rome during Italy’s turbulent Years of Lead. Following a high-ranking police official who murders his lover, the film shifts focus from whodunnit to why justice protects power. Through stark Roman landscapes, political allegory, and a hauntingly ambiguous endi...

In this episode, we trace Rome’s transformation from papal stronghold to the capital of a unified Italy. From the revolutionary ideals of 1798 and 1848 to the pivotal breaching of Porta Pia in 1870, we uncover how modernity, migration, and shifting allegiances shaped the Eternal City. Exploring bold reforms, daring uprisings, and the silent revolution brewing beneath the surface, this episode reve...

In this episode, we delve into the transformation of Rome following Italy’s unification in 1870. From the scars at Porta Pia to the monumental Vittoriano, architecture and urban planning became tools for shaping national identity. We examine Quintino Sella’s vision for a modern administrative city, Viviani’s delicate balancing of progress and preservation, and the symbolic placement of structures...

In this episode, we explore Gabriele D’Annunzio’s deep connection with Rome, a city that fueled his vision of a “Latin Renaissance.” From the modernizing chaos of 1880s Rome to the haunting beauty of its ruins, D’Annunzio’s work reflects the tension between tradition and progress. We uncover his fascination with photography, his Parisian literary influences, and his role as both a chronicler and c...

In this episode, we dive into Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza , a mesmerizing exploration of Rome as a character and a mirror of human frailty. Through Jep Gambardella’s journey, we examine themes of memory, masculinity, and the search for meaning amid beauty and decay. From the grandeur of ancient ruins to the opulence of high society, Sorrentino captures a Rome layered with contradictions....

In this episode, we uncover the hidden layers of Rome through Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza . Stepping away from iconic landmarks, we explore lesser-seen locations like the Gianicolo and the Verano Cemetery, examining their historical and symbolic significance. From the interplay of beauty and decay to modern performances juxtaposed with ancient ruins, the film reveals a city steeped in co...

In this episode, we explore Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza , a cinematic masterpiece that captures the duality of Rome—its grandeur and its emptiness. Through the journey of Jep Gambardella, we examine themes of beauty, isolation, and the fleeting nature of life. From haunting music to evocative locations like the Gianicolo and the Caracalla Baths, the film becomes a meditation on the searc...

In this episode, we explore Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita , a cinematic farewell to modernist ideals set against the backdrop of Rome’s fractured beauty. Through its episodic structure, the film captures the disillusionment of a world caught between tradition and modernity. We examine Marcello’s journey as a detached observer, the symbolic architecture of Rome, and the haunting final scene’s cr...

In this episode, we explore Rome’s dramatic transformation from a papal city to the capital of a unified Italy. Starting with the 1883 master plan, we examine how modern urban projects like the Lungotevere embankments reshaped the city while sacrificing historic neighborhoods. From debates on “building thinning” to balancing ancient ruins with modern needs, we uncover how Rome became a city of lay...

In this episode, we explore Luigi Moretti’s visionary architecture, blending Baroque dynamism with mid-20th-century avant-garde art. Known for his striking designs, Moretti treated buildings as more than structures—they were experiences. From fragmented facades inspired by Art informel to the dramatic play of light recalling Caravaggio, Moretti challenged perceptions of space and stability. We del...

In this episode, we explore the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument in Rome, often nicknamed “The Wedding Cake” or “The Typewriter.” Built to celebrate Italian unification, this massive structure embodies national pride, architectural ambition, and ideological struggles. From its Beaux-Arts style and symbolic placement near the Roman Forum to its later appropriation by Mussolini, the Vittoriano reflects...