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Cannae, or the history of what never happened
Considering its historical significance, Canne della Battaglia is difficult to reach. If you have independent means of transportation, you can set out and hope your map leads you where you need to go. If not, you will be forced to rely on the single bus that departs from Barletta once a day, with a return…
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Leipzig, or the rise and fall and rise of a European kingdom
Four or five kilometres south-east of Leipzig lies a war memorial: the Monument to the Battle of the Nations. The far more efficient German can do in one word what English does in seven: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It is a massive construction in rust-red granite, 91 metres tall, flanked at the top by gigantic, primeval warrior…
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Kerry, or the problem with genocide
On 16 November 1846, John Browne was walking from Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland, to his home north of Dingle. In Tralee he had tried to gain admittance into the poor house, but the place was already full, and Browne had no choice but to walk the 30 miles back home. On the way, he…
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Mols, or stupid, lazy, inbred peasants
In Denmark, there is a story about the villagers of Mols in Jutland. Fearing that war was about to break out in the country, they decided to hide their most treasured possession: the church bell. A handful of men set out to sea in a rowboat to sink the bell, where it could be retrieved…
EUROPA RECONDITA
AN ITINERANT JOURNAL ABOUT HISTORY, CULTURE AND BEER
