Episode 1
City Breaks: Discovering Milan, Siena, and Agrigento
The first episode starts from the work of a genius symbol of national creativity: the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Alberto Angela will illustrate its history and importance, while Philippe Leroy, the unforgettable interpreter of the television Leonardo, will remember the emotion he felt in taking on the role of the painter. From Leonardo's Milan you will go to the heart of Tuscany, to Siena, an entire city recognized as a world heritage site. From Piazza del Campo to the Palazzo Pubblico, from the Cathedral to the Historical Archives, there are many splendors that the host will propose to viewers. A true Sienese, Gianna Nannini, will revive the character and passions that animate the city and its inhabitants. It ends in Sicily, in the splendid "Valley of the Temples" of Agrigento, which has always been a destination for Grand Tour travelers in search of the art and culture of Magna Graecia.
Episode 2
The Beauties of the Italian Risorgimento: the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Piedmontese Langhe
The route through the treasures of our country starts from the Royal Palace of Caserta, the splendid royal residence of the Bourbons. In addition to the magnificent rooms, Alberto Angela will show the gardens of the Palace, a true masterpiece of art and engineering: just think of the Carolino Aqueduct which brought the necessary water to the palace and gardens from 38 kilometers away. Toni Servillo will talk about the emotions he felt as a child on his first visit and what the palace represents for the city of Caserta. The second stop on the journey through the wonders of Italy is the Piedmontese Langhe region, designated a world heritage site by UNESCO as an "exceptional example of man's integration with his natural environment". Between the Grinzane Cavour Castle and the Fontanafredda estate you will see the close link between this territory and the events of the Italian Risorgimento.
Episode 3
World Heritage Sites: Pisa, Matera, and the Dolomites
Pisa and its Piazza dei Miracoli, the Sassi of Matera and the Dolomites are the three sites, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, protagonists of the third episode of "Meraviglie, the peninsula of treasures", the program hosted by Alberto Angela. In the Piazza dei Miracoli Alberto Angela will illustrate the history and particularities of the famous Leaning Tower, you can admire the Cathedral with the lamp which, according to legend, provided Galileo Galilei with inspiration for his theories. In the Baptistery the particular acoustics will surprise you, and you will understand why the cemetery of Pisa is an extraordinary tourist attraction. Andrea Bocelli will talk about the deep bond that he has always felt with his city. The panorama changes in the second stage, in Matera, one of the oldest cities in the world.
Episode 4
A Journey Through History: from Etruscan Finds to Renaissance Villas in Veneto
In this episode Alberto Angela takes us through the extraordinary scenery of Castel del Monte and the Trulli of Alberobello in Puglia. We will explore the forgotten world of the Etruscans by discovering the treasures of the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia - gold, jewels, the moving sarcophagus of the spouses...- and the magnificent tombs of Cerveteri and Tarquinia with paintings that have remained intact which describe a world full of colors and love for life. The panorama changes decidedly in the last stage of Meraviglie's journey. We are in Veneto, with the splendid Palladian Villas, the jewel in the crown of our heritage and the fruit of the genius of Andrea Palladio, the Renaissance architect who was responsible for the refuge villas of the aristocracy and bourgeoisie of the time but also production centers with their fields, vineyards, warehouses, stables.
