Marcantonio Colonna alla battaglia di Lepanto

In the wake of the dramatic siege of Malta, the Mediterranean roils with tension as Ottoman forces press against Christian strongholds. This work follows the rise of Marcantonio Colonna, a seasoned commander appointed by Pope Pius V to lead a new fleet against the Turks. Through vivid letters, orders, and personal reflections, listeners hear the mix of zeal, politics, and hardship that shaped his early days at sea.

Beginning with the papal promise of aid and the frantic outfitting of galleys in ports from Ancona to Venice, the narrative sketches the tangled diplomacy between Venice, Spain, and the Holy See. Detailed accounts of shipbuilding, crew recruitment, and the first clashes around Cyprus immerse the audience in the logistical nightmare of 16th‑century warfare. As the allied armada gathers, the stage is set for the historic confrontation that would decide the fate of the eastern Mediterranean.