Storia degli Italiani, vol. 08 (di 15)

The eighth volume plunges listeners into the turbulent world of 14th‑century northern Italy, where powerful families jostle for control of cities and territories. It opens with the rise of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and his ambitious relatives, setting the stage for a dramatic clash between Milan’s expanding ducal ambitions and the neighboring Tuscan states. Through vivid storytelling, the narrative presents the complex web of alliances, crusades, and rivalries that defined the era.

At the heart of the story is the notoriously ruthless lord Bernabò Visconti, whose iron‑fisted rule combines strategic brilliance with shocking cruelty. From lavish fortifications and lavish hunts to brutal punishments and merciless taxation, his reign illustrates the darker side of medieval power. Listeners will hear how Bernabò navigated papal excommunications, imperial armies, and a coalition of Italian princes, all while maintaining an uneasy grip on Milan and its surrounding lands.