Aldo Cazzullo Explores Italy's Renaissance in New Book 'Quando l'Italia rinacque'

Aldo Cazzullo's latest book, Quando l'Italia rinacque. Il nostro Rinascimento, published by Harper Collins, examines the Italian Renaissance as the period when Italy was the world's dominant superpower and cultural center. Cazzullo argues that the Renaissance began with a shift in human self-perception, placing man at the center and fostering a collective confidence that led cities to see themselves as masters of their own destiny. This environment enabled the rise of powerful families like the Medici and artistic giants such as Leonardo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. The book also connects the Renaissance to broader explorations, including Christopher Columbus's voyage to the New World, and discusses literary figures like Ludovico Ariosto, whose Orlando Furioso reflects both humanist ideals and the political instability of the Italian Wars between France and Spain. Cazzullo highlights the role of women, including Vittoria Colonna and a reassessment of Lucrezia Borgia, as pillars of the era. The narrative also covers darker moments—Giordano Bruno's burning, Galileo's abjuration, and Caravaggio's death—as signs of decline. Cazzullo's journalistic, engaging style aims to restore a sense of lost pride and confidence associated with the Renaissance.