Alberto Angela's 'Meraviglie' draws record audiences but sparks debate on Italian TV culture

Alberto Angela's TV series 'Meraviglie. La penisola dei tesori' on Rai 1 achieved a 23.8% share, becoming one of Italy's biggest TV successes in recent years. The four-episode program toured twelve UNESCO sites, including Leonardo da Vinci's Cenacolo, the Reggia di Caserta, Siena, the Basilica of Assisi, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Sassi di Matera, and the Dolomites. It featured ultra-high-definition 4K HDR footage, drone shots, and historical reenactments with actors. Guest appearances included Gianna Nannini in Siena, Andrea Camilleri in Sicily, and Riccardo Muti in Puglia. Voiceovers by Francesco Pannofino added 'postcards' of locations. The show sparked a social media frenzy with hashtags like #albertoangela and #angelers, and a Facebook group with over 22,800 members. Critics argue the program's success reflects a lowered critical sense among audiences and the failure of public TV to regularly produce cultural content. They note that 'Meraviglie' is a rare exception in a landscape where cultural programming has been neglected for decades, and that its informative yet simplistic language should not be mistaken for high culture. The article calls for Rai to consistently produce quality educational programs rather than treating such efforts as exceptional gifts.