The challenge of designing an accurate, detailed world map has stumped cartographers for centuries, but Urbano Monte got pretty close to achieving perfection in 1587. Now, for the first time, his ...

In the 16th century, their palazzo near the church of Santa Maria Formosa, a short stroll from St. Mark’s Square, became something of a must-see for A-list visitors to Venice (including Henry ...

In the 16th century, the city was home to more than 6,000 looms in workshops dotted all over its islands, with 1,200 weavers producing velvet that was exported around the world.