9943 Hello!

Well, I've been fascinated by Italy since I was a small child, as a result of growing up with an Italian best friend. I studied Italian art history at A level and some Italian history at university, and my interest deepened. I started to be able to afford to visit Italy in my mid 20s and went to Milan, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Genoa and, eventually, Rome. Rome blew me away and I had three consecutive holidays there until my family demanded that we stop and go somewhere different.

I read as much as I can about Rome, although it's not the ancient history I'm interested in so much as the Renaissance and Baroque eras. I'm also fascinated by Rome during the fascist era (though that is not my politics!), occupied Rome during the war, and modern Rome.

Anyway, my obsession with Rome and Italy is not particularly shared by my family or friends, so I hope to have some interesting discussions with you lot instead!