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History of Venice Podcast

@historyofvenicepod.bsky.social
225 followers 67 following 160 posts

Telling the story of a unique city and its fascinating people.

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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
In this week's episode we catch up with author Kathleen Gonzalez, whose works cover some of Venice most brilliant and accomplished women and one of its most notoriously charming men. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or via this link. 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/art-and-cu...
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Ep73. The Doge of Plenty. A carving of people celebrating with wine jars is an odd choice for Doge Marino Morosini's funeral monument. But it's just the usual Venetian repurposing of stolen artefacts. Find out more about his life on this week's episode.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/073-the-do...
The tomb of Doge Marino Morosini (died 1253) in San Marco, Venice.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Ep72. Guess Who's Back? It's 1261, and some old frenemies would like their capital city back. This could get awkward for Venice, because she helped to capture it 57 years ago. Find out how it goes down by tuning in to our latest installment. 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/072-guess-...
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
New episode out now! 👑 The Umayyad Caliphate is no more and in its place rise the Abbasids in the person of al-Saffah, the bloodshedder. Will he live up to his name, and will he be able to consolidate his dynasty before it's too late?
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Ep71: Genoa Salami. What on earth is going on in this picture? According to the artist, it's the first phase of the War of St Sabas, between Venice and Genoa. In the top left, the Venetians are winching one of the columns that will end up outside St Mark's.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/071-genoa-...
Part of a 16th century fresco from the Doge's Palace in Venice, showing a representation of the Venetian capture of Acre in 1258.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
It's our 2nd birthday as a podcast today, and our 100th episode, so we're celebrating with an appropriate flag outside our front door. You can find our recap of the story so far wherever you get your podcasts, or via the link below. Viva San Marco. 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/070-the-bi...
The flag of the Republic of Venice
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Alexander Standard Podcast @alexstandardpod.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
👑 Throw back to the Golden Boy, Selecus I! Learn more here, www.podbean.com/eas/pb-wyxqn...
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Part One: Seleukos Nikator
Finally, finally, finally! Seleukos Nikator, the one we've all been waiting for!!! Featuring our special guest star, Roberto from Tsar Power! Turns out Seleukos wasn't as innocent as we (just Dustin)…
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Casanova Part 10: Viennese Whirl. This week we're following our protagonist to Vienna in 1753, where his adventures include a severe bout of indigestion that results in him firing a pistol at a surgeon at point blank range.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/casanova-p...
An image of Vienna in the mid-18th century
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Ep 68. The Bloody Tyrant. In Dante's Inferno, one of the murderous tyrants condemned to spend eternity up to his eyeballs in boiling blood is Ezzelino da Romano, who features in this week's episode. What, if anything, has he done to deserve this? 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/068-the-bl...
An illustration of a scene in Dante's Inferno, in which they meet the centaurs who guard the spirits of the violent tyrants, up to their necks in a river of boiling blood. One of those tyrants, Ezzelino da Romano, features in today's episode of the History of Venice Podcast.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Episode 67: The Wonder of the World. In 1232, Venice had a visit from a short ginger-haired man in his late 30s. But this was no random tourist; it was Emperor Frederick II, Stupor Mundi. This week we're looking at his background.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/067-the-wo...
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, with a bird of prey.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Ep66. Beat It. Campo S Zanipolo features a couple of times in this week's episode, alongside choirs of angels, a disturbing enthusiasm for whips, St Francis' magic walking stick, and all the rest of the strangeness of C13th religion.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/066-beat-it/
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Ep 65: We can't tell you whether his family fortune came from a golden cow, his mother was named after fro-yo, or his son was pulled apart by dogs (probably not, in each case) but we can tell you plenty of other things about the 42nd Doge, Pietro Ziani.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/065-the-pe...
Painting of the 42nd Doge of Venice, Pietro Ziani (1205-1229)
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Happy Birthday to a still young Republic, from a very old former one. Hang in there. We went through some rough times early on, too.
A picture from Classical Art Memes showing some of the signers of the declaration of independence.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Episode 64: Rivals. In the early 1200s, Venice and Genoa are entering into a long-running rivalry. Today we look some of the background, as well as the state of other eastern Mediterranean nations. Because everyone's in a mess.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/064-rivals/
Map of early 13th century northern Italy, with Genoa and Venice circled
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Episode 63: The Castle of Love. Easter 1214. The centrepiece of Treviso's week-long "court of solace and mirth" is a Castle of Love celebration, where ladies defend against men throwing flowers and spices. What could possibly go wrong? Listen to find out.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/063-the-ca...
A French depiction of a medieval "Castle of Love" celebration, similar to the one that features in this week's episode.
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
New episode out now! 👑 We've resisted reform for decades, and now the whole caliphate is on fire: the empire is contracting from al-Andalus to Khorasan with threats both internal and external. Will Hisham be able to hold it together, or is this the end for the Umayyads?
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A Flatpack History of Sweden Podcast / Kingdom: Swedish Rulers @flatpacksweden.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
It's Sunday, time for a new episode and a new king on the throne of Sweden 👑 Who is young Gustav Adolf, the man who will go down in history as the Lion from the North, and how will he deal with the three wars that his dad left behind for Sweden to deal with?
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Alexander Standard Podcast @alexstandardpod.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
On This Day: #AlexandertheGreat died in Babylon at age 32, setting off the greatest succession crisis in ancient history , which, conveniently, is what our podcast is about. He did not name a successor. His generals handled this extremely calmly. (They did not handle it calmly.) 👑
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Episode 62: A Place in the Sun. After the "Crusade", the Venetians turned their minds to the Greek islands. But the Genoese had already made a move on the biggest prize on offer -- Crete. Find out how Venice responded in this week's episode.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/062-a-plac...
16th Century Mercator map of Crete and some other Greek islands.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Casanova, Part 9. Giacomo in Paris. In this week's episode, coincidentally released on the 328th anniversary of his death, a 26-year-old Casanova visits Paris and surprisingly struggles to cope with the city's manners and morals.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/casanova-p...
Paris in the 1750s. Painting of prostitutes being taken to the police station.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
"Never Again!" thundered a local Venetian newspaper in July 1989. Find out why in this week's Art and Culture special episode, "Pin Floi" (we'll also tell you what Pin Floi means, if you don't know).👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/art-and-cu...
Front page of a Venetian newspaper in July 1989, after a big concert, which features in this week's podcast episode.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Episode 61. Booty Call. Who is this noseless guy, what's he doing in Venice, and why is he referred to as Carmagnola when that clearly isn't who he is? We investigate this and other items of crusading booty in our latest episode.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/061-booty-...
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Episode 60. Top Doge, 12th Century. This week, Doges Sebastiano Ziani and Enrico Dandolo battle it out to be rated as our Top Doge of the 1100s. Will it be the Peace Doge or the Blind Crusader who earns a place on the Bucintoro of Destiny?👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/060-top-do...
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Ep58: Putting Humpty Together Again. As Easter Week 1204 brought an end to the 4th Crusade's initial looting and vandalism, all semblance of this being a united force with a common goal vanished into the springtime air like dandelion seeds in the breeze.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/058-puttin...
Fragment of a mosaic from Ravenna, showing a depiction of events in Constantinople on the 4th Crusade
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Episode 57: The View from Constantinople. We're joined by Marco from Storia d'Italia and Robin from The History of Byzantium this week to discuss the 4th Crusade from a broader perspective.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/057-the-vi...
The Crusaders attack Constantinople in 1204.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Episode 56: Downfall. It's April 1204, and the Venetian navy is ready for one final assault on Constantinople. The future of an Empire and a Republic will turn on what happens in the next few days. 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/056-downfa...
16th century painting by Tintoretto depicting the final battle for Constantinople in April 1204.
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
New episode out now! 👑 It's a time of civil war with the Second Fitna in full swing and only one man can restore the Umayyads to power. Join for a story of political machinations, family ties, and the only true legitimacy.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Episode 55. Raising Eyebrows. December 1203. The Venetian navy is stuck outside Constantinople. A new power is rising in the Empire -- a man with notoriously big eyebrows. Who will prevail? Find out more as our story continues.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/055-raisin...
Simon, the writer of the History of Venice Podcast, raises an eyebrow in unison with a Byzantine mosaic of Solomon, in San Marco, Venice.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Ok, it's not the exact quote from King Theoden, but Villehardouin's words are close enough. If you listened to our last episode, maybe you thought that the war had begun already. Well, it certainly has by the end of today's episode, "Out of the Frying Pan".👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/054-out-of...
The Lord of the Rings meme of Theoden, usually captioned "So it begins", but with a similar quote from 4th Crusade chronicler Geoffroi de Villehardouin, "And so the war began".
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Episode 53: Someone Else's Civil War. "The destiny of Republics and Empires hangs in the balance, as The Fates make their capricious decision on whose thread to cut first." I enjoyed writing this one so much. histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/053-someon...
Map of Constantinople in around 1203.
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
New episode out now! 👑 A new Marwanid Umayyad caliphate has risen from impossible odds and now needs stable foundations that it may flourish. Abd al-Malik will rise out of civil war with the powers of friendship, administration, and incredible violence.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Ep 52: Let's Make Poor Decisions. Yes, this meme is years past its zeitgeist moment, but sometime the shoe just fits. This week, the "crusade" finally makes the momentous decision to try a bit of regime change in New Rome, causing fury in Actual Rome.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/052-lets-m...
The "Distracted Boyfriend" meme, featuring the Crusaders being distracted by the prospect of attacking Constantinople instead of Alexandria, while Pope Innocent III looks on as the disapproving girlfriend.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Art&Culture Episode 7: Legend of the Golden Ring A humble fisherman is giving a precious ring to the Doge. Why? Find out the supernatural legend behind it in this week's episode, featuring a dark and stormy night, a demonic pirate ship and three saints.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/art-and-cu...
Detail from a painting showing a fisherman giving a gold ring to the Doge.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Episode 50: Excommunication? What Excommunication? The Crusaders owe Venice huge sums of money for the fleet. Venice suggests using it to capture the nearby rival city of Zara. The Pope says no. Venice doesn't care what he thinks. This won't end well.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/051-excomm...
Siege of Zadar, 1202
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
It's the @intelligentspeech.bsky.social annual event on Saturday. We'll be there, looking at how Venice's relationship with Constantinople went from companions to rivals over the 12th century. You can grab a last-minute ticket at intelligentspeechonline.com. Use the code VENICE for a 10% discount.
A slide from the History of Venice presentation at the Intelligent Speech Online conference, showing Emperor Alexios Komnenos, Doge Domenico Selvo, and a Golden Bull document.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Episode 50. Show Me The Money. Here's our Crusading Chronicler, Geoffroi de Villehardouin, with bags full of cash. It's not enough to pay for the fleet, though. And that means trouble, with a capital T, which rhymes with Zee, and that stands for Zara. 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/050-show-m...
Drawing of Geoffroi de Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne. He was one of the leaders of the 4th Crusade. In the background is Venice. Next to him are several bags of coins.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Episode 49: The Conspiracy. The 4th Crusade receives some terrible news in mid-1201 -- they've run out of Champagne and Brie. This week we discuss what happens next with Marco from Storia d'Italia Podcast. 👑 (episode link: histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/049-the-co...) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Om0...
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History of Venice: Episode 49 Trailer
YouTube video by History of Venice Pod
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
New episode out now! 👑 The Umayyad Caliphate has arrived but how rightly-guided will it be? Mu'awiya is planning to stabilize his new empire and mold it into a fief that can be passed down for generations; however, there are those who would halt this project...
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
This guy's index finger makes him look like Medieval ET telling his listeners to phone home. But no, it's superstar preacher Fulk of Neuilly, encouraging everyone to join a new Crusade in 1199. 👑 Find out more in this week's episode, "Crusaders Assemble". histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/048-crusad...
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Ep 47: Introducing the Crusade of the Liars. The 4th Crusade is a big story for us, so we're starting off with a bit of background. Marco Cappelli from Storia d'Italia joins us to set the scene before it all kicks off. (picture - Pope Innocent III)👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/047-introd...
Pope Innocent III, with the logos of the History of Venice and Storia d'Italia Podcasts.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Enrico Dandolo is (I think) the only Doge who features in a Dan Brown novel. Should we see him as a great betrayer, a national hero, or something else? This week, we look at his early years in office in Episode 46, "Blind Man's Promise". histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/046-blind-...
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
New episode out now! 👑 We have returned at last with a new world brought about by the final prophet! Join us for an exploration of the Rise of Islam, how the caliphate came to be and expanded so quickly, and the dangerous intersection between ruling an empire and trying to be a good man.
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So You Think You Can Rule Persia @rankingpersia.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
New episode out now! 👑 After many moons, we're back to talk to you about another 1300 years of history! But first, let us remind ourselves of what happened in the previous 92 episodes before we jump into the rise of Islam.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
La Befana is going to be busy in Italy soon, so she made her UK delivery a couple of days early. 🟠⚫🟢
A Venezia Football Club shirt, plus two Venezia FC branded t-shirts
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Sadie Dog is an integral part of the podcast process. It's on our walks that we discuss the next episode and give it a narrative shape. In Episode 44, "Chaos with Choniates", you're invited to join our virtual dog walk as we tell a wild story.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/044-chaos-...
Simon and Jess, the podcast presenters, with their dog, Sadie.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Episode 43. Bring Them Home. A few episodes again, we left thousands of Venetians languishing in Byzantine prisons thanks to Emperor Manuel Komnenos (left). The crisis would take a decade to resolve, but somehow it was Byzantium that emerged weaker from it.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/043-bring-...
Emperor Manuel Komnenos and his wife Empress Maria of Antioch
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Spring 1746: Casanova's life was spiralling into criminality, until a chance encounter at Palazzo Soranzo, in Campo San Polo, changed his world for ever. Find out more about how low he had sunk, and how his fortunes changed, in this week's episode. histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/casanova-p...
Palazzo Soranzo, Venice. The scene of a chance meeting that changed Casanova's life in April 1746.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
There's a lot going on in this painting by Tintoretto on the walls of the Doxe's Palace. It's the battle of Punta Salvore, 1177. Only problem is, it never really happened. Find out more in this week's episode, "Just Making Stuff Up". 👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/042-just-m...
Tintoretto's painting of the battle of Punta Salvore, 1177, from the chamber of the Maggior Consiglio, Doge's Palace, Venice.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
41: Redbeard Falling. We conclude our trilogy with @hotgpod.bsky.social and A History of Italy, as Barbarossa fails to subdue the City of Straw and then faces an even worse disaster. Tbh, the pic is of a different battle, but it captures the spirit nicely.👑 histvenicepod.podbean.com/e/041-redbea...
A medieval Italian battle featuring infantry defending a Carroccio against a cavalry charge.
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History of Venice Podcast @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
The Holy Bones of all three Magi allegedly reside in this golden reliquary in Cologne, stolen from Milan by Barbarossa in the 1160s. As featured in this week's episode.
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