Post Series: Italy

End and beginning This is the first stage of A European Journey. As the title suggests, we are going on a journey of discovery across Europe. But you might be wondering what the purpose is or what we are looking for. Well, let me invite you to a highly symbolic place which, I find, can best…

Today we will continue our mini-trip in the footsteps of the Waldensians to discover the legacy of their movement in Europe.  After three stages in France, we will now cross the Alps to Milan. This city, which is the capital of Lombardy was founded in the year 600 BC and is today the second most…

This is our fifth and last stage in the footsteps of the Waldensians. And today we will remain in Italy and visit a hamlet called Pradeltorno. Here we will discover the place, which has been the heart of the Waldensian church since the thirteenth century and the unique system of governance which they developed from…

Today we will visit Merano, an Italian town in the region of South Tyrol. It is located right at the heart of the Dolomite Mountains.  If you walk across the town, you might be surprised to hear many people speaking German. This is because the town, which is called Meran in German, was still part…

Alcide de Gasperi is known to be the man of the Italian resurrection after the Second World War. The key to his success was his understanding that democracy could only be rooted in Christianity. For this third stage of a miniseries exploring the Christian roots of the European Union, we will visit Pieve Tesino, in…