"Anybody see the Mona Lisa? She was hanging there just a minute ago" How is it that the most famous painting in the world could simply vanish, its disappearance not noted for 24 hours, and then not be found until nearly two years later? As with most mysteries, the disappearance of the "Mona Lisa" is certainly stranger than fiction. It was August 21, 1911, when the painting's absence was first noted by Louvre staff. The museum was shut down for a week so that the entire 49-acre facility could be searched. All employees and administrators were ruthlessly questioned by Paris police and many staffers were fired. France's borders were closed and all international shipments were subject to search and seizure. In short, it was the "Crime of the Century" (and offered a convenient distraction from the international conflicts that would evenutally lead to World War I). When the "Mona Lisa's" disappearance became public, everyone had a theory as to the identity of the perpetrators. Could it be an obsessive American art collector? An angry anti-establishment poet? A foreign conman and art forger? Or maybe it was the world’s foremost artist, Pablo Picasso. Picasso was actually questioned by police after being implicated by his friend and fellow suspect Guillaume Apollinaire, but both were eventually exonerated. For hunt continued for two years, but the trail went cold. In late 1913, however, Italian authorities arrested a former Louvre employee named Vincenzo Peruggia. Peruggia had been turned in by two local art experts (one the director of the Uffizi Gallery) after he attempted to sell the "Mona Lisa" in Florence. Peruggia's motive was political: he was angered by the plunder of Italian artwork more than a century before during the Napoleonic Wars and was attempting to restore the painting to its rightful homeland. Peruggia was convicted by an Italian court, but served minimal time and eventually returned to Paris. Embarrassed by the publicity surrounding the painting's theft and rediscovery, French art authorities allowed the "Mona Lisa" to tour Italy before she was returned to the Louvre, where she remains to this day. Even today, the "Mona Lisa" continues to evoke strong emotions. In 1956, two separate vandals attempted to damage the painting by throwing acid and a rock at it. Several years later, the painting was encased in bulletproof glass, which helped protect Mona in 1974, when another vandal tried to spray her with red paint. And just last week, a woman gained publicity (and probably jail time) by hurling a ceramic mug at poor Mona. Meanwhile, the success of the book and film "The DaVinci Code" (as well as other books) has renewed interest in that enigmatic smile (not to mention other features) for whole new generations. The true story of the theft of the "Mona Lisa" may not be as exciting as something out of "The DaVinci Code," but it is certainly has its own elements that would make any mystery fan proud: scandal, celebrity, politics, and some good old-fashioned detective work. Suggested Sites... Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa - a new book by R.A. Scotti that explores the painting's disappearance and its widespread appeal. The Crimes of Paris - also new in literature. Dorothy and Thomas Hoober's fictional account of the theft of the "Mona Lisa," focusing on the efforts of a French detective to find it. The Louvre - official site for Mona Lisa's home. Virtual Tour of Le Louvre - take a walk around the home of the world's artistic and historical treasures.

Directory categories: Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci, Le Louvre, Stolen Art, French History

Archived under: 1910s, Anniversaries, Art Museums, Artists, Arts, Crime, Criminals, Da Vinci Code, Detectives, Disappearances, Europe, European History, France, History, Images, Italy, Louvre, Museums, Mysteries, Secrets, Tourist Attractions, Women

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Giacomo Casanova, circa 1750 There have been so many stories and myths and movies surrounding Casanova over the years that it's difficult to tell where the legend ends and the man begins. Whether he really was the "World's Greatest Lover" is up for debate (certainly Casanova did much to propagate such rumors), but there are facts surrounding his life that are difficult to dispute. Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt was born April 2, 1725 in Venice. He studied law and eventually joined the clergy. He even met the Pope, but later fell out of favor with the Church due to -- what else? -- a series of scandalous love affairs. On a tour of Europe, he explored Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and alchemy. Upon his return to Venice, he continued to plague the Catholic Church and was tried and imprisoned by the Inquisition. Casanova then achieved an improbable escape from his jail and left Italy. Casanova lived in France, Belgium, England, and Russia over the years, where he hobnobbed with such figures as Madame de Pompadour, Voltaire, Catherine the Great, and Benjamin Franklin. He worked for the French Foreign Ministry and conducted several spying missions. Casanova attempted a few (unsuccessful) confidence schemes, fought at least one duel, and even worked for the Inquisition. Avoiding both the French Revolution and Napoleon, he became a librarian in Bohemia and wrote his memoirs before dying in 1798. And of course, in between all these adventures, he somehow managed affairs with an international array of women -- and supposedly, with some men, too. So ,while Casanova may be remembered as the heartthrob who slept his way through Europe, his true legacy is really living and surviving some of most tumultuous events in European history. In a hundred years, will Robert Pattinson or the Jonas Brothers be able to say the same thing? Suggested Sites... Casanova Research Page - academic site about focusing on the "great lover's" writings. Casanova on BBC / Masterpiece Theater - 2005 miniseries about the life and legend of Casanova. Casanova: The Book - 2008 biography by Ian Kelly that tells Casanova's true story.

Directory categories: Sexuality, Casanova, the Movie, Venice, The Inquisition, The 18th Century

Archived under: 18th Century, Adventure, Benjamin Franklin, Biographies, Birthdays, Celebrities, Dead Celebrities, Europe, European History, France, Freemasons, History, Italy, Men, Religion, Romance, Sex and Sexuality

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Engraved Marco Polo portrait It is the year 1297. In a dingy Genoese prison cell, Marco Polo sits and narrates one of the greatest stories ever told to his fellow prisoner, the famed romance writer Rustichello da Pisa. Prior to his imprisonment in Europe, Polo traveled farther than contemporary Europeans imagined possible. Originally from the Republic of Venice, Polo traversed the Silk Road through Central Asia to trade in luxury goods, eventually reaching Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing), the capital of the great Mongol Empire. From there, Polo performed diplomatic missions for Emperor Kublai Khan -- once escorting a Mongol princess to meet her Persian groom. After returning home years later and being captured during a war between Venice and Genoa, Polo unraveled his tale of awe-inspiring Eastern riches and the unfamiliar customs of non-Christian peoples. Rustichello's manuscript was copied many times over, translated into multiple European languages, and disseminated across Europe and eventually around the world. The Travels of Marco Polo inspired subsequent generations. Christopher Columbus was an avid reader and his own explorations two centuries later were partly motivated by Polo's account of the East. In the nineteenth century, the English romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge based his epic poem, Kubla Khan, on Polo's depiction of the Mongol Emperor and his court. Readers are often impressed by Polo’s detailed and relatively tolerant depictions of the foreign lands and peoples he encountered. Since Polo traveled at a time when Europe was a poor backwater compared to ancient Asian civilizations, Polo's writings do not convey the Eurocentrism of later explorers. China has recently drawn attention as a rising world power and host of the 2008 Olympics. Today, on the 754th anniversary of his birthday, Marco Polo reminds us of an earlier fascination that motivated Europeans to make contact with and learn about their impressive Asian neighbors. Suggested Sites... The Silk Road Foundation - explore the Silk Road with articles, maps, and timelines. Marco Polo's Asia - features an essay on Marco Polo’s view of China. Museum of Hoaxes - Marco Polo - find out why some suspect that Marco Polo never went to China. The Catholic Encyclopedia - Marco Polo - read the Catholic Encyclopedia’s biography of Marco Polo. Medieval Travel - learn about medieval travel and peruse a list of famous explorers.

Directory categories: Travel Writing, Medieval Studies, Marco Polo, Chinese History, Explorers

Archived under: Adventure, Asia, Beijing, Biographies, China, Cultures, Exploration, Explorers, History, Italy, Literature, Marco Polo, Travel

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Coronation of Pope Paul VI Sequestered and sworn to secrecy, the College of Cardinals begins to vote for the new bishop of Rome. After each vote, the ballots are burned. If the vote fails, the head cardinal adds a chemical to the ballots that produces black smoke -- a sign that the Church remains without a pope. When the vote is successful, white smoke from the final burned ballots plumes from the Vatican Palace. And for the first time, to ensure that the masses don't misinterpret the smoke's hue, bells will peal. The oldest cardinal hails from the balcony, "Habemus Papam" ("We have a Pope!") Suggested Sites... Papal Succession Primer - learn the rituals of transition, starting with the breaking of the Fisherman's ring and papal seal. Papal Transition - what happens in the conclave? Can the cardinals campaign? Who's eligible for election, anyway? Papabile Blog - John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Will his successor be the first non-European? Revolution in Papal Elections - in 1996, Pope John Paul II changed the rule: After 12 or 13 days, a simple majority -- rather than a two-thirds vote -- can elect the pope.

Directory categories: Papal Elections, Cardinals, Popes, The Vatican, Pope John Paul II

Archived under: History, Italy, Regional, Religion, Society and Culture

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(from Yahoo! Travel) Many know of Turin as the home of a certain shroud and a fleet of notoriously finicky automobiles. But as the world focuses its attention on the Italian city for the Winter Olympics, other attractions and reasons to visit are sure to emerge. If you can't muster the last-minute trip for the Olympics, come another time. For lovers of art and culture, there's no shortage of things to do or places to visit in the ancient city. The Torino Card will get you into some great museums, including the National Museum of Cinema and the Egyptian Museum of Turin. Foodies should come in October for the Slow Food Festival, and between bites, get a ChocoPass to taste some of Turin's famous confections. Finally, we recommend an apéritif -- after all, vermouth was invented here. Suggested Sites... Turismo Torino - discover the city's food, art, sports, and nature. Torino+ - find out what's hot in Turin during the Winter Olympics and beyond, including tips for getting around and where to stay. Juventus - catch the passion of Serie A football with a Juventus match.

Directory categories: City of Turin, 2006 Winter Olympics, The Shroud of Turin

Archived under: Italy, Regional, Sports, Winter Olympics

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