The best

Congratulations on the 300th episode of the most enlightening cultural podcast around. A treasure for travelers and non-travelers alike.

Just returned from 2 weeks in Italy with most spent in Florence and Rome. Missing the art, I found this great podcast! This guy is great. Short and to the point but very detailed when it counts. I wish I had known about him before I went, and would have hired him for tours!

I am, like many of Prof. Rock’s students and fans, an autodidact hungry for all things Renaissance. From Good Cosimo, Pater Patria , to the Dark Duke Cosimo, he has shown the flashlight of erudition and appreciation upon the serpentine corridors of time to illuminate the stories, context, and interpretations of this incredibly rich period of humanity.

Complimenti Rocky!! I am a professor of art history and I recommend this podcast to all of my students. It’s entertaining, engaging and well researched. Lucky us to have free access to such a high quality and delightful podcast!

The way Dr Ruggiero explains art history is so animated, riveting, and informative. I spent 3 hours in the Sistine Chapel listening to his episodes on Michaelangelo's masterpiece.

Rocky, your lectures on Renaissance art and history are spectacular. Thank you so much. I am going to be in Florence in a couple of weeks and listening to your lectures will make the experience amazing.

Listened to a number of episodes on recent trip to Florence. Especially LOVED the Spanish Chapel. Can’t thank you enough for the education.

Rocky Ruggero brings the subject of the Italian Renaissance alive with his historical knowledge, his detailed descriptions and anecdotes. Thank you for this excellent podcast!

Obviously very informative but I really do appreciate the way you annunciate the names and places, Italian or English words. PLEASE DO A PODCAST ON VICENZA! In my opinion one of the most under appreciated Italian cities often overlooked by American tourists.

Bravo my friend I’m a huge fan of your podcast, im grateful you continue to bring your expertise and understanding to us. You gave a great voice and a captivating way of speaking! I’m a recent graduate with a bachelors in studio art, and a passionate student of art history and philosophy. You’re podcast is inspiring, I am hoping to be a part of a new renaissance if you will, a resurgence of the arts and culture in the modern age all with the aim of praising our Creator and promoting the well being of our fellow man. God bless, thanks again!

Thank you, Rocky, for the work you’ve put in to produce a high quality art history podcast for absolute beginners like me. I especially appreciate the clarity of thought and enunciation in your words in English and Italian. No painful “uhms and uhhs” ever detected. Looking forward to learning more. Thank you!!

I started listening to this in preparation for my upcoming trip to Italy and have found it so interesting and engaging. I actually majored in art so I did several art history classes and still have learned quite a bit, and the rest is a great reminder for what I learned previously. That said, I think even someone less studied in art and history would glean a lot from this as Rocky makes it very relatable and interesting to listen to. I’ve recommended this podcast to several friends already.

I’m very interested in the italian renaissance so this podcast is right up my alley! I anxiously await the next release. I’m hoping for Mantua, Sirmione, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Ferrara, and Ravenna in the future. I’ll be on pins and needles waiting to see. Thank you for a fabulous podcast!

I'm a big fan of art and I appreciate history but I'd always avoided the Renaissance period. It always seemed so boring and I'd quickly lose interest. I listened to this podcast as preparation for a trip to Italy. Its now a favorite podcast. I can't figure out how he does it but Dr. Ruggiero makes the Renaissance very interesting AND entertaining. He makes the material comes to life. No gimmicks, nothing flashy, not too long, the right amount of color and detail. Dr. Ruggiero is a wonderful educator and storyteller, give this a try.

Rocky makes this podcast fun to listen. He Explains every detail. Great job!

Want to start out, right, by saying that I enjoy Dr. Ruggiero's information and his subject matter, right.. I find it informative, right, packaged in a way that is attainable, and interesting, right... But there is a fatal flaw to his podcast, right... which has been so frustrating that it's been hard for me to move forward with the program, right... which is his inability to end phrases without saying "right." I imagine that for the students who sit under his lectures that this is a well-known realty, right... I'mm actually surprised he's been able to get this far in his career and get away with one of the more severe cases of this public speaking tic, right... It might be tempting to see this comment as "trolling" or to simply label me another "hater", right... but for someone who wishes to advance his career and clout through effectively communicating to the masses, he will have to get over this verbal handicap... right?... I would gently recommend forcing yourself to embrace the pause. Make a statement. Allow silence to reign. Think about what you want to say next. Then, move on to the next statement. Your students and listeners will thank you.

Rocky was one of my favorite professors! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to learn more from him - this is a class I’ll say yes to every time.

If you’re a history buff, this man is worth the listen. He’s incredibly articulate and highly knowledgeable. You will definitely learn something from each podcast. Thank you for starting a Podcast series Rocky — I’m looking forward to each new episode.

Rocky is a god amongst mortals when it comes to storytelling. He takes topics daunting to most people, High Renaissance art, antiquity history, and makes them digestible and approachable for anyone. I’ve learned more from his lectures and podcasts than any single professor I’ve ever had. Bravo, Rocky.

No one brings the Renaissance to life better than Rocky. You will feel like you are having a conversation with your best friend. He transports you into Italian history in a way that is fun, comfortable and relevant. I have the privilege of knowing him and his work and I promise you will never enjoy learning more than with Rocky as your teacher. Just like the Coliseum, the Pantheon and the Duomo he is a treasure. Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in this delightful journey through amazing storytelling.

I once had Professor Ruggiero for a course on Italian art in Florence, and it was one of the most rewarding, entertaining experiences I had in college. These podcasts do a great job of capturing the story and the drama of the renaissance, almost as well as the lectures I remember. I can’t wait to see where this goes.