Italy

A fresco from the Villa of the Vettii in Pompeii. Painted before the catastrophic eruption of Versuvius, these frescoes were uncovered from beneath layers of volcanic ash and pumice. (Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)

A brief guide to Pompeii, plus 8 fascinating facts about the ancient Roman city

People gather around the Mona Lisa painting after its return in January 1914

Mona Lisa heist: how do you steal the world’s most famous painting?

Roman republic

Your guide to the Roman Republic

Marble relief depicting the Praetorian Guard, legionnaires and elite soldiers. In the Louvre, Paris, France. (Photo by Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images)

The Praetorian Guard: the emperors’ fatal servants

Pompeii,Italy

What was life like in ancient Pompeii? Mary Beard shares an A-Z guide

Marble bust of Nero

Emperor Nero: the tyrant of Rome

Protesters demonstrate against a US military base at Santo Stefano in 2005

Sardinia: the legacy of the notorious shepherd-bandits of the mountains

HistoryExtra’s top 15 most listened to podcast episodes

Portrait of Isabella d'Este in Red by Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). (Photo by Getty Images)

Rethinking the Renaissance

Black and white image of the Victorian memorial statue of Florence Nightingale 1820-1910 in London, England, UK who was an English nurse known as 'the lady with the lamp, who cared for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War

Why Florence Nightingale was so much more than the ‘Lady with the Lamp’

Postcards from the past competition

Postcards from the past: Aged between 6–13? Enter our exciting lockdown competition

Spartacus is now associated with political upheaval, as in the 1919 Spartacist uprising.

Who were the gladiators of ancient Rome? Plus Spartacus, Crixus and 8 more fighters you should know

Engraving of emperor Commodus's death

Cheese, angry gods and shoddy surgeons: the unlikely deaths of Roman emperors

Self portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi as a lute player (Photo by Getty Images)

The genius of Artemisia

Pompeii wall painting depicting an erotic satyr and nymph

In bed with the Romans: a brief history of sex in Ancient Rome