Online essay concerning the battle between Galileo and the Catholic Church over the issue of heliocentrism, or, whether the sun or the earth is at the center of the universe.

An Italian site containing a comprehensive biography of artist Michelangelo. Also includes images of some of his paintings.

This site contains information on how Italian Renaissance architecture found its roots in the ancient world, the principles it rested on, and some key figures in its development.

Read about five tiny countries who keep reinventing their histories as time goes on.

An encyclopedia entry for the sacrament of confirmation that describes confirmation from a pre-Vatican II perspective. The entry is transcribed from an edition of the "Catholic Encyclopedia" published in 1908 and, consequently, does not...

This site breaks down the history of Europe by year between 1525-1558. It discusses the political maneuverings of the period, the social conditions, and the conflicts that arose with religious and political disputes.

On the oddly specific Cupola.com's page, you can scroll down to St. Peter's Basilica and find a few pictures of the dome.

This site from BaroqueMusic.org contains a rather lengthy biography on Domenico Scarletti, musician and composer.

Contains a detailed biography of artist Michelangelo. Written from a Catholic perspective. Please note that ?The Catholic Encyclopedia? is a historic reference source and should be viewed in the context of resource material dated around...

This resource is a commercial travel resource that features links to information about the countries of Western Europe. Photographs are included throughout.

A plan of Rome in 1921 showing Pincian Hill (1), Hadrian's Tomb (2), Saint Peter's (3), Vatican (4), Pantheon (5), Quirinal (Royal Palace) (6), Baths of Diocletian (7), Railway Terminal (8), Column of Trajan (9), Capitol (10), Forum...

Cortile della Pigna, Vatican (Rome)

Governorate Palace, Vatican City (Rome)

Laocoon Group, Vatican Museum (Rome)

The BBC features an overview on the small independent state of the Vatican City including key facts, historical background, and information on political leaders and the news media. Also provides links to recent news stories on the Pope.

Candelabrum on a triangular pedistal in Vatican Museum.

Arms and a chariot are here assigned to June through not properly a warlike goddess. The idea itself, of giving such appendages to Diety, seems borrowed from the habits of the heroic age. The following delineation of a chariot is from an...

Cinerary chest and urn in the Vatican Museum.

A more graceful mode of wearing the palla was to attach it by means of a brooch, and allow it to hang down from the shoulders, as in the following cut, representing the statue of Phocion in the Vatican. - Anthon, 1891

Felix Antoine Philibert Dupanloup (January 3, 1802-October 11, 1878) was a French ecclesiastic. In ecclesiastical policy his views were moderate. Both before and during the First Vatican Council, he opposed the definition of the dogma of...

Blessed Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 - February 7, 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was Pope from June 16, 1846, until 1878. His was the longest reign in Church History lasting almost 32 years. During his pontificate, he...

From the Holy See (the church jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome), this resource provided comprehensive information about Pope Francis, including a biography, an album of photographs, and many of his writings.

Part of an extensive website from the Council on Foreign Relations devoted to understanding all aspects of terrorism and its implications for the United States, this section deals with defining and understanding the different types of...

This site provides an introduction to Renaissance humanism. Describes what the movement was, the history behind it, and contains documents from famous ancient Humanists.