History Lessons - World Cities
Twenty years of great historical storytelling at the Sala Sinopoli of the Auditorium
About History Lessons
A format that changed the way history is told
The History Lessons are one of the most beloved and long-running cultural series in Rome. Conceived by Editori Laterza and produced in partnership with the Fondazione Musica per Roma, every season they bring some of the most authoritative Italian historians to the stage of the Sala Sinopoli at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, in the capital's Flaminio district. The format, launched in 2006, has successfully transformed the academic lecture into a popular event: a packed auditorium, attentive listeners, and the feeling of returning to the classroom for an hour with the best teachers imaginable.
The twentieth anniversary edition: «World Cities»
The 2025/2026 season celebrates the series' twentieth anniversary with a cycle titled «World Cities». The common thread is nine events—political, military, social, and economic—that occurred in as many great cities around the world. The speakers taking the stage describe the city of that era, with its wealth and its urban and cultural complexity, in a long journey through time and space: from antiquity to the present day, from Olympia to Rome, from Jerusalem to Cairo, from Istanbul to Paris, from Moscow to Tehran, and finally to New York.
Great voices of historical outreach
The stage features names well-known to the general public, from Alessandro Barbero to Laura Pepe, from Andrea Giardina to Alessandro Vanoli, all capable of combining scientific rigor with narrative skill. The lessons require no prior knowledge: they are designed for a broad and curious audience, from students to enthusiasts, and present history as a living story, rich in connections to the present.
An appointment in the cultural heart of Rome
The series is held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, the grand complex designed by Renzo Piano that is now one of the main cultural hubs of the City of Rome and the entire Lazio region. The meetings take place on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM in the Sala Sinopoli and represent a different and stimulating way to spend the weekend in the capital, combining culture, reflection, and the pleasure of listening.
- Where: Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, Sala Sinopoli, Rome (Lazio)
- When: From November to spring, Sundays at 11:00 AM
- Conceived by: Editori Laterza with the Fondazione Musica per Roma
- A cycle: Nine lessons, nine cities, nine moments that marked history
History Lessons — edition 2026
«World Cities»: nine cities, nine moments
The 2025/2026 edition is dedicated to nine great cities of the world and as many events that marked their history. A journey through space and time, from classical antiquity to the contemporary era, guided by the leading Italian historians and popularizers. All meetings are held on Sundays at 11:00 AM in the Sala Sinopoli.
Programme History Lessons 2026
Full 2025/2026 Program
- November 9, 2025 - Laura Pepe, «Olympia 776 BC. The first games»
- November 30, 2025 - Andrea Giardina, «Rome 9 AD. The peace of Augustus»
- December 14, 2025 - Anna Foa, «Jerusalem 70 AD. The destruction of the temple and the diaspora»
- January 11, 2026 - Amedeo Feniello, «Cairo 969 AD. A new capital for the Fatimid empire»
- February 8, 2026 - Alessandro Vanoli, «Istanbul 1453. The Ottoman conquest»
- February 22, 2026 - Jacopo Veneziani, «Paris 1900. The Belle Époque»
- March 8, 2026 - Alessandro Barbero, «Moscow 1941. Operation Barbarossa»
- March 22, 2026 - Paola Rivetti, «Tehran 1979. The revolution»
- April 12, 2026 - Massimo Gaggi, «New York 2008. The crisis of globalization»
All appointments take place in the Sala Sinopoli of the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Highlights History Lessons 2026
- Twentieth edition: the cycle celebrates twenty years of the format
- Alessandro Barbero recounts Moscow during Operation Barbarossa (March 8, 2026)
- Nine cities of the world, from Olympia to New York, in nine decisive moments
- Conceived by Editori Laterza with the Fondazione Musica per Roma
Prices History Lessons 2026
Practical information — History Lessons
How to get there
The Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone is located at Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30, in the Flaminio district north of Rome. By car, it can be reached via the Tangenziale Est; by metro, take Line A (Flaminio stop) and then tram 2 to the terminus; numerous bus lines serve the area. Ample paid parking is available.
Tickets
Single ticket €14 per lecture. Sales are available online at ticketone.it and at the Auditorium box office; subscription packages for the entire cycle are available. The meetings are held in the Sala Sinopoli at 11:00 AM.
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Where does it take place — History Lessons
Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone - Sala Sinopoli
Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30, 00196 Roma