Florentine palaces, Vatican intrigue, visionary artists and powerful dynasties: the Italian Renaissance continues to inspire creators around the world. Blending historical reconstruction with more fictionalised storytelling, these six series explore one of the richest periods in European history, when Florence, Rome and Milan set the pace for culture, politics and the arts.
From the narrow streets of Florence and the frescoed palaces of Rome to the workshops where Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces took shape, Renaissance Italy remains an endless source of compelling stories.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the Italian peninsula experienced an extraordinary flourishing of art, learning and commerce, while powerful families competed to expand their influence. These six series offer a fascinating window onto the era through its most iconic figures and unforgettable settings.
Medici: Masters of Florence (2016–2019)
It would be hard to find a better introduction to the Italian Renaissance. The series follows the rise of the Medici family in 15th-century Florence, first under Cosimo de' Medici and later under his grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent. As bankers, patrons of the arts and political strategists, the Medici shaped the future of the Tuscan city for generations.
The series immerses viewers in a thriving Florence, where artists, merchants and diplomats cross paths beneath the city's grand palaces and monumental churches. Against a backdrop of family rivalries, conspiracies and artistic patronage, Medici: Masters of Florence vividly captures the atmosphere of an age that produced some of history's greatest minds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFUWvceed5s
Leonardo (2021)
Painter, inventor, engineer, anatomist… Few figures embody the Renaissance quite like Leonardo da Vinci. This series traces his life through the cities that shaped his career, particularly Florence and Milan, while also exploring the mysteries that continue to surround his work.
Beautifully recreated, the series explores the many facets of a man whose curiosity seemed boundless. Beyond portraying an extraordinary artist, Leonardo shines a light on a world transformed by scientific discovery, technological innovation and creative ambition.
The Borgias (2011-2013)
The story moves to Rome at the close of the 15th century. At its centre is Rodrigo Borgia, who becomes Pope Alexander VI, and his family, whose influence stretches far beyond the walls of the Vatican. Played by Jeremy Irons, the patriarch presides over a world where religion, politics and power are inseparable.
Lavish and visually spectacular, the series presents a Renaissance driven less by art than by politics, where strategic alliances, rivalries between powerful families and personal ambition dominate. Rome's magnificent palaces and elaborate papal ceremonies provide the backdrop to a time when the papacy stood among the greatest powers in the Italian peninsula.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQZ9CHtImDM
Borgia (2011-2014)
Produced in Europe, this alternative take on the Borgia dynasty adopts a more grounded and often darker approach than its American counterpart. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Italian Wars, religious tensions and the profound political upheavals sweeping across Europe.
The series focuses more closely on the fragile balance of power between the Italian states, Europe's monarchies and the Church. For history enthusiasts, it makes an excellent companion to The Borgias, offering a different perspective on the same remarkable period.
Da Vinci’s Demons (2013-2015)
With this series, the Renaissance becomes a thrilling adventure. It imagines a young Leonardo da Vinci caught up in conspiracies, mysteries and extraordinary discoveries in Medici Florence.
Far from being a faithful historical reconstruction, Da Vinci's Demons embraces its creative licence. Even so, its pace, energy and vivid imagination successfully capture the spirit of an era defined by the pursuit of knowledge and a passion for innovation. It's a spectacular vision of the Renaissance, best enjoyed as an epic historical adventure rather than a history lesson.
The Serpent Queen (2022-2024)
Although set primarily in France, the series is deeply rooted in Renaissance Italy. It tells the story of Catherine de' Medici, born in Florence before becoming one of the most influential women at the French court.
Through her remarkable journey, The Serpent Queen shows how the cultural and political legacy of Italy's great dynasties extended far beyond the peninsula. Blending diplomacy, court intrigue and power struggles, it highlights the profound influence of the Italian Renaissance on 16th-century Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeQps60EaII
