English composer and lutenist, John Dowland traveled to Paris in 1580 as 'servant' to the ambassador to the King of France, and returned in 1584 a converted Catholic. In 1588 he departed to Oxford for a "Bacheler of Musick" (sic), and in 1592 came his opportunity to perform before Queen Elizabeth herself, when the masque of Daphne and Apollo was presented for her entertainment at Sudeley Castle.

This opportunity was not realized, for when one of the queen's lutenists died in 1594, Dowland applied for the post and was rejected. Dowland speculated bitterly that it was his Catholicism ...

Read More John Dowland: Selected Works for Guitar via Ileen Zovluck

During the latter half of the 18th century and the early 19th century Padua, Italy saw the establishment of many coffee-houses used for literary and social gatherings. There were close to forty coffee-house keepers fisted, one of whom was the Bergamasque, Antonio Pedrocchi and it is due to him that one of the most important European coffee-houses was built, the Pedrocchi Café.

Antonio Pedrocchi, the entrepreneur, founded the Café Pedrocchi during the first half of the 19th century. Now considered the finest and most beloved coffeehouse in Italy, Café Pedrocchi embodies......

Read More : Cafe Pedrocchi: Finest CoffeeHouse in Padua, Italy