- The Italia expedition -

Italia delayed in Stolp

Summary

more repair work to be done to Italia than anticipated

Date of event: Thursday, 26 April 1928 / By hidden europe

More repair work to be done to Italia than anticipated

If all had gone according to Nobile's optimistic plan, the Italia would have been away from Stolp by now. A week, Nobile had said. Ten days at most. But the experience of that first long flight highlighted deficiencies in the airship. One of the rear stabilisers was badly damaged on the flight up from Milan. That’s now been replaced, but still there are other repairs. Nothing structural, nothing major, but lots of little refits. Minor adjustments that all take time.

hidden europe 62: Faith (1)

Eastern Crescent: Islam in the Baltic region

by Nicky Gardner

In Design

Lipka Tatars settled in the rural region south of Vilnius in the 14th century, and their descendants still reside in villages in north-east Poland, western Belarus and southern Lithuania. They are a Muslim minority in a region of Europe which is often incorrectly perceived as being homogeneously Christian. We report on Baltic Islam.

Read now →

hidden europe 67: Heritage (1)

Conflicts of interest: Mining and World Heritage

by Nicky Gardner

In Design

UNESCO's World Heritage List includes many citations which showcase former mining activities. The extractive industries have led to the development of some of Europe's most distinctive cultural landscapes. But the recent addition of a gold mining site in Romania to the list sparks tensions between conservation and economic interests.

Read now →

Blog post: 8 July 2025 (1)

Stories in timber and stone - Europe’s Old Towns

In Design

For many travellers the handsome squares in the heart of major cities - throughout central Europe but also more widely - capture the experience of being away from home. These squares, often distinguished by cobblestones and half-timbered buildings, are the focus of the tourism circuit. In some cases, these squares are reconstructions of originals destroyed in conflict, so raising interesting questions of authenticity.

Read now →