The new Vatican Pinacoteca was opened on 27 October 1932 in the building especially constructed by the architect Luca Beltrami for Pius XI. It was built in the nineteenth century Square Garden, isolated and completely surrounded by avenues, in a place considered suitable for assuring the best lighting conditions for both the correct preservation of the works and their optimum aesthetic enhancement.

Thus the age-old question of the exhibition of the paintings, which were constantly moved around the Apostolic Palaces due to the lack of a setting that matched their importance, was solved. A first collection of only 118 precious paintings was created by Pope ... continue

For 2 servings:

• 6 slices white bread, crusts removed
• 1 fist-sized ball mozzarella, cut into approximately 1/4-inch slices, then strips
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil (not extra-virgin) for frying

Make sandwiches out of the bread and mozzarella, leaving a little margin around the edges unfilled with cheese, and press the edges together with your fingers to help seal. (One of the advantages of soft white bread is that it is easily smushed together.) Pour the milk into one soup bowl, the fl ... continue