by Redazione 18/10/2026
Categories: Cinema, theater and TV / Disclaimer
From “Julius Caesar” as told by Alberto Angela to art thefts, including the Riace Bronzes and the great masters of the Renaissance: programs to watch on Rai 1, Rai Storia, Rai 5, and Sky Arte from October 18 to 24.
A week of television programming dedicated to art, archaeology, and history, featuring figures from ancient Rome, Mediterranean civilizations, Renaissance masterpieces, and leading figures in contemporary art. Here’s what to watch from October 18 to 24 on Rai 1, Rai Storia, Rai 5, and Sky Arte.
On Sunday, October 18, on Rai 1 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, “Alberto Angela racconta Giulio Cesare” will air—a 2026 special in which Alberto Angela takes viewers on a journey to discover the life and achievements of one of the most important figures in Roman history.
On Friday, October 23, on Rai 5 from 8:14 p.m. to 8:25 p.m., *Poke Stories* airs, featuring a 2024 episode dedicated to the Abbey of San Galgano.
On Thursday, October 22, on Rai Storia, from 9:15 p.m. to 10:10 p.m., tune in to *Cronache dalla Storia*, which dedicates a 2025 episode to Sparta: History and Myth, to retrace the events of the famous city of ancient Greece and explore the boundary between historical reality and legendary narrative.
On Saturday, October 24, also on Rai Storia, from 8:35 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., “Passato e Presente” airs, featuring a 2025 episode dedicated to the Mycenaeans— between myth and history—exploring the civilization that flourished in the Aegean during the Bronze Age and its connections to Greek mythological tradition.
On Sky Arte, Sunday, October 18, at 5:25 p.m., “Oliviero Toscani: Chi mi ama mi segua” airs—an intimate portrait of the photographer who revolutionized the collective imagination, society, and visual communication, tracing his life, thought, and legacy.
At 8:25 p.m., tune in to *ArtBox*, which features the exhibition dedicated to Klimt, Schiele, and Kokoschka and the body in contemporary art in Mestre; a conversation with philosopher Maura Gancitano on the human need to construct narratives; and the exhibition *Christian Balzano. I Are Border*, dedicated to the concept of borders. At 9:00 p.m., in its premiere, *Il Telegiornale dell’Arte* presents a news segment dedicated to the world of culture and its leading figures, produced by *Il Giornale dell’Arte* and Società Editrice Allemandi.
At 9:15 p.m., it’s time for *Andy Warhol: American Dream*, a journey through Europe and the United States to discover the lesser-known side of the artist who revolutionized the world of art and Pop Art. The evening concludes at 11:00 PM with *Cy Dear*, a documentary on the life of Cy Twombly, a prolific sculptor, photographer, and painter who was a contemporary of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
The schedule for Monday, October 19, begins late at night with reruns of *ArtBox* at 12:15 a.m. and *Andy Warhol: American Dream* at 12:35 a.m. The morning resumes at 10:05 a.m. with *Italies Invisibili*, which takes viewers on a journey to discover the Borromeo Archipelago and Isola Bella—places where art and history have left a significant mark. At 10:40 a.m., the program shifts to the Duchy of Urbino, tracing the stories linked to Federico da Montefeltro and one of the iconic centers of the Renaissance.
At 11:15 a.m., *Raffaello – Il principe delle arti* airs—a cinematic narrative dedicated to the iconic Renaissance artist, weaving together art and cinema through a passionate and emotional dialogue. At 2:00 p.m., *ArtBox* returns, followed at 2:40 p.m. by a new rerun of *Andy Warhol: American Dream*.
In the evening, at 7:40 p.m., *Munch’s The Scream – The Great Heist* reconstructs the story of the theft of Edvard Munch’s famous painting, recounting the showdown between an art-loving thief and a maverick detective.
At 9:15 p.m., the series *Art Crimes* retraces the theft of two Vincent van Gogh paintings, stolen in Amsterdam in 2002 and now back at the center of an Italian police investigation thanks to a wiretap. At 10:15 p.m., a new episode is dedicated to the theft of a Caravaggio painting, which disappeared in 1969 from the Church of San Lorenzo in Palermo and has never been found.
The day concludes at 11:15 p.m. with *The Lost Caravaggio*, which tells the storyof *Ecce Homo*, a painting that resurfaced in a home in Madrid and was initially valued at a pittance before sparking international interest due to the possibility that it was a work by Caravaggio.
On the night of Tuesday, October 20, at 12:35 a.m., *Echo: What Remains* traces the life and career of Umberto Eco, essayist, intellectual, and author of the novel *The Name of the Rose*. At 6:00 a.m., *ArtBox* returns, while at 11:35 a.m., *Invisible Italies* takes viewers on a journey to discover the *Terra del Sole* and *Tuscan Romagna*, a region conceived by Cosimo I de’ Medici that remained as such until 1923. At 12:10 p.m., *Men and Gods: Le meraviglie del Museo Egizio takes viewers on a journey to discover the history and treasures of the Egyptian Museum in Turin, one of the world’s most important museums of Egyptian archaeology.
In the afternoon, at 2:00 p.m. and 3:10 p.m., two episodes of *Art Crimes* return, dedicated to the thefts of Van Gogh’s paintings in Amsterdam and Caravaggio’s in Palermo. At 4:10 p.m., *Art vs. Mafia – The Power of Beauty* recalls four major Mafia murders through a narrative in which memory is filtered through art and beauty. At 5:30 p.m., *A Sicilian Fairy Tale: A Story in Three Acts* explores the connection between Dolce&Gabbana and Sicily, delving into the relationship between the two designers, fashion, and art.
Premiering at 8:40 p.m., ArtBox returns with an overview of the most interesting exhibitions in Italy and around the world, featuring interviews with experts, collectors, curators, artists, and critics. At 9:15 p.m., *Italy for Movies* showcases architectural works by renowned designers that blend seamlessly with their surroundings, transcending mere functionality and aesthetics. At 10:05 p.m., the program shifts its focus to castles, exploring their symbolism, fairy-tale atmospheres, and ancient mysteries. The day concludes at 10:55 p.m. with a new repeat of ArtBox.
On Wednesday, October 21, at 10:30 a.m., *Italie invisibili* takes viewers on a journey to discover the episcopal lordship of the Orta Riviera and the historical and artistic traces of the Cusio region. At 11:00 a.m., *Pompei. Eros e mito* airs—a cinematic journey through art and mystery at the famous archaeological site in Campania, accompanied by Isabella Rossellini. At 12:35 p.m., ArtBox returns, followed at 1:05 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. by two episodes of *Italy for Movies*, dedicated respectively to architecture in dialogue with the landscape and to castles—places of charm and guardians of ancient stories.
Thursday, October 22, begins at 9:40 a.m. with *Italy for Movies*, dedicated to architecture and the relationship between the works of great designers and their surroundings. At 10:30 a.m., *Italie invisibili* takes viewers on a journey of discovery through the Duchy of Amalfi, featuring palaces, Baroque decorations, and evidence of a cutting-edge culture. At 11:05 a.m., the program moves to Trieste to explore the historical traces of its imperial port.
At 11:40 a.m., *Semidei* traces half a century of history through the discovery of the Riace Bronzes—the two bronze warriors recovered from the sea in 1972 and considered among the best-preserved ancient statues in the world. In the afternoon, at 3:40 p.m., *Borromini and Bernini: The Quest for Perfection* recounts the artistic rivalry between the two architects, marked by competition, the breaking of conventions, and the search for new solutions. At 5:15 p.m., *Caravaggio in Rome: The Jubilee Journey* explores the painter’s career, whose art found its crowning moment during the Jubilee of 1600, amid themes of faith and redemption.
At 7:30 p.m., *Il Telegiornale dell’Arte* returns with updates and in-depth coverage of the cultural world. At 7:45 p.m., *Botticelli and Florence: The Birth of Beauty* takes viewers on a journey through the painter’s masterpieces and the new ideal of beauty developed in Renaissance Florence.
Prime time is dedicated to the great figures of art history with three episodes of *Great Masters*: at 9:15 p.m., the program explores Correggio’s luminous and vibrant painting, influenced by the teachings of Leonardo da Vinci; at 9:50 p.m., it’s Luca Signorelli’s turn, with his stylistic exploration and focus on the depiction of the nude figure; at 10:25 p.m., the spotlight shifts to Andrea Mantegna, one of the greatest Renaissance painters, who won over the Gonzaga court in Mantua.
At 11:00 p.m., an episode dedicated to Carpaccio explores the artist’s role in Venetian art between the 15th and 16th centuries and the significance of his works as a testament to the life and customs of the Venetian Republic. The programming concludes at 11:35 p.m. with a new rerun of the *Great Masters* episode dedicated to Correggio.
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| Art on TV from October 18 to 24: Alberto Angela, Pompeii, and the Riace Bronzes |
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