#582 | Piazza Fontana & The Accidental Death of An Anarchist

#582 | Piazza Fontana & The Accidental Death of An Anarchist

Author: Leonardo English December 5, 2025 Duration: 25:30

 


A deadly bomb. A death in a police station. A secret kept from the public. 

In 1969, an explosion in Milan killed 17 people. The police accused a group of anarchists, but the story was not that simple. 

In part one of this three-part mini-series on "Gli Anni Di Piombo" (The Years of Lead), we look at how this tragedy started one of the darkest times in Italian history. 

  • Italy modernising fast, but divided and tense.
  • 12 December 1969: bomb at Milan’s Piazza Fontana.
  • Seventeen dead, eighty-eight injured; shock across Italy.
  • Coordinated Rome bombs; no claim; anarchists blamed.
  • Anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli dies after police questioning; controversy.
  • Pietro Valpreda arrested; weak evidence; years before acquittal.
  • Evidence pointed to far-right group Ordine Nuovo.
  • Suspected cover-ups by police and secret services.
  • Strategy of tension; suspected Gladio links; extent unclear.
  • Impact: fear, ordinary victims, start of the Years of Lead.


 Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/piazza-fontana


---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية


If your language studies could use a dose of fascination, English Learning for Curious Minds might just be what you're looking for. Created by Leonardo English, this podcast is designed for intermediate to advanced learners who are tired of dry textbooks and repetitive exercises. Instead, each episode dives into a curiously compelling topic-you might explore the history of forgotten inventions, unravel mysteries of ancient cultures, or discuss surprising scientific discoveries. The conversation is deliberately paced for comprehension, allowing you to absorb natural pronunciation and complex vocabulary in context. To support your learning, every episode includes an interactive transcript, subtitles, and key vocabulary lists. It’s this blend of genuine intellectual curiosity and practical learning tools that has built a global community, with listeners tuning in from 189 different countries. The result is a genuinely engaging way to build fluency, where improving your English feels less like a chore and more like a series of fascinating conversations about the weird and wonderful aspects of our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English
Podcast Episodes
#404 | The Rise And Fall Of The Vanderbilts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
It's a story of how one family went from almost literal slavery to being the richest in the world – before losing it all. In this episode, we'll be talking about the rise and fall of one of the most influential families…
#402 | The French Foreign Legion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:12
It is, by some measures, the toughest fighting force in the world – yet it continues to attract people from across the globe through the promise of a fresh start and adventure. In this episode, we'll be talking about the…
#400 | Degrowth vs E/Acc | How To Save The World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:16
Degrowth and Effective Accelerationism - two outlooks about the direction in which humanity needs to go to stay alive. But they couldn't be any more different. In this episode, we'll be exploring these two ideas and perh…
#398 | Ernest Shackleton | Antarctic Explorer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:20
Courageous, resilient, and an incredible leader. Ernest Shackleton was an Antarctic explorer who never gave up in the face of adversity. In this episode, we'll be talking about the Endurance expedition, the challenges he…
#394 | What Is Hell? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:39
For some people, hell is a place of eternal punishment. For others, it's merely a stepping stone on the way to redemption. In this episode, we'll be exploring the idea of hell, its different interpretations, and what hap…
#392 | Homes, Homelessness & Evolving English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:09
As time goes by, language continues to evolve. In this episode, we explore the question of evolving English, and the specific question of how we refer to people without a permanent and stable place to live, as this examp…
#390 | Edward VIII | The King Who Said No [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:42
He was King of Britain, but only for 325 days before dramatically quitting the job to be with the woman he loved. But was it the ultimate love story, or was it an act of treason and selfishness? Edward VIII: King of Brit…

«1...678910