Culture
Why Italy’s beaches became a battleground this summer
Italian beachgoers are experiencing spiralling fees and shrinking free sand. As debate rages, the question is whether the coastline is for the people – or for profit?
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The Battle of Denny Blaine: Nudists vs prudists on Seattle’s lakefront
A nudist beach. A children’s playground. An embattled mayor. And a chain-link fence. The common thread is a sordid and silly episode that has roiled Seattle’s politics – and its summer by the lake.…
How the Faroe Islands reversed the brain drain of an ageing population
The small community found a big answer to an ageing population crisis
An architect’s perspective on what city slickers can learn from country folk
There’s a stereotype that people in the countryside are resistant to change. This could not be further from the truth. In Referinghausen, a village where I grew up in the Sauerland region of southwestern…
Meet the daredevil stunt performers helping Europe’s film-making industry reach new extremes
As Spain bolsters its reputation as Europe’s top film-making hub, an academy near Barcelona is training the next generation of stunt talent in delivering on-screen action.
This human history expert says we’re wired to work, not relax – but here’s why it’s a good thing
Is it time to rethink work? Journalist Albert Steck asks economist Hans-Joachim Voth why meaningful labour may be key to our wellbeing, and why humans might be built more for purpose than pleasure.
The unmissable films, exhibitions, books and music for September 2025
September’s best cultural offerings include a blockbuster photography exhibition in New York, an animated Pakistani drama and a beloved UK pop band’s swan song.
Seduction, power, and murder: inside the 2,000-year reign of the gigolo
Handsome, charming, and often dangerous, gigolos have played surprising roles in history. From philosophers’ companions to jet-set playboys, these men knew how to turn beauty into power.
Denmark’s glaring design flaw is now on public display
The Danes are justly renowned for their design prowess but news of a controversial statue suggests that they do not excel in all of the visual arts. In fact, they have struggled in the…
Five beautiful travel books from Monocle to guarantee a well-spent summer
Whether you’re bound for breezy coastlines, vibrant cities or serene countryside, Monocle’s travel guides are your passport to a smarter season.
