Francesco da Mosto

Italian architect, historian and author

Francesco da Mosto (; born 1961) is an Italian architect, author, historian, film maker and television presenter. He presented the three BBC 2 series Francesco's Venice (2004) and Francesco's Italy: Top to Toe (2006) where he explored the country in an Alfa Romeo Spider and Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage (filmed 2007, broadcast 2008) which sees him sailing aboard the Camper and Nicholsons ketch Black Swan from his home city, Venice, to Istanbul, visiting places including Split, Mostar and Dubrovnik. He presented the two part BBC 2 series: Shakespeare in Italy, (2012).

Da Mosto was born into an aristocratic family in Venice, and his family has been part of the city's history for several centuries. in the 17th century, when Chiara da Mosto, a female member of the family, married four times, with each husband dying of natural causes – thus enabling her to become one of the wealthiest people in Venice. Da Mosto is the younger son of Count Ranieri da Mosto and Contessa Maria Grazia Vanni d'Archirafi, who comes from a very old Sicilian noble family who are the Dukes of Archirafi and include many noted Italian diplomats and bankers. A Roman Catholic, da Mosto took his first Holy Communion in the crypt of St Mark's. When BBC Two decided to make a four part series about the history of Venice, they contacted Francesco to be the host. He has now presented three series for BBC Two: Francesco's Venice, Francesco's Italy – from Top to Toe and Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage, with accompanying books to the series. He has also published a book entitled Francesco's Kitchen. In the Doctor Who Confidential series 5 episode Death in Venice, Francesco is featured explaining the history of Venice to Matt Smith. Shakespeare in Italy was broadcast on BBC Two on May 3 and 10, 2012. In 2015, da Mosto co presented the documentary A Sicilian Dream about the Targa Florio, a Sicilian motor race.

Da Mosto's series Francesco's Italy: Top to Toe, broadcast on BBC Two, shows his journey from his home city of Venice to his mother's origins in Sicily. This series has four episodes: "The Romantic North", "The Garden of Italy", "The Heart of Italy", and "The Land of My Mother". In the first episode, he visits the Romeo and Juliet balcony in Verona, and the city of Milan. During episode two, he visits Lucca and Florence. During episode 3, he visits Rome and Naples. In the final episode, he visits Sicily, where there is an emotional reunion with his family.