Main content

Inside your shell: in St. Helena and Italy

Sally Kettle meets tempts St. Helena's most prestigious inhabitant out of his shell; in Florence, Stephen Smith goes back to the Renaissance and tries on some 'intimate armour.'

The Atlantic island of St. Helena is an isolated community which has weathered many a storm over the years - many of them witnessed first-hand by its most prestigious inhabitant: Jonathan the tortoise. Sally Kettle was lucky enough to meet him.

The codpiece: a masterpiece of Renaissance fashion - the must-have male accessory of its day. Stephen Smith has one fitted in Florence, and discovers the ins and outs of its former cultural significance.

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Ben Weisz

Photo: Sally Kettle meets Jonathan the Tortoise on St. Helena
Photo credit: Sally Kettle

Available now

11 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Mar 2014 20:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Mar 2014 20:50GMT