Rick Steves' Europe

While Rome fell in the West, it lived on through the Middle Ages in the East as the Byzantine Empire. Its capital, Constantinople, and Venice were filled with art treasures — much-coveted bronze horses, rich mosaics, and magnificent churches.

In the 11th and 12th centuries Romanesque churches were filled with beautiful art. And that art served the church. Statues and paintings didn’t need to be realistic so long as they illustrated Bible lessons: teaching, inspiring, and scaring the faithful.

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, sculpting with marble is essentially the same process, as demonstrated in this visit with sculptor Raffaello Romanelli in his Florentine Galleria Romanelli.

Rome’s empire was fueled by plunder from its conquests and held together in part by art that functioned as propaganda. The Altar of Peace in Rome and the Trophy of the Alps in France are two fine examples.

Much of the “art and architecture” of ancient Rome could be found in its infrastructure and engineering. It was a society of builders, and its vast empire was held together with no-nonsense infrastructure (always solid, useful, and beautiful) and its propaganda.

While Rome may have conquered Greece militarily, in many ways it was conquered in return by Greek culture. That’s clear in the impact Greece had on Roman art and architecture and how a Roman forte was copying Greek originals.

This villa in Sicily is paved extravagantly with fine mosaics that give an intimate peek into the lives of Rome’s rich and powerful as well as a look at what might be on the menu tonight.

Ancient Rome was Christian for over a century. Tombs, catacombs, and early Christian art tell the story. When Rome finally fell, the Roman basilica became the design of medieval churches and saints literally replaced emperors atop great Roman monuments.

A hundred interstitials showcasing Europe's great art and architecture in bite-size chunks. Join Rick as he explores the rise of Western Civilization as seen through Europe's most beautiful and evocative art: climbing deep into prehistoric tombs, summiting Michelangelo's magnificent dome, waltzing through glittering palaces,

Centuries before Rome, a mysterious Etruscan civilization ruled northern Italy. What we know about it we learned from art found in its tombs. In 509 BC the Romans threw out their Etruscan king and the rest is history.

The birthplace of Roman greatness was in the original Roman market or Forum. Local guide Francesca Caruso brings this common ground between the iconic “seven hills of ancient Rome” to life with her vivid description.

Rome declined for centuries after its peak and art tells the story. Emperors — some good and many bad — left monuments to both their greatness (like Marcus Aurelius on a horse) and their corruption (like Commodus dressed as Hercules and ready to go “clubbing”).

While Roman sculptors famously copied idealized Greek originals and dramatic scenes of myths, they specialized in ultra-realistic, warts-and-all portrait busts.

The rich port of Pompeii was buried with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The excavated site gives a revealing look at a great Roman city and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples holds its countless art treasures.

A hundred interstitials showcasing Europe's great art and architecture in bite-size chunks. Join Rick as he explores the rise of Western Civilization as seen through Europe's most beautiful and evocative art: climbing deep into prehistoric tombs, summiting Michelangelo's magnificent dome, waltzing through glittering palaces,

The ancient city of Ephesus (on the west coast of today’s Turkey) offers a fascinating walk through a great city with splendid temples, a towering library, and one of the most impressive theaters of the ancient world.

The Minoans thrived on the Greek isle of Crete from 2000 to 1100 BC. The remains of their palace and the joyful frescoes that once decorated it are a testament to the sophistication of that early culture.

The Pantheon is the best-preserved building from ancient Rome, giving us a feel for the magnificence and the splendor of Rome at its zenith. It’s a great example of Roman engineering and aesthetics.

While Roman buildings were solid, no-nonsense designs, they were also beautifully decorated. Mosaics were a Roman forte and a favorite art form, and frescoes give a delightful and often intimate peek at Roman lives.

Societies from the Stone Age and into the metal ages created figurines that indicated a concern for the mysteries of life — fertility, birth, death, and what lies beyond. Bodies and artifacts discovered in bogs and tombs from Ireland to Denmark offer a peek into these people’s lives and deaths.

Amsterdam has plenty of examples of their progressive approach to subjects many people consider unsavory: curbside urinals, prostitutes who are unionized, taxed, and regulated…and “coffeeshops” that sell marijuana.

The stately hunting palace of Cheverny is immaculately preserved, having stayed in the same family for five centuries. The kennel is also worth a visit at dinnertime, when the 70 hunting hounds are fed.

A popular excursion from Antalya is a cruise on a gulet — the traditional Turkish sailboat. Sailing away, we marvel at the dramatic shoreline under snow-capped peaks. Resorts, park-like beaches, and ancient ruins clinging to cliffs are all tucked into this rugged-yet accessible Riviera playground.

Haarlem is a “Dutch Masters” kind of town, with plenty of 17th-century architecture. Dodge bikes down narrow lanes to discover some of Haarlem’s gems — pickled herring, masterpieces by Dutch Masters, and, at 100 feet high, Holland’s greatest pipe organ.

Young, in-the-know locals agree that Prenzlauer Berg is one of Berlin’s most colorful neighborhoods. There are no real sights -- just a lively, laid-back neighborhood ignoring its wonderful late-19th-century architecture high overhead.

About two hours from touristy Venice is Verona — a welcome sip of pure, easygoing Italy. Its main attractions are its wealth of Roman ruins and its 21st-century quiet, pedestrian-only ambience.

One of Europe's most pleasant strolls is along Prague's historic coronation route. Use it as a spine, but make a point to venture beyond, and learn enough Czech to interact with the locals.

A great side trip from Paris is the city of Chartres — and its famous cathedral, arguably Europe’s best example of pure Gothic architecture. It was built quickly, so the cathedral has a unity of architecture, statuary, and stained glass that captures the spirit of the Age of Faith like

Padova’s Scrovegni Chapel, with its precious 14th-century Giotto frescoes, is one of Italy’s most beloved art treasures.

Ramallah hosts the Palestinian government and international agencies, and is filled with positive energy from the students at nearby Birzeit University.

Monterosso al Mare is the Cinque Terre's most resorty town of the group, with cars, larger hotels, rentable umbrellas, and the best beach around.

Tel Aviv is a young, modern city with gleaming new buildings, a beautiful beach scene, and delicious, locally-sourced cuisine.

Güzelyurt is the kind of discovery I love to feature in my guidebooks — almost no tourism, lots of history, plenty of character.

Prague’s Old Town Square is filled with beautifully preserved landmarks: the Gothic Týn Church, a memorial to Jan Hus, and a 15-century Astronomical Clock.

The Van Gogh Museum houses the 200 paintings owned by Vincent’s younger brother, Theo — laid out as the story of Vincent's life.

It seems every king, queen, and emperor since has loved this palace — Louis XIII was born here, Louis XV was married here — but Fontainebleau has more Napoleon Bonaparte connections than any other palace.

The Berlin Wall Memorial and Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie educate visitors about Berlin's tumultuous 20th century.

We stroll along Delft's idyllic canals and markets, and see how its famous Delftware porcelain is made.

This one-hour "best of Poland" special begins in Kraków, with a stunning square, historic castle, and nearby, communist-era Nowa Huta and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial. Then we head to bustling Warsaw for skyscrapers and Chopin, sample gingerbread in Toruń, and ogle red-brick Malbork Castle. We finish in Gdańsk

Join Rick Steves and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on a spectacular musical journey through Europe. This unique special blends powerful Romantic-era anthems from composers like Strauss, Grieg and Verdi with breathtaking visuals and Rick’s cultural insights. Experience Europe’s history, the passion for freedom and the spirit of unity

In this entertaining, information-packed talk, join Rick Steves as he shares lessons from a lifetime of travel. With Europe as our classroom, we’ll learn the essential skills for smart travel from itinerary planning to venturing off the beaten path. Get Rick’s tips on packing light, escaping crowds, avoiding

This one-hour special begins in Reykjavík, with endearing sights and thermal pools, plus a side-trip to the Golden Circle's gorges, geysers, and waterfalls. Then, after fording rivers in a desolate valley and spotting puffins on volcano-shaped islands, we drive the 800-mile Ring Road — connecting glaciers, fjords, geothermal hotspots,

Rick Steves explores the "Eternal City" of Rome, a grand and ancient metropolis rich with exquisite art, vibrant culture and centuries of history. Rick traces the rise and fall of classical Rome, meanders through the heart of Bernini's Baroque Rome and makes a pilgrimage to the

Taking you on a spring journey through Spain, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece, Rick Steves' European Easter celebrates this 2,000-year-old story in a variety of cultures. You'll feel the emotion of this special time as the Passion of Christ unfolds during Holy Week.

RICK STEVES EGYPT: YESTERDAY & TODAY sails beyond Europe, exploring the historic and cultural wonders of Egypt. In the teeming metropolis of Cairo, Rick climbs to the center of a pyramid, greets the Sphinx and marvels at King Tut's gold. In the fabled city of Alexandria, Rick brings

Rick travels throughout the Continent celebrating the top 10 festivals, each one rich with tradition, great food and fun. In Spain, Rick runs the bulls in Pamplona and dances with locals at the April Fair in Seville. He also dons a mask in Venice for Carnival, which first began in

The Romans gave Europe its first taste of a common culture, and awe-inspiring art. From its groundbreaking architecture to its statues, mosaics, and frescos, Rome engineered bigger and better than anyone before. At its peak, the Roman Empire was a society of unprecedented luxury, with colossal arenas for entertaining the

In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution spawned new artistic styles: idealized Romanticism, light-chasing Impressionism, sensuous Art Nouveau. Then Europe’s tumultuous 20th century inspired rule-breaking art as exciting as the times: from Expressionism and Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract. The genius of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dalí express

As the Ice Age glaciers melted, European civilization was born—and with it, so was art. From the Stone Age came prehistoric art: mysterious tombs, mighty megaliths, and vivid cave paintings. Then the Egyptians and the Greeks laid the foundations of Western art—creating a world of magical gods, massive

In the 1600s and 1700s, the art of "divine" kings and popes — and of revolutionaries and Reformers — tells the story of a Europe in transition. In the Catholic south, Baroque bubbled over with fanciful decoration and exuberant emotion. In the Protestant north, art was more sober and austere.

Around 1400, Europe rediscovered the aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome. This rebirth of classical culture showed itself in the statues, paintings, and architecture of Florence, then spread to Spain, Holland, Germany, and beyond. The Renaissance—from art-loving popes to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David—celebrated humanism

Join Rick as he weaves Andalucía's rich mix of culture, cuisine, history, and natural wonders into a one-hour special. The hour includes the major cities of Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada; flamenco, sherry, and horses; dramatic white-washed hill towns; and fun in the Costa del Sol sun — plus a

The hour-long RICK STEVES' SPECIAL: THE HOLY LAND, ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TODAY weaves together both the Israeli and the Palestinian narratives to better understand a place that is, for a third of humanity, literally holy land. The crossroads for three great religions, the Holy Land has been coveted and

In times of crisis, we ask ourselves: What is the true value of travel? Is it just hedonism, or something more powerful? After a lifetime of exploring Europe, Rick Steves shares his reasons why. This special is a sonnet to travel — an introspective love story, set in Europe and beyond,

Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation, which contributed to the birth of our modern age. In this one-hour special, Rick Steves visits key sites relating to the Reformation and explores the complicated political world of 16th-century Europe — from indulgences to iconoclasts. It’s a story

In this one-hour special, Rick Steves travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. He traces fascism’s history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to

In his latest travelogue, Rick Steves journeys to Iran in the hopes of getting to know this ancient country -- a leader in its corner of the world for 2,500 years -- and to better understand the 70 million people living there. Shot in Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, Persepolis and

After Rome fell, Europe spent a thousand years in its Middle Ages. Its art shows how the light of civilization flickered in monasteries and on Europe’s fringes: Christian Byzantium, Moorish Spain, and pagan Vikings. Then, around A.D. 1000, Europe rebounded. The High Middle Ages brought majestic castles, radiant

Join Rick Steves on an alpine adventure, with scenic train rides, breathtaking lifts, majestic glaciers, and unforgettable hikes. We conquer the Dolomites in Italy and the Zugspitze in Austria. In Switzerland, we savor the beauty of the Matterhorn, the Jungfrau, and Appenzell. And in France, starting from Chamonix, we ride

Rick Steves explores five of Germany's most important cities: Hamburg, Dresden, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Nürnberg. From Baroque palaces to stunning modern skyscrapers, and from riverside promenades to rowdy beer halls, these cities are wonderful places to explore the country's fascinating culture.