Episodes
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the 20th Century
S12 E1212 - 25m 16s
Europe’s tumultuous 20th century spawned a kaleidoscope of cutting-edge art. From Spain to Hungary, Glasgow to Oslo, we seek out all that’s wild, colorful, surreal, and just plain fun. The fascinating work of Pablo Picasso leads us through the century’s major art styles. And in today’s gleaming cities, we see how a persistent artistic spirit connects us with both our past and an exciting future.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Impressionists and Beyond
S12 E1211 - 25m 17s
The late-1800s saw old notions of beauty challenged by revolutionary artists. We enjoy pioneering Impressionist works—Monet’s lilies, Renoir’s ladies, Degas’ snapshots and Rodin’s statues—that capture the joie de vivre of the age. We trace the tempestuous travels of Van Gogh through his incomparable art. And we finish in Spain, with wild and crazy buildings that herald the dawn of a new century.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Neoclassical Age
S12 E1210 - 25m 18s
Around 1800, Europe was in transition, reflected in two art styles. First, we visit Europe’s great cities with their stately Neoclassical buildings of columns and domes. Meanwhile, the Revolution has unleashed a call for freedom, both political and personal. We see dramatic Romantic canvases depicting extreme emotions and awesome Nature, and tour dreamy castles—virtual theme parks of Romanticism.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Baroque Art
S12 E1209 - 25m 36s
Forged in Europe’s religious struggles, Baroque art inspired the faithful and dazzled the masses. We start in Rome, with its awe-inspiring St. Peter’s, fleshy Bernini statues and bubbly fountains. In Belgium, we see the dramatic canvases of Rubens. And finally: the ultimate Baroque palace, Versailles, with its chandeliered Hall of Mirrors and vast gardens where nobles played as Revolution brewed.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence
S12 E1208 - 25m 39s
From Italy, the Renaissance spread across Europe, revolutionizing art. We travel to Spain and Portugal where overseas plunder is transformed into lacy architecture and ethereal paintings by El Greco. In bustling Germany and Belgium, new technologies enable Durer’s mass-produced engravings, Van Eyck’s meticulous oil paintings, Brueghel’s peasants at play, and the futuristic visions of Bosch.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Florentine Renaissance
S12 E1207 - 25m 18s
After its medieval struggles, Europe rediscovered the art of the ancients, led by booming Florence. We revel in the bold spirit of the Cathedral’s lofty dome and Botticelli’s sweet Venus. Leonardo da Vinci gives us the iconic Last Supper and enigmatic Mona Lisa. And Michelangelo—sculptor of David, painter of the Sistine, and architect of St. Peter’s—takes the Florentine Renaissance to new heights.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the High Middle Ages
S12 E1206 - 25m 36s
As Europe passed A.D. 1000, its growing prosperity was reflected in soaring Gothic cathedrals graced with colorful altarpieces, lacy stonework, and radiant stained glass. We visit luxurious castles to see exquisite tapestries showing a new secular love of worldly pleasures and, end in Italy, where pioneering artists like Giotto were mastering realism and pointing the way to the future of art.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Early Middle Ages
S12 E1205 - 25m 18s
After Rome’s fall, Europe’s Christians kept culture alive with art rooted in their deep faith. We visit sturdy Romanesque churches filled with art that reinforced the ruling order. Meanwhile, Europe was invigorated from the fringes: Byzantines to the East, with their dazzling mosaics; Spanish Muslims with their lush palaces; and fierce Vikings of the North—all part of Europe’s rich cultural stew.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Roman Empire
S12 E1204 - 25m 19s
With its vast empire, ancient Rome gave Europe its first common culture. From England to Turkey, we explore the greatest Roman cities, marveling at their over-the-top art, soaring aqueducts, and crowd-pleasing theaters. As Rome fell, saints replaced Caesars and Christianity filled the vacuum with art-filled churches—preserving the grandeur of imperial Rome and inspiring the Europe to come.
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Rick Steves' Europe: Ancient Roman Art
S12 E1203 - 25m 37s
Follow Rome’s rise through its awe-inspiring art, starting at Rome’s humble birthplace in the Forum. Soon Rome is graced with supersized monuments like the majestic domed Pantheon and the Colosseum, where gladiators battled to the death. We also get a glimpse of Rome’s more intimate side: the colorful mosaics, luxurious frescoes, and realistic portraits of the solid citizens who made Rome great.
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Rick Steves' Europe: Art of Ancient Greece
S12 E1202 - 25m 19s
Ancient Greece laid the foundations of Western art. Traveling from its sun-splashed isles to the rugged mainland to bustling Athens, we trace the rise of Greek culture. We marvel at the timeless Acropolis, perfect Parthenon, and Golden Age theaters. And we watch as art evolves from stiff statues to perfectly balanced Venuses to the exuberant Winged Victory, capturing the spirit of the age.
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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of Prehistoric Europe
S12 E1201 - 25m 18s
As the Ice Age glaciers melted, prehistoric Europe bloomed with surprisingly sophisticated art. From Ireland to France, Scotland to the Greek Isles, we traverse that mystical world of mighty megaliths, torchlit cave paintings, magical goddesses, and wrinkled bog people. We stand in awe as a massive tomb is radiated by a dramatic beam of sunlight and listen to ritual horns that still play today.
Extras + Features
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Haarlem, Netherlands: Herring and Heritage
S8 E810 - 4m 39s
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.
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Berlin, Germany: Trendy Prenzlauer Berg
S8 E812 - 3m 42s
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.
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Verona, Italy: Ambience and a Grappa Taste Test
S8 E808 - 3m 29s
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.
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Prague, Czech Republic: Charles Bridge and a Czech Language
S8 E811 - 2m 37s
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.
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Chartres, France: Pure Gothic Cathedral
S8 E804 - 2m 46s
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 no other church.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands: Coffeeshops and Red Light District
S8 E809 - 2m 44s
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.
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France's Loire: Château Country Preview
S8 E803 - 30s
Along the Loire River Valley, the beautiful French countryside is studded with evocative châteaux. Home-basing in Amboise, we visit four unique castles: elegant Chenonceau, massive Chambord, stately Cheverny, and fragrant Villandry. Along the way, we tour Leonardo's home, feed hunting dogs, enjoy the local cuisine, and savor a princely garden.
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Central Turkey Preview
S8 E802 - 30s
We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. We'll join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.
Schedule
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence
Thursday
May 9
30 Minutes
Lacy architecture and ethereal paintings by El Greco in Spain and Portugal; in Germany and Belgium, technologies enable Durer's mass-produced engravings, Jan van Eyck's oil paintings, Brueghel's peasants at play and the futuristic visions of Bosch. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Siena and Tuscany's Wine Country
Thursday
May 9
30 Minutes
The Palio wild horse race in Siena, Italy; Tuscany's wine country. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Southeast England
Thursday
May 9
30 Minutes
Traveling from Canterbury to Dover; hiking the trails atop the cliffs of the South Downs; seaside resort of Brighton; the naval heritage of Portsmouth includes a collection of historic sailing ships. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Baroque Art
Friday
May 10
30 Minutes
Rome's St. Peter's Basilica, Bernini statues and fountains; dramatic canvases of Rubens in Belgium; the chandeliered Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
West England
Friday
May 10
30 Minutes
Cotswold villages boast churches, manor homes and gastropubs; New Age capital of Glastonbury; prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
England's Cornwall
Friday
May 10
30 Minutes
The Cornish culture in the far southwest of England; tin mining heritage; pirates' towns and fishing villages; Dartmoor National Park. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the Neoclassical and Romantic Ages
Tuesday
May 14
30 Minutes
Europe's Neoclassical buildings of columns and domes; dramatic Romantic paintings depicting extreme emotions and nature; touring castles. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
The Heart of England
Tuesday
May 14
30 Minutes
Kings and prime ministers studied at Oxford and Cambridge universities; Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill; Ironbridge Gorge. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Southeast England
Wednesday
May 15
30 Minutes
Traveling from Canterbury to Dover; hiking the trails atop the cliffs of the South Downs; seaside resort of Brighton; the naval heritage of Portsmouth includes a collection of historic sailing ships. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Lisbon
Wednesday
May 15
30 Minutes
A visit to Lisbon, Portugal, features cod, hot pastries, a stroll of the city's back lanes and fado music; exploring castles of Portuguese royalty in Sintra. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the 20th Century
Thursday
May 16
30 Minutes
The wild, colorful, surreal and fun art of the 20th century, from Spain to Hungary to Glasgow to Oslo; the work of Pablo Picasso. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
England's Cornwall
Thursday
May 16
30 Minutes
The Cornish culture in the far southwest of England; tin mining heritage; pirates' towns and fishing villages; Dartmoor National Park. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Portugal's Heartland
Thursday
May 16
30 Minutes
Dancing on the beach in Nazaré, Portugal; medieval abbey in Batalha; royal library; port wine; exploring Porto, Portugal. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Friday
May 17
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
The Heart of England
Friday
May 17
30 Minutes
Kings and prime ministers studied at Oxford and Cambridge universities; Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill; Ironbridge Gorge. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Travel Skills: Cruising
Friday
May 17
30 Minutes
The ins and outs and pros and cons of cruising, including making smart use of limited time on shore and the congestion and commercialism that comes with mass tourism. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rome: Ancient Glory
Saturday
May 18
30 Minutes
Rome's Colosseum and Pantheon; bike riding along the Appian Way; Roman engineering. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rome: Baroque Brilliance
Tuesday
May 21
30 Minutes
Bernini statues; St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican; Roman dinner; romantic nightspots. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes
Tuesday
May 21
30 Minutes
Three classic Greek getaways -- Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes -- include touring ancient Greek ruins, tracing the vestiges of the Crusades and sampling rustic cuisine. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rome: Back-Street Riches
Wednesday
May 22
30 Minutes
The Trastevere district's historic Jewish Ghetto; churches.
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