Naples is Italy in the extreme, If you enjoy Italy as far south as Rome, go further south — it gets even better. A tangled mess of a city, Naples still manages to breathe, laugh, and sing, with a captivating Italian accent. We'll wander through the city's colorful, narrow streets, then climb up to the steamy crater of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations...
Sep 06, 2006•4 min
Wales must have more castles per square mile than any other place in Europe. However, the lion's share were not built by the Welsh, but by English invaders. In the fortified castle town of Conwy, we learn from a local expert how these castles were carefully engineered to discourage and withstand Welsh rebellions. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.rick...
Aug 30, 2006•4 min
Most travelers visit the West of Turkey. But the rural East offers friendly glimpses into lifestyles and traditions that go back centuries. Harvested hay is still piled atop roofs for the winter, cow pies are stacked for fuel, donkeys pull buckboard wagons, and ducks seem to wander everywhere. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Aug 23, 2006•3 min
England's South Downs Way offers a classic hike along cliff tops, over meadows, and through charming villages. Considered a birthright by local hiking enthusiasts, the public right of way is reinforced every year by a "mass trespass" across privately held lands. Small, friendly pubs along the way keep walkers properly hydrated and up-to-speed on the local lore. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel info...
Aug 16, 2006•4 min
Wherever you travel in Europe, a local guide, like Kinsale's Don Herlihy, can bring the region's history to life. In 1601, Irish patriots, chafing under English rule, conspired with the Spanish fleet to drive the English out. In a dramatic battle around the port of Kinsale, the Irish and Spanish were routed, and Ireland would be denied its independence for three centuries. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations,...
Aug 02, 2006•4 min
Rick stays at a farmhouse B and B in Tuscany's hilly Crete Senese country, where generations of the same family have celebrated "the sweet life" with locally-produced pecorino cheese, prosciutto ham, and Chianti wine. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Jul 26, 2006•3 min
Meandering 300 miles from its source in France to where it merges with the Rhine in Germany, the relaxing Mosel treats travelers to quaint villages, hill-hugging vineyards and towering castles. The town of Cochem makes a good home-base for day-tripping along the river and over the hill to magnificent Burg Eltz castle. Decorated and furnished as it was 500 years ago, this is Rick's favorite castle in all of Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode desc...
Jul 19, 2006•4 min
A trip to the downtown post office in Dublin offers travelers a chance to step into a dramatic chapter in Ireland's history. As a set of murals inside vividly explains, it was here that the Proclamation of Irish Independence was first read in 1916, leading to the failed Easter Rising, and the martyrdom of its leaders. Nearby, at the former prison and execution yard of Kilmainham Gaol, today's guided tours bring the life-and-death drama of that era into sharp focus. For more information on the Ri...
Jul 05, 2006•3 min
Old Edinburgh's Royal Mile — a dense tangle of historic buildings, quaint shops and fun museums — winds its way downhill from the medieval castle to Holyrood Palace. During the city's 17th century boom times, ten-storey skyscrapers blotted out the sun while workers toiled in darkness. Today, Edinburgh's striking new parliament building celebrates Scotland's independence from London, and its progressive outlook on the future. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including e...
Jun 07, 2006•3 min
In the town of Bath, we'll visit the social center of that community 2,000 years ago — its elegant Roman bath. Then, after a relaxing break in a local park, we'll drift along an old canal, complete with still-functioning self-service locks. Built for commerce in the early 1800s, today these canals are popular for pleasure boaters,and the canal-side paths invite bikers, dog-walkers and sightseers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts,...
Jun 01, 2006•4 min
