Tuscany is named after the Etruscan people who lived here centuries before the region was conquered by ancient Rome. Over 2500 years ago, long before anybody had heard of Julius Caesar, and back when Rome was just a small town, the Etruscan civilization flourished in this part of Italy. What little we know about the Etruscans we've learned mostly from their fresco-covered tombs. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating sta...
Apr 25, 2007•2 min
Arguably Britain's most rugged and beautiful area, Snowdonia National Park is nature at its wild and Welsh Best. Britain's second largest park, with over 800 square miles of pristine hiking country, and a dozen of its highest peaks, is one of Wales' scenic wonders. Each year, half a million people scale Mt. Snowdon, the park's centerpiece and tallest mountain in England or Wales. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating st...
Apr 18, 2007•2 min
Serious connoisseurs of the Scottish spirit will want to pop into Cadenheads Whisky Shop. Founded in 1842, Cadenheads prides itself on bottling fine whisky from casks straight from the best distilleries without all the compromises that come with more profitable mass production. 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.
Apr 11, 2007•2 min
Vienna's parks have been filled with the sound of music for centuries. In the late 1800s, Johann Strauss, the waltz king himself, directed wildly popular concerts. Today, the tradition continues to the delight of music lovers from around the world. 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.
Apr 04, 2007•1 min
While there are many evocative cemeteries in Europe, this one, with its emotional portrayals of the departed and their heavenly escorts in the melodramatic art styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is in a class by itself. It’s a vast garden art gallery of proud busts and grim reapers, heart-broken angels and weeping widows, soldiers too young to die, acres of grief, hope and memories. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scrip...
Mar 28, 2007•1 min
Famous for its colorful ceramics and gleaming cathedral, Orvieto, Umbria's grand hill town, sits majestically high above the valley floor on a big chunk of volcanic stone. The cathedral's lively façade and mass of mosaics houses the Chapel of St. Brizio — Orvieto's must-see artistic site. Inside the chapel, Luca Signorelli's frescoes of the apocalypse depict events at the end of the world and reflect the turbulent atmosphere of Italy in the late 1400s. For more information on the Rick Steves' Eu...
Mar 21, 2007•4 min
York offers a fascinating collection of great sites mixed with an easy-going pedestrian ambience all lassoed within its formidable wall. Its rich history goes back to ancient Roman times when York was a provincial capital, the northernmost city in the Empire. 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.
Mar 14, 2007•5 min
Constructed in the early 1600's, Salzburg's cathedral was one of the first grand Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Immersed in pure Baroque grandeur, visitors experience harmonious art and architecture while taking in a Mozart Mass. 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.
Mar 07, 2007•1 min
Life in Pompeii stopped in its tracks in 79 a.d. when the thriving city was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Today, excavations of this once booming city offer the best look anywhere at ancient Rome and remains of homes give a glimpse into Roman lifestyles. 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.
Feb 28, 2007•5 min
Many people visit Liverpool just to remember John, Paul, George and Ringo, but Liverpool is a surprisingly enjoyable city. It's an interesting stop both for Beatles fans and for those who like to look urban Britain straight in the eye. 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.
Feb 21, 2007•3 min
Epitome of Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci spent some of his most productive years in Milan, enjoying the patronage of the Sforza family. In fact, Leonardo is identified with Milan more than any other Italian city, and contributed to Milan's reputation for design and aesthetics. 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.
Feb 14, 2007•4 min
It's no surprise that Seville is famous for letting loose in vibrant festivals, and no festival is bigger than the one celebrated in April. Much of Seville is packed into the vast fairgrounds for this spontaneous, real, and friendly fair where the Andalusian passion for horses, flamenco and sherry is clear. 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...
Feb 07, 2007•2 min
Krakow emerged from WWII virtually unscathed. As a result, today the city is Poland's leading tourist attraction, with plenty of top notch sights. From its gasp-worthy public spaces, to Cloth Hall, and Wawel, travelers find plenty to see and do in this beautiful city. 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.
Jan 31, 2007•4 min
The south bank of the Thames thrives with restaurants, condos, and cultural centers, all tied together by the Jubilee Promenade. From St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern Museum, the millennium bridge connects the city of London with the south bank of the Thames, bridging old and new, traditional and modern. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.rickst...
Jan 24, 2007•3 min
For organ lovers, a visit to St. Sulpice in Paris is a pilgrimage. On Sunday mornings, the magnificent organ thrills tourists and locals alike. After mass, organ enthusiasts can step into a world of 7,000 pipes and meet Daniel Roth, the current organist. 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.
Jan 17, 2007•2 min
Students, office workers, and families alike enjoy a sunny break from everyday life in Munich's 200 year old English Garden. Sprawling over three miles through the city, it's the largest urban park on the continent. In August, surf's up where the stream enters the park, and sunbathers enjoy their own private bank. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ric...
Jan 10, 2007•2 min
While England is sprinkled with stone circles, the megalithic playground at Avebury gives travelers a truly hands-on experience. Unlike Stonehenge, which is roped off and only viewable at a distance, Averbury is 16 times larger than its better known counterpart, and welcomes kids, sheep, and anyone else interested a chance to interact with this engineering marvel. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel i...
Jan 03, 2007•1 min
Dingle peninsula, dotted with more than 2,000 monuments dating back to 4000 b.c., sorts out some of Ireland's ancient and complex history. The soil, itself, reveals the struggles of the Irish people, where, patch by patch, they created fertile fields for potatoes. In 1845 they planted, but blight swept across the land and nothing grew. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations an...
Dec 27, 2006•4 min
Milk cows spend their summers munching wild herbs and flowers in the high meadows; their milk destined to become the treasured Alp cheese, or Alp Kase. Alpine farms welcome travelers for a peek at the cheese making action and each village takes pride in its own cheese. 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.
Dec 20, 2006•3 min
Palermo, Sicily's main city and historic capital, comes with a whiff of Arabia. With the 9th century Arab conquests, Palermo soon had 200,000 people, 300 mosques, and several busy markets. Today, the beat of bootleg CDs at the Ballaro market competes with singing salesmen. Whether you understand the lyrics or not, this slice of life Sicilian market action is some of the best in Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participat...
Dec 06, 2006•4 min
Imagine, it's 500 A.D., Rome has been sacked, the land is crawling with barbarians, and the infrastructure of Rome's thousand year empire is crumbling fast. Into this chaotic world comes the emperor of the East, Justinian, bringing stability and order, briefly reassembling the empire, and making Ravenna a beacon of civilization. During this time of transition, Ravenna also begins to make its mark on the art world, blending ancient roman and the first medieval styles and perfecting the craft of m...
Nov 22, 2006•4 min
In Nazare, locals renting spare rooms clamor for business. Women camp out at the bus station and the road into town waving signs advertising rooms for rent in five languages hoping to snare arriving tourists. From quartos to barnacles, Rick discovers what makes this Portuguese fishing town so alluring and a definite Back Door destination. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations...
Nov 15, 2006•4 min
While Bulgaria welcomes westernization, traditional ways persist. From time-warped villages and donkey carts, to the formidable fortress and spiritual sanctuary of Rila monastery, locals are quick to share a smile as Rick travels the countryside in search of Bulgaria's back doors. 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.
Nov 08, 2006•5 min
The beauty of the highlands is powerfully felt in Scotland's vast Rannoch Moor. In this windy expanse, bagpiping feels right at home. Along the road to Glencoe, pipers play for tips — and sometimes give impromptu lessons to adventurous travelers. See how Rick handles the pipes for the first time, on camera. 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...
Nov 01, 2006•3 min
After 16 years and more than 100 travel shows, Rick takes you behind the scenes to show just how they produce this series. Join the crew as they scamper through Milan, and follow the creative process as the challenges and surprises that come with travel are shaped into a finished show. 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.
Oct 25, 2006•3 min
Salzburg is a world-class destination for live music, with over 2,000 performances bringing life to its churches and palaces year-round. Join us in the opulent Mirabell Palace for Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, performed with gusto by a string quartet visiting from Russia. Then, we'll take a train and boat to the lovely lakeside town of Hallstatt. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinatio...
Oct 18, 2006•3 min
When Italy erupted in chaos after the fall of Rome, people moved to the high ground to escape the marauding barbarians of that dark age. Over time, hill towns such as Siena, Assisi, Volterra and San Marino were fortified and functioned as independent city states. Weakened by plague centuries later, Italy's hill towns became backwaters, stuck in the middle ages — which makes them fascinating for travelers today. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descrip...
Oct 04, 2006•2 min
When travel dreams take people to Italy, Tuscany is often their first stop. There's something almost seductively charming about this region and its rustic good living. We'll experience two classic examples of "la dolce vita" (the sweet life): joining an early-morning truffle hunt through an oak forest, and tasting the bounty of a small-town artichoke festival. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel infor...
Sep 27, 2006•3 min
While it's overlooked by many travelers to Italy, Milan has lots to see, and is a joy to visit. After you've taken in the city's renaissance art treasures, people-watch in Milan's high-fashion shopping zone to see Italy's 21st century prosperity on parade. An hour away by train is Lake Como, Rick's favorite of Italy's northern lakes, with the best mix of accessibility, scenery, offbeat-ness — and a heady whiff of aristocratic romance. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — i...
Sep 20, 2006•3 min
Just south of Naples you'll find one of Italy's most beautiful slices of scenery: the Amalfi coastline. To take it all in, you'll want to follow the coast road…and let someone else do the driving. 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.
Sep 13, 2006•4 min
