Rick Steves' Europe

The Renaissance, a reawakening to the enlightened ways of ancient Greece and Rome, was, for two centuries, an explosion of secular learning, art, and culture. Artists, inspired by the ancients, celebrated a new confidence or humanism.

Bosch’s three-paneled masterpiece takes you on a wild ride from a tranquil Garden of Eden creation scene to a hedonistic central panel to a nightmarish Hell where those earthly delights are swapped for an eternity of appropriate punishments.

Northern artists gave the traditional medieval altarpiece a new level of sophistication. Van der Weyden’s exquisitely detailed Last Judgment is filled with symbolism, while others brought Heaven home to the 1400s here-and-now world of Bruges.

Michelangelo, another multi-talented “Renaissance man” was a world-class sculptor, painter, and architect. He sculpted “David” and the “Pietà,” painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and designed St. Peter’s Basilica. I rest my case.

Raphael combined the grace of Leonardo, the power of Michelangelo, and the humanist spirit of the age. The master of High Renaissance painting, his sweet Madonnas set a new standard and his “School of Athens” brought pre-Christian thinking into the Vatican.

Gothic churches were taller and brighter than the earlier Romanesque. They had a skeleton of support — columns, buttresses, and pointed arches — as can be unforgettably illustrated by building a Gothic church with 13 travelers.

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.

European culture finally kicked into gear in about the year 1000 and mighty Romanesque churches with the finest art of the day were built across the continent. Great examples are in Florence, Pisa, and Durham (where the style was called Norman).

From the chaos and power vacuum that followed the fall of Rome rose feudalism and Europe’s monastic movement. For centuries monasteries were the center of culture and monks were the great artists beautifully illustrating the books they transcribed.

The greatest art of the Middle Ages was Gothic church art: jewel-filled treasuries, statues of saints with the symbols of their martyrdom, Virgin Marys radiant on their heavenly thrones, and frightening images of hell.

Holy relics — often bits of bones or possessions of saints — were the “ruby slippers” of medieval Europe and they were contained in dazzling jeweled vessels. Called reliquaries, these were often masterpieces of art.

Visiting three great Gothic churches (Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, Chartres’ Cathedral, and the York Minster), we see how 800-year-old stained-glass windows were, perhaps, the artistic highlight of the Middle Ages.

In ancient Rome, more than the Colosseum was colossal. Grand statues decorated imposing buildings that stoked massive imperial egos. With bricks, concrete, round arches, cheap or free labor, and emperors who loved to build, Rome built very big.

We’ll visit the studio of a modern-day marble sculptor in Florence.

Rome’s Altar of Peace and the Trophy of the Alps are fine examples of art as propaganda.

Much of the “art and architecture” of ancient Rome could be found in its infrastructure.

The impact Greece had on Rome can be seen clearly in Roman art and architecture.

What we know about the Etruscan civilization, we learned from art found in its tombs.

This villa is paved extravagantly with fine mosaics depicting Rome’s rich and powerful.

Tombs, catacombs, and early Christian art tell the story of Christianity in Rome

Interstitials from Rick Steves showcasing Europe's great art and architecture.

A local guide brings the Roman Forum to life with her vivid description.

Interstitials from Rick Steves showcasing Europe's great art and architecture.

Roman sculptors specialized in ultra-realistic, warts-and-all portrait busts.

The excavated site of Pompeii gives a revealing look at a great Roman city.

The ancient city of Ephesus offers temples, a towering library, and an impressive theater.

Rome declined for centuries after its peak and left monuments to tell the story.

Joyful Minoan frescoes are a testament to the sophistication of that early culture.

The Pantheon gives us a feel for the magnificence of Roman engineering and aesthetics.

Mosaics were a Roman forte, and frescoes often gave an intimate peek at Roman lives.

Artifacts from the Stone Age offer a peek into these people’s lives and deaths.

Egypt’s towering pyramids, lavish tombs hidden in hillsides, and glorious art treasures.

The Parthenon and Temple of Concordia trumpet the sophistication of ancient Greek society.

At the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, appreciate the sophistication of that ancient kingdom.

Ingeniously built stone circles of the megalithic age functioned as celestial calendars.

The painted animals in the caves of Lascaux show the artistry of people 15,000 years ago.

Mysterious societies built necropoli and tombs in remote corners like Ireland and Orkney.

The age of Hellenism traded the calm balance of the Golden Age for exuberance and realism.

Ancient Greek theaters, statues of gods and athletes, and the guiding principle of balance

The Parthenon and Temple of Concordia trumpet the sophistication of ancient Greek society.

A quick lesson makes it easy to identify Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian architecture.

Greek statues: from stiff Archaic to balanced Golden Age to jump-off-the-stage Hellenism

Early art evolved from stick figures to the refined compositions of the Golden Age.

Athens’ surviving art and architecture from 500 BC tells the story of a thriving city.

Mighty fortified walls, awe-inspiring stone tombs, and troves of golden treasures.

Preview our new program on Central Turkey.

Along the Loire River Valley, the French countryside is studded with evocative châteaux.

Rick Steves' Europe visits Western Turkey

Rick luxuriates in a relaxing sailboat cruise.

Laced with tranquil and picturesque canals, Delft would easily win the cuteness contest.

Scrovegni Chapel is covered in remarkable frescoes depicting the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Amsterdam’s creative approach to marijuana use and prostitution: legalize and regulate it.

Chartres' famous cathedral is arguably Europe’s best example of pure Gothic.

In Prague, Rick explores the historic Royal Way and tries to learn a little Czech.

If you like Italy but don't need blockbuster sights, Verona is a joy.

Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg is a classic case of an old workers’ quarter becoming trendy.

Cute and cozy Haarlem is a good place to start a European trip.

In Berlin, we explore museums dedicated to the history of the gone-but-not-forgotten Wall.

Cheverny's château is lavishly furnished but with an intimate feel.

Join Rick Steves for a "best of Poland" special featuring Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk and more.

Join Rick Steves and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on a spectacular musical journey through Europe.

With Europe as our classroom, Rick shares the essential skills for smart, smooth travel.

Iceland's capital, Reykjavík; the Golden Circle's geysers and waterfalls; the Ring Road.

Rick Steves explores the "Eternal City" of Rome in this hour-long travel special.

Rick observes Easter across Europe, from Carnival through Lent to Easter Sunday

Celebrate the Christmas season throughout the European continent.

In this one-hour special, Rick sails from Barcelona to the French Riviera to Rome & Athens.

Rick travels through Ethiopia and Guatemala to learn about extreme poverty.

Rick travels throughout the Continent celebrating the top 10 festivals

RICK STEVES EGYPT: YESTERDAY & TODAY explores the historic and cultural wonders of Egypt.

Romanticism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau; Cubism (Picasso) and Surrealism (Dalí).

Prehistoric cave paintings; Egyptian pyramids and temples; classical Greek statues.

Bubbly Baroque art and austere Neoclassicism; divine kings, Revolution, and Napoleon.

Groundbreaking statues, paintings, and architecture—humanism in Florence and beyond.

The rise and fall of Rome through its architecture and art (statues, mosaics, frescoes).

Rick Steves traces the events of the Protestant Reformation where they happened

Rick Steves travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe

Rick Steves journeys to Iran in the hopes of getting to know this ancient country

Art of Europe’s “Age of Faith”: Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine, Moorish, and even Viking.

Join Rick as he visits Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Costa del Sol, and Gibraltar.

Weaving together the Israeli and Palestinian narratives to better understand the Holy Land,

This special is a sonnet to travel as Rick celebrates the joy of exploring our world.

Travel expert Rick Steves explores five of Germany's most important cities.

Join Rick Steves on an alpine adventure, from Italy to Austria to Switzerland to France.