Rick Steves' Europe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Temples like the Parthenon, gracing the mighty Acropolis overlooking Athens, and the Temple of Concordia on Sicily — with their fluted columns, finely carved reliefs, and impressive design — trumpet the sophistication of ancient Greek society.

The great temples of ancient Egypt are where, 4,000 years ago, priests and pharaohs huddled privately with the gods. At the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, with its towering pillars and obelisks, fine carved reliefs, and aura of mystery, you get an appreciation of the sophistication of that ancient

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Rick luxuriates in a relaxing sailboat cruise.

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

Ramallah — de facto capital of Palestine — is filled with a youthful, positive energy.

In the Cinque Terre, we visit the pint-sized resort of Monterosso

Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv enjoys its in-love-with-life Mediterranean beaches and cuisine.

Turkey's remote Güzelyurt is a harmony of cultures, history, architecture, and religions.

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

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

Rick travels throughout the Continent celebrating the top 10 festivals

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

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

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

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

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.