Rick Steves' Europe

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.

Egypt is rich in towering pyramids, lavish tombs hidden deep in hillsides, and glorious art treasures that filled those tombs. Thanks to the ancient Egyptian belief that you could take it with you, the wonders of this society survive and take us back four or five thousand years.

Societies from the Stone Age and into the metal ages created figurines that indicated a concern for the mysteries of life — fertility, birth, death, and what lies beyond. Bodies and artifacts discovered in bogs and tombs from Ireland to Denmark offer a peek into these people’s lives and deaths.

Thousands of years before Christ — and long before the pyramids of Egypt — mysterious societies in Europe built necropoli and tombs. In remote corners like Ireland and the isle of Orkney, they line up with the sun and indicate a kind of religion and a concern for the afterlife.

Thousands of years ago nomadic hunter-gatherers of the megalithic age built with huge stones, including ingeniously designed stone circles, like those at England’s famous Stonehenge and Avebury, that functioned as celestial calendars.

Walking through the caves of Lascaux, under a stampede of 600 impressively painted animals covering its ceiling, we marvel at the artistry and artifacts of people 15,000 years ago.

Around 330 BC Alexander the Great spread Greek culture far and wide. The art of the age traded the calm balance of the Golden Age for more exuberance and realism as seen in statues like the Nike of Samothrace.

Ancient Greek civilization peaked in the 5th century BC. The theaters of that age (with their fine acoustics); the idealized statues of gods and athletes (with their sophisticated contrapposto poses); and guiding principle of balance, nothing in excess — the Golden Mean, make it easy to appreciate that Golden Age.

Columns and their capitals were both functional and decorative. And a quick lesson on their features makes it easy to identify the three orders of ancient Greek architecture: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

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.

We trace the steady evolution of Greek art through its statues: from stiff Archaic to balanced Golden Age to jump-off-the-stage Hellenism.

Painted pottery, the pots and pans of the ancient world, tells the story of the rise of Greek civilization. Over time, that art evolved from the simple stick figures of the Geometric Period to the refined and realistic compositions of the Golden Age.

Around 500 BC, Athens thrived with its stately Acropolis temples, busy market (or agora), and civilization that provided a foundation for European culture that followed. Its surviving art and architecture tell the story.

The Mycenaeans were a warlike people who thrived on the Greek mainland from about 1600 to 1100 BC, leaving mighty fortified walls, awe-inspiring stone-igloo-like tombs, and troves of golden treasures including the legendary Mask of Agamemnon.

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, and pondering artistic genius from Praxiteles to Picasso.

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, and pondering artistic genius from Praxiteles to Picasso.

We stroll along Delft's idyllic canals and markets, and see how its famous Delftware porcelain is made.

Padova’s Scrovegni Chapel, with its precious 14th-century Giotto frescoes, is one of Italy’s most beloved art treasures.

The Berlin Wall Memorial and Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie educate visitors about Berlin's tumultuous 20th century.

It seems every king, queen, and emperor since has loved this palace — Louis XIII was born here, Louis XV was married here — but Fontainebleau has more Napoleon Bonaparte connections than any other palace.