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Back to: Rick Steves Europe
Art of the Renaissance
April 01, 2023
Around 1400, Europe rediscovered the aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome. This rebirth of classical culture showed itself in the statues, paintings, and architecture of Florence, then spread to Spain, Holland, Germany, and beyond. The Renaissance—from art-loving popes to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David—celebrated humanism and revolutionized how we think about our world.
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Iceland
August 11, 2024
Iceland's capital, Reykjavík; the Golden Circle's geysers and waterfalls; the Ring Road.
Mighty Alps
February 23, 2024
Join Rick Steves on an alpine adventure, from Italy to Austria to Switzerland to France.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Early Middle Ages
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Early Europeans produce diverse art: from Christians to Muslims and Byzantines to Vikings....
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the High Middle Ages
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Soaring Gothic cathedrals of radiant stained glass, plus art celebrating worldly pleasure....
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of Prehistoric Europe
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We marvel at Stone Age cave paintings, mighty megaliths, and mysterious goddesses.
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of Ancient Greece
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Greece’s timeless art: Golden Age temples, alluring Venuses, and exuberant Winged Victory....
Rick Steves' Europe: Ancient Roman Art
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Rome’s rise, as seen in its supersized monuments, colorful mosaics, and marble Caesars.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Roman Empire
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The grand cities of ancient Rome’s vast empire and majestic churches of its fall.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the 20th Century
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The turbulent century and its rule-breaking art—Picasso, Surrealism and edgy architecture....
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Florentine Renaissance
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Florence’s bold “rebirth” is powered by the genius of Leonardo, Rafael, and Michelangelo....
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence
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From Portugal to Germany, booming economies and new technologies produce exquisite art.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Baroque Art
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We marvel at Baroque’s over-the-top churches, palaces, bubbly fountains, and theatric art....
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Neoclassical Age
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Roaming Europe, we admire stately Neoclassical buildings and dramatic Romantic paintings.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Impressionists and Beyond
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Shimmering Impressionist canvases by Monet and Renoir, plus Van Gogh, Gauguin and more.
Art of the Middle Ages
April 1, 2023
Art of Europe’s “Age of Faith”: Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine, Moorish, and even Viking....
Art of the Baroque Age
April 1, 2023
Bubbly Baroque art and austere Neoclassicism; divine kings, Revolution, and Napoleon.
Art of Ancient Rome
April 1, 2023
The rise and fall of Rome through its architecture and art (statues, mosaics, frescoes).
Art of the Modern Age
April 1, 2023
Romanticism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau; Cubism (Picasso) and Surrealism (Dalí).
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