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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the High Middle Ages

Season 12 Episode 1206 | 25m 36s

As Europe passed A.D. 1000, its growing prosperity was reflected in soaring Gothic cathedrals graced with colorful altarpieces, lacy stonework, and radiant stained glass. We visit luxurious castles to see exquisite tapestries showing a new secular love of worldly pleasures and, end in Italy, where pioneering artists like Giotto were mastering realism and pointing the way to the future of art.

Aired: 09/30/23 | Expires: 01/03/24
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Extra
Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.
Follow ancient humans’ journey into an icy and perilous new land.
Discover how Homo sapiens outlasted Neanderthals – and how they helped make us who we are today.
Follow Homo sapiens as they venture out of Africa and spread farther than any other human species.
Trace the remarkable origin story of Homo sapiens and the crucial moments that shaped our species.
From the Schönbrunn Palace Park, Piotr Beczała performs "Nessun Dorma."
The Vienna Boys Choir performs "The Elves Song" from "The Rhine Nixies."
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Joshua Hopkins, Federica Lombardi, and Olga Kulchynska sing an excerpt from the Act II trio.
Conductor Joana Mallwitz makes her Met debut leading the cast in Mozart’s comic masterpiece.
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Greece’s timeless art: Golden Age temples, alluring Venuses, and exuberant Winged Victory.
Early Europeans produce diverse art: from Christians to Muslims and Byzantines to Vikings.
Roaming Europe, we admire stately Neoclassical buildings and dramatic Romantic paintings.
Shimmering Impressionist canvases by Monet and Renoir, plus Van Gogh, Gauguin and more.
The turbulent century and its rule-breaking art—Picasso, Surrealism and edgy architecture.
Rome’s rise, as seen in its supersized monuments, colorful mosaics, and marble Caesars.
We marvel at Baroque’s over-the-top churches, palaces, bubbly fountains, and theatric art.
From Portugal to Germany, booming economies and new technologies produce exquisite art.
We marvel at Stone Age cave paintings, mighty megaliths, and mysterious goddesses.
Florence’s bold “rebirth” is powered by the genius of Leonardo, Rafael, and Michelangelo.