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Rick Steves’ Europe: Art of the Roman Empire

Season 12 Episode 1204 | 28m 23s

With its vast empire, ancient Rome gave Europe its first common culture. From England to Turkey, we explore the greatest Roman cities, marveling at their over-the-top art, soaring aqueducts, and crowd-pleasing theaters. As Rome fell, saints replaced Caesars and Christianity filled the vacuum with art-filled churches—preserving the grandeur of imperial Rome and inspiring the Europe to come.

Aired: 09/30/23
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
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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.
Soaring Gothic cathedrals of radiant stained glass, plus art celebrating worldly pleasure.
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.