Rick Steves's Blog, page 10

Need a break from the headlines? Spend a few moments lingering over this beautiful painting of a couple in love.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light on our lives today. Here’s one of my favorites.

A couple kneels on the edge...

One thing I miss about traveling in Europe is stepping into a gorgeous space slathered with fine art. And the Scrovegni Chapel, in the Italian town of Padua, is one of my favorite lesser-known examples.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can s...

The grotesque, in-your-face style of the painter Caravaggio feels fitting in our time of crisis. Here’s a close look at one of his most iconic works.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light on our lives today. Here’s one of my fa...

Rising up from the teeming heart of modern Athens, this gleaming temple shines from the top of the Acropolis hill like a beacon…a beacon of civilization.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light on our lives today. Here’s one of m...

Let the Rick Steves Guides’ Marketplace bring a little Europe to you!

As long as the COVID-19 crisis continues, travelers have no way to enjoy Europe in person and our Europe tour guides have no income. But our guides are wonderful teachers, bursting with energy and information to share.

This little market square is designed to connect our guides with our homebound travelers, sharing their creative projects with everyone who’s hungry for “travel experiences” — even if they’re just virtual for th...

The most famous piece of Egyptian art in Europe is this 3,000-year-old bust of a Queen of Egypt named Nefertiti.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light on our lives today. Here’s one of my favorites.

Nefertiti has all the right...

Islam, which is practiced by a quarter of humanity, is the fastest-growing religion on earth. Any well-educated person should understand the Muslim faith. That’s why, when an email hit my inbox suggesting that I watch this video, I decided to give it a few minutes. I could not stop watching. It’s a simple and straightforward lecture by a caring person who has done a masterful job of explaining Islam in 75 minutes.

This video was produced by Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. It ...

I can’t help but see world events through the lens of Europe. And with all of the turmoil in our world recently, I keep flashing on a universal image of anguish: Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light ...

The sight of mass protests — people striving for change and the betterment of society — always gets me thinking about Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People. While the specifics are different, both this painting and the current Black Lives Matter movement are united by a striving for justice and liberty for all citizens…not just the privileged and elite. And both show how people from all walks of society can be united in one voice.

Lady Liberty, carrying the French flag, represents the ongoing s...

The protests of the last two weeks have been fueled by visibility and exposure: Cell phone footage, social media, and TV news have documented and broadcasted both the spirit of the protesters, and, at times, the violence they are met with. If it weren’t for this, many people still wouldn’t grasp the severity of what the protests are all about.

This got me thinking about popular cries for justice before photography and modern media. Artists and writers courageously raised their brushes and pens f...