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Travel through time to the golden ages of 12 of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities. In 24 lessons that use extensive location footage, viewers will discover the sights, sounds, and smells of teeming markets and mercantile centers, royal feasts and ritual, dramatic military engagements, magnificent religious pageantry, and the many colorful layers of daily medieval life.

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1. The Medieval City - A Feast for the Senses

30m

Begin with an immersion into the sights, sounds, and smells of the medieval city. Explore the rich sensory details of markets, monasteries, churches, and religious and civic events. Learn about life in the townhouses of the rich, the tenements of the poor, and the diverse daily activities of medieval societies.

2. Rothenburg - Jewel on the Romantic Road

30m

In this beautifully preserved German medieval city, explore the imposing mansions of the city's former elite, the grand fountains, and the market square with its remarkable gothic Town Hall. Also visit St. Jakob's Church, a treasury of medieval and early Renaissance art, and walk the powerful bastions of the city walls.

3. Mdina - The Silent City

30m

Discover Malta's Mdina through the history of the legendary Knights of Malta, who ruled the island for nearly 300 years. Visit the great palaces of the knights and Maltese nobility, with their striking Gothic and classical architecture, and the sumptuous cathedral, and find the city's medieval atmosphere in the winding Moorish streets.

4. Mdina and Rabat - In the Steps of St. Paul

30m

Learn about the Roman history of Malta and St. Paul's internment on the island. In Rabat, experience key sites such as the splendid Roman villa, the Grotto of St. Paul, and the remarkable catacombs where Christians sought refuge. Visit rich gardens and palaces, and study the historical events of the Great Siege of 1565.

5. Palermo - A Mosaic of Cultures

30m

The sumptuous interiors of the Norman Palace are the entry point to Palermo and its rich multicultural history. Grasp Norman Sicily's historical role as the richest and best-governed state in the West. Explore the complex architecture of the city's churches, cathedral, and Palazzo Abatellis, and the cosmopolitan past of the seaport.

6. Palermo - Celebrating Throne and Altar

30m

Visit the most magnificent of the city's medieval palaces, the Palazzo Chiaramonte. Learn about the eras of German, French, and Spanish rule, and explore the Zisa Castle, richly decorated churches, and the Norman summer palace. Finally, ascend Monreale, overlooking Palermo, to enjoy the finest Norman ecclesiastical architecture in the world.

7. York - Wool and Prayer

30m

In the living museum of York, stop first at the romantic ruins of the abbey of St. Mary's, the Abbot's palace, and York Minster cathedral with its stunning stained glass and splendorous interiors. Savor the atmosphere of York's old historical center, the streets of the butchers and printers, and the still-inhabited 14th-century houses.

8. York - Vikings and Merchants

30m

Taste medieval life in York's 'ginnels,' narrow passageways offering shortcuts through the town, and in the Barley Hall mansion and Merchant Adventurers' Hall, with their views into the lives of wealthy citizens. Delve into the Viking and Norman history of York, and the latter era's dark side in its treatment of Jews.

9. Avignon - The Babylonian Captivity

30m

Traveling now to France, contemplate the unusual history of Avignon as the 14th-century seat of the papacy, an era that created the medieval city that is seen today. Visit the extensive circuit of medieval walls, the great Romanesque cathedral with its splendid papal tombs, and the imposing buildings of the Palace Square.

10. Avignon - Papal Splendor

30m

Continue with an in-depth visit to Avignon's Palace of the Popes, one of the most elaborate and luxurious palaces of the Middle Ages, highlighting the sumptuous private apartments and the settings of dazzling papal ceremonies. Also learn about Avignon's Jewish history, and walk the evocative, cobbled medieval streets.

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Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Kenneth BartlettActor

Great Tours: Experiencing Medieval Europe

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