A Journey Through Time: Rick Steves' Art of Europe
If you love art, history, and travel, Rick Steves' Art of Europe is an absolute must-watch. Often thought of as a 5-part journey, it is actually a comprehensive 6-part documentary mini-series that traces the entire history of Western art masterpieces.
From prehistoric cave paintings to the rebellious modern art of the 20th century, Rick Steves acts as your personal tour guide through Europe's greatest museums, cathedrals, and palaces. Below is a complete breakdown of each era covered in the series, along with where you can stream them!
Episode Guide & Streaming Links
| Episode | Title & Era | What It Covers | Watch on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Stone Age to Ancient Greece | Explores the birth of European civilization. Covers mysterious prehistoric megaliths, Egyptian pyramids, and the foundation of Western art through incredibly lifelike Ancient Greek statues and temples. | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
| Part 2 | Ancient Rome | Focuses on how the Romans gave Europe its first common culture. Features awe-inspiring Roman engineering, the Colosseum, intricate mosaics, and monumental architecture. | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
| Part 3 | The Middle Ages | Covers the 1,000-year period following the fall of Rome. Highlights illuminated manuscripts, sturdy Romanesque churches, and the towering, light-filled Gothic cathedrals of Northern Europe. | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
| Part 4 | The Renaissance | The cultural rebirth that started in Florence. Celebrates humanism and classical aesthetics through the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci (the Mona Lisa) and Michelangelo (David). | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
| Part 5 | Baroque | The era of divine monarchs and dramatic energy! Tours Rome's St. Peter's Basilica, Bernini's dynamic sculptures, Caravaggio's raw canvases, and the ultimate Baroque monument: the Palace of Versailles. | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
| Part 6 | The Modern Age | Showcases how art changed alongside the Industrial Revolution. Features Impressionism (Monet, Renoir) and rule-breaking modern movements like Cubism (Picasso) and Surrealism (Dalí). | Stream on PBS | Watch on Rick Steves |
Note on Streaming: The PBS links take you to the main show hub. While the PBS app offers the full-length documentary cuts (some episodes may require a PBS Passport membership), Rick Steves' website offers the standard 30-minute TV broadcasts for free!
