Thu, Nov 22, 2012
Michael Portillo travels by rail throughout Continental Europe. This episode offers beautiful views along the Rhine and also shows various cities in the area including Colonge and Koblenz. He carries with him the Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide book from 1913 and compares photos of then versus the reality of today.
Sun, Oct 27, 2013
Michael Portillo travels to Spain, the country his father fled during the bloody civil war. He starts in the centrally located capital Madrid, Europe's highest and until a century ago uneasily accessed, focusing on the monument for a Spanish king's tragically bombed wedding to an English princess. Then he takes the super fast train to Andalusia, first stop Moorish marvel Cordoba. Next Seville, where he bought a house, and Jerez, which gave its name to the region's white wine sherry, and mountain citadel city Ronda. Finally to Alegeciras, port gateway to Morocco, and British enclave Gibraltar.
Fri, Oct 30, 2015
Michael does part of the Italian Grand Tour, the precursor of Victorian 'mass' tourism, along Italian art cities. He starts in port city Pisa, discussing the leaning campanile. With a side-trip to Carrara, where unsurpassed marble for statues is cut, he heads for the highlight, Tuscan capital Firenze (Florence), with particular attention for the effects of its short-lived status as Italian royal capital between the Piemontese dynasty's Turin and eternal, imperial and papal Rome. Finally off to the ultimate holiday region of the grand lakes, at Lake Garda.
Sun, Nov 17, 2013
Michael travels to Scandinavia, the former Vikings home countries, once controlled by mighty Danish kings, now divided in three modest, pacific nation realms, yet tied by dynastic alliances with each-other, Britain and other European great powers. He starts in the Danish capital Copenhagen, also home of fairy tale champion Hans Christian Anderson i the grand old Tivoli amusement park, a well-preserved continental pioneer. By monumental bridge to Malmö, in Sweden, and the grand cathedral of Lund, once the Northern European archiepiscopal see, and the great port of Göteborg, also a major industrial center, home of companies like Volvo and great immigrant communities, firstly Scots like Michael's mother, whose traditional dances he partakes in. Past falls turned into a pioneer hydro-electricity plant and picnic-ideal countryside to the Norwegian capital Oslo, enjoying a ski jump-akin slide ride.
Sun, Nov 3, 2013
Michael Portillo starts his train trip trough northern Italy in Turin, capital of Piedmont and the first years of its king's newly united realm, Italy minus Rome, and home of Fiat. Next Milan, capital of Lombardy and fashion. Then lake Como, the most touristic and idyllic stop on the early British traveler's grand tour. Finally splendid Venice, home to unique monuments and the modern Biennale.