italy

A cruise down "main street."  
     Venice — a city built on an island and laced with canals — is best seen by boat. So take a nautical joyride, down the Grand Canal as it snakes through the heart of Venice, and see what makes this city so unique. On this 45-minute trip by public vaporetto — from the train station to St. Mark's Square — we'll pass by once-grand, now fading palaces from Venice's glory days. We'll sail under bridges, including the famous arch of the Rialto Bridge, and see churches with soaring domes and markets with stinky squid. We'll share the road with the everyday working boats that keep this island city going. Most of all, we'll get a first-hand, sea-level view of the greatest sight in all of Venice — the city itself. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
     Sightseeing nitty gritty: "Admission" to the Grand Canal costs €6.50 for a 60-minute vaporetto ticket. Before buying that ticket, consider whether a boat pass might be more economical. Some enjoy taking this tour twice, once in either direction, to get the most out of it. You'll enjoy the best light and the fewest crowds by riding late in the day. Sunset bathes the buildings in gold. After dark, chandeliers light up building interiors. "Rush hour" in the direction of this tour (heading toward San Marco) is morning, when local workers and tourists staying on the mainland commute into town. In the evening, the crowds head home and you'll find boats going toward San Marco relatively empty. Boats run every 10 minutes. When catching your boat, confirm that you're on a "San Marco via Rialto" boat (some boats finish at the Rialto Bridge). The front of the boat (in the open air) gives the best views for this tour.
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. Updated in 2023. Originally excerpted from Rick Steves' Venice 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Venice: Grand Canal Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Two tour guides to Rome join Rick to discuss the history and artistry of the greatest church in Christendom. For more info on traveling in Europe, see www.ricksteves.com.

Visiting St. Peter's Basilica - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Ancient domed temple.
     If your imagination is fried from trying to reconstruct ancient buildings out of today's rubble, visit the Pantheon, Rome's best-preserved monument. This domed temple, more than any other building, gives us a feel for the magnificence and grandeur of Rome at its peak. Engineers still admire how the Romans built such a mathematically precise structure without computers, fossil fuel-run machinery, or electricity. On this half-hour visit, we'll marvel at the magnificent dome, learn how it was built, see where Romans paid homage to their pagan gods, and visit the tombs of some famous people buried here. Finally, we'll stand under the Pantheon's solemn dome and gain a new appreciation for the enlightenment of these ancient people. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: Admission is free. The Pantheon is open Mon–Sat 8:30–19:30, Sun 9:00–18:00, holidays 9:00–13:00, closed for Mass Sat at 17:00 and Sun at 10:30. To reach the Pantheon neighborhood, you can walk (20 minutes from Capitol Hill or 5 minutes from Piazza Navona), or take a taxi or bus (e.g. #64 and #40) to the square called Largo Argentina located a few blocks south of the Pantheon. Photos allowed, even with flash. The nearest WCs are at neighborhood cafes, including downstairs in the McDonald's on the Pantheon's square.
     The Pantheon neighborhood is well worth exploring, with historic churches, restaurants, Piazza Navona, and not far from the Trevi Fountain. The area is especially atmospheric at night.
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This was excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Rome: Pantheon Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Colossal gladiator arena.
     When we think of ancient Rome, we think of Caesars, gladiators, lions and Christians, thumbs-up, thumbs-down....and of the Colosseum, Rome's most enduring monument. As we tour the Colosseum inside and out, we'll stand where the emperors did, and catch the view from the nose-bleed seats. We'll talk about how this massive structure was built, and explore some of the Colosseum's surrounding. We'll also get a peek backstage at the gladiator games, where trained warriors squared off "mano y mano" in a battle to the death. Allow about an hour to see the Colosseum and experience the grandeur that was Rome. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: There are often long lines to buy tickets to the Colosseum, so consult my guidebook about how to maximize your sightseeing time. The Colosseum's cost of €12 is part of a combo-ticket that also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It's also covered by the Roma Pass. Hours: The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are all open daily 8:30 until one hour before sunset: April–Sept until 19:15, Oct until 18:30, off-season closes as early as 16:30; last entry one hour before closing. Tel. 06-3996-7700. The Colosseo Metro stop on line B is just across the street from the monument. 
     Avoid ticket-buying lines by buying your combo-ticket at the less-crowded Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio (facing the Forum, with Colosseum at your back, go left down the street). Or buy and print your combo-ticket online (€1.50 booking fee, www.ticketclic.it, same-day only). Or buy a Roma Sightseeing Pass (€23) at the "tabacchi" shop in the Colosseo Metro station, at the entrance to Palatine Hill, or at the entrance to the Roman Forum. Around the Colosseum, be on guard for pickpockets and the goofy gladiators who pose for pictures, then aggressively demand money. Tiny, crowded WCs are inside; the better, bigger, and cleaner WC is behind the Colosseum (facing ticket entrance, go right; WC is under stairway).
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This was excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Rome: Colosseum Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Art history expert William Wallace joins Rick to discuss the early influences Michelangelo had in his hometown of Florence, and what you can still see of it today. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Michelangelo in Florence - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Guide Pål Bjarne Johansen explains how Norway prioritizes its oil-industry revenues to support robust social benefits and infrastructure.

Norway's Prosperity

Guide Curtis Rojak describes how Oslo's harborfront is a popular place to enjoy the city's art, culture, scenery, food, and even saunas.

Oslo Harborfront

Spain tour guides Federico Garcia Barroso and Amanda Buttinger chat about Spain's tapas bars and share some of their favorite bites.

Tapas in Spain

Tour guide Don Chmura extols the stunning scenery and enduring culture of Switzerland's Berner Oberland.

Breathtaking Berner Oberland

Two English tour guides explain what Brits mean by a "rough and ready" pub and how to find some of the UK's best pub grub. Then a father-and-son tour-guiding duo invite us to fall in love with their favorite corner of France. And BBC journalist Eliot Stein shares insights from his travels in search of the world's oldest disappearing traditions, giving us a peek into what it's like to be the last to carry a cultural torch.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves — including episode descriptions, program archives and related details — visit www.ricksteves.com.

783 British Pubs; Why I Love Brittany; Custodians of Wonder

Look at what's behind Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations around the world by learning about the festive season's origins and customs in Germany's Rhineland. Then hear what's been added to the World Monuments Fund's latest "watch list" of endangered cultural sites around the world. And get recommendations for must-see experiences in Alaska, along with tips for planning adventures across the Last Frontier.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves — including episode descriptions, program archives and related details — visit www.ricksteves.com.

784 Rhineland Karneval; WMF 2025 Watch List; Top Alaska Experiences

A tour guide from Greece delves into the importance of food, family, and traditions in his homeland. Then a Francophile offers advice on how to take on the vast collection of the world's largest — and arguably greatest — museum. And guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt shares discoveries from his travels in the Balkans, an affordable and rewarding alternative to the tourist crowds of western Europe.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves — including episode descriptions, program archives and related details — visit www.ricksteves.com.

786 Greek Passions; In Love with the Louvre; Balkan Discoveries

Hear from tour guides about Spain's robust high-speed rail network and all the places it can take you. Then hit the road vicariously with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof for a taste of life as a foreign correspondent. And take a closer look at the surprising and fascinating ways in which borders have shaped our world.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves — including episode descriptions, program archives and related details — visit www.ricksteves.com.

788 Spain by Train; Foreign Correspondent; The Lines on Our Maps

<p>Scottish tour guides tell us about the most famous castles in a country that's brimming with the imposing structures. Then a Santiago-based American travel writer embarks on a 1,200-mile odyssey through one of the driest places on earth &mdash; Chile's Atacama Desert &mdash; as he searches for a deeper understanding of his adopted homeland. And listeners call in to share stories and find inspiration for their next travel adventures.</p>
 For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

791 Scottish Castles; Mars on Earth; Checking In

English tour guides share their enthusiasm for enjoying the riot of color and inspiration you'll find in England's best country gardens. Then author Catie Marron explains how she designed and planted a garden as a way to feel a sense of belonging in her new home. And physicist Alan Lightman explains why it's healthy to give yourself a little unstructured time every day just for goofing off.</p> For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Venice: Grand Canal Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)

Rick Steves Audio Europe

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