History's greatest cities

Ever wondered what hidden history hotspots lie within your favourite tourist destinations? This brand new HistoryExtra series explores Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historically significant cities. Travel journalist and history fan Paul Bloomfield virtually roams the streets and sites of a great metropolis in the company of an expert historian guide, delving into each city’s origin myths and uncovering stories of shifting populations, conflict, culture, wealth and weakness. He’ll also visit key sites revealing fascinating insights into the people and events that shaped the modern city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode one of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Rory MacLean for a trip around Berlin. They delve into the city’s origins as a medieval settlement before fast-forwarding through the centuries, exploring theatres, churches and nightclubs, and tracing the infamous wall that divided the city for nearly 30 years. Plus, Rory offers up some top advice for history-loving globetrotters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode two of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega for a tour of Prague. They delve into the long and storied past of the Czech capital, visiting castles, cathedrals, silver mines and beer halls along the way, and offer up some top advice for history-loving travellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode three of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by classicist Dr Shushma Malik for a quick trip round Rome. Together they lead us through the rise, fall and resurgence of the remarkable city, stopping off at awe-inspiring monuments from the Roman Republic, medieval marvels and fascinating modern landmarks. Along the way, Shushma busts myths about the ancient Romans and offers some top advice for history-loving travellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode four of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by author Jules Stewart for a journey around Madrid. They roam the relics of the city’s foundation through to the so-called Reconquista in the 11th century, and consider Madrid’s rise to prominence as the capital of a unified Spain and the turbulent years of the 19th and 20th centuries. Along the way, Jules provides a glimpse of the vibrant city’s magnificent landmarks, and offers up advice for history-loving travellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode five of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Professor Bettany Hughes for a tour of Istanbul. Together they lead us through the streets, mosques, museums, palaces and bazaars of the city, reconstructing the story of this captivating city across the millennia. Along the way, Bettany reveals little-known truths about the character of Istanbul, and offers some top advice for history-loving travellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode six of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Professor Colin Jones for a jaunt around Paris. Together they stroll along boulevards and riverbanks and around the bastions and burial sites of this captivating city, as well as visiting a few places of worship and entertainment along the way. Plus, Colin introduces some of the many characters who influenced Paris over the centuries, and offers some top tips to history-loving travellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most historic cities, Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough leads an expedition through the Norwegian capital’s lengthy history In episode seven of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian, author and broadcaster Dr Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough for a journey around Oslo. Together, they explore the city’s Viking origins, medieval fortifications, modern museums and its scenic hinterland, and meet some of the characters who influenced its evolution. Plus, Eleanor offers up some top advice for history-loving globetrotters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most historic cities, Paul Cartledge delves back through thousands of years to unearth the glories and trials of the Greek capital In episode eight of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Professor Paul Cartledge for a trip to Athens. Delving back through thousands of years of often tumultuous history they visit monuments dating back to before the days of the world's original democracy, as well as reminders of the later Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Along the way, Paul introduces some of the fascinating personalities that shaped Athens and the world around it, and offers some top advice for history-loving explorers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do some settlements become great centres of international influence, while others languish and ebb away? And how have Europe’s most important urban centres been shaped by geography, climate, resources, individual personalities, collective culture and sheer serendipity?  In series two of our HistoryExtra podcast series, History’s Greatest Cities, travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield virtually explores some of Europe’s most intriguing cities in the company of expert historian guides. Together they’ll roam the streets and sites, discovering stories of foundation, invasion, expansion and devastation. And along the way, they’ll even share some insider tips for getting to the historic heart of each destination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Catherine Fletcher shares new perspective on the Italian city famed for its art and architecture  In episode one of our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by author and historian Catherine Fletcher for a trip to Florence. Together they explore its pre-Roman origins, its medieval rise to regional dominance, the cultural golden age under the Medici family and its place in the unified Italy. Along the way Catherine introduces some of the figures who played pivotal roles in the development of Florence, and offers up some lesser known places to visit for insights into its heritage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Thomas Lorman guides us through the ancient, turbulent history of the twin cities straddling the Danube In episode two of our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian Dr Thomas Lorman for a journey to Budapest. Together they delve into the wide-reaching past of the Hungarian capital, unearthing how it came to have such a prominent place at the heart of central Europe – from ancient origins and its imperial pomp to the more austere recent past. Along the way, they meet some of the characters who influenced the city’s evolution and discover lesser-known places to visit for insights into its heritage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Gillian O’Brien delves back through twelve centuries of conflict and cultural prosperity in the Irish capital In episode three of our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Dr Gillian O’Brien for a trip around Dublin. Although the Irish capital may be famous today for its nightlife and literature, it has experienced more than its fair share of conflict and oppression, as well as periods of great cultural and religious flourishing. Together, Gillian and Paul chart Dublin’s settlement, invasion, culture and its long fight for independence, highlighting top tourist destinations and travel tips along the way.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Russell Shorto explores the Dutch capital famed as a centre for trade, art and pleasures of the flesh In episode four of our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by author and journalist Russell Shorto for a jaunt around Amsterdam. Together they highlight the lesser-known stories of the Dutch capital, from its marshy foundations to its medieval mercantile pomp and subsequent trading golden age. Along the way Russell introduces some of key characters who influenced the city’s ups and downs, and offers up some offbeat places to visit and key travel tips for insights into its heritage.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Barry Hatton charts the tumultuous ups and downs of the Portuguese city coveted by many and devastated by earthquakes In episode five of our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by author and journalist Barry Hatton for a journey to Lisbon. Together they chart the Portuguese city’s tumultuous past – as a place coveted by many and devastated by earthquakes, it has risen and fallen many times over the centuries. Along the way Barry visits some of the key people and places that shaped the city on the Tigris estuary, uncovering some top places to visit and key travel tips for insights into its heritage.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Pragya Vohra shares the story of a British city that has undergone many transformations through the centuries In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and medievalist Dr Pragya Vohra for a trip to York. Together they explore the city’s Roman foundations, economic and cultural flourishing in the Middle Ages and its development as an industrious modern city. Along the way, Pragya introduces some of the pivotal figures in York’s story, offering up some top places to visit and key travel tips for insights into its heritage – all from a local’s perspective.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Marcus Tanner guides listeners through the rich heritage of Croatia’s second largest city  In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by author Marcus Tanner for a journey to Split. Together they explore the city’s Roman pomp and how medieval empires tussled to control it, before considering its turbulent 20th century. Along the way, Marcus introduces some of the figures who played important roles in the development of Split, suggesting top places to visit.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Alexandra Richie takes a deep dive into the pivotal historical episodes of Poland’s capital  In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating, enduring and historic destinations, travel journalist Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian and author Dr Alexandra Richie for a tour of Warsaw. Together, they consider the city’s medieval origins, 16th-century rise to political prominence, turbulent years under nations such as Sweden and Russia, and the tumult, violence and oppression of the 20th century. Along the way, Alexandra also highlights some top places to visit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices