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Rick Steves' Europe

Chartres, France: Pure Gothic Cathedral

A great side trip from Paris is the city of Chartres — and its famous cathedral, arguably Europe’s best example of pure Gothic architecture. It was built quickly, so the cathedral has a unity of architecture, statuary, and stained glass that captures the spirit of the Age of Faith like no other church.

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Italy's Great Hill Towns
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25:04
San Gimignano’s medieval towers, Cortona’s charming lanes and Orvieto’s papal intrigue.
Tuscany's Dolce Vita
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Tuscany's "sweet life": truffle hunting, an artichoke festival, the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Milan and Lake Como
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Milan's fashion, delis and opera house, and Lake Como, where Italy meets the Alps.
Italy's Amalfi Coast
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Positano, Sorrento, the ancient temples of Paestum and the Blue Grotto beneath Capri.
Naples and Pompeii
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We’ll climb to the top of nearby Mount Vesuvius, then wander through the ruin of Pompeii.
Edinburgh
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Edinburgh is the historical and cultural heart of Scotland.
North Wales: Feisty & Poetic
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From Mount Snowdon, to sweeping Victorian promenadades, to the Beatles' Liverpool.
England's Bath and York
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Medieval York and Georgian Bath pack an exciting pair of sightseeing punches.
Sevilla
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Sevilla is the flamboyant city of Carmen and Don Juan.
Lisbon and the Algarve
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Experiencing the best of Portugal, we start in Lisbon, then head for the Algarve.
Budapest: The Best of Hungary
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Budapest feels like the capital of Eastern Europe.
Poland Rediscovered: Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw
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Poland is ready to be rediscovered as the old “east” transforms into the heart of Europe.
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