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History's Greatest Cities

History's Greatest Cities

History Extra

Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield will be joining expert guides with rich local and historical knowledge. Venturing to the great cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, they'll explore centuries-long stories of foundation and growth, and examine how contact between continents shaped these far-flung places. Along the way, they'll introduce the colourful characters who played pivotal roles in the development of these cities, and lead listeners through the must-visit palaces, temples, bazaars and, of course, bars and restaurants. And, our experts will also share insider tips to help visitors discover hidden facets of each fascinating destination. History’s Greatest Cities is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine and HistoryExtra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including the HistoryExtra Podcast, History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories and HistoryExtra Long Reads. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://apple.co/4fgRA1d.
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Top 10 History's Greatest Cities Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best History's Greatest Cities episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to History's Greatest Cities for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite History's Greatest Cities episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

History's Greatest Cities - Lisbon

Lisbon

History's Greatest Cities

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11/18/23 • 53 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Warsaw

Warsaw

History's Greatest Cities

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12/09/23 • 56 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Split

Split

History's Greatest Cities

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12/02/23 • 53 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - York

York

History's Greatest Cities

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11/25/23 • 54 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Dublin

Dublin

History's Greatest Cities

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11/04/23 • 67 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Amsterdam

Amsterdam

History's Greatest Cities

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11/11/23 • 35 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Budapest

Budapest

History's Greatest Cities

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10/27/23 • 61 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Florence

Florence

History's Greatest Cities

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10/20/23 • 46 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - History's greatest cities | Season 2

History's greatest cities | Season 2

History's Greatest Cities

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07/21/23 • 4 min

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.

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History's Greatest Cities - Cairo

Cairo

History's Greatest Cities

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07/05/24 • 42 min

In episode six of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif as they journey through the diverse historic quarters of Cairo. Together, they explore its roots in ancient cities planted on the Nile over thousands of years, and look at how various occupations and successive Islamic sultanates and caliphates shaped what's now the Egyptian capital. They also meet some of the figures who played pivotal roles in the development of the modern city, and discover less known places to visit for insights into its heritage.

History's greatest cities is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.

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FAQ

How many episodes does History's Greatest Cities have?

History's Greatest Cities currently has 31 episodes available.

What topics does History's Greatest Cities cover?

The podcast is about History, Podcasts and Education.

What is the most popular episode on History's Greatest Cities?

The episode title 'Split' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on History's Greatest Cities?

The average episode length on History's Greatest Cities is 40 minutes.

How often are episodes of History's Greatest Cities released?

Episodes of History's Greatest Cities are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of History's Greatest Cities?

The first episode of History's Greatest Cities was released on Dec 21, 2022.

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