City Breaks

Stratford-Upon-Avon has many charms – its Tudor ambiance, its riverside setting – but really there’s only one reason why it attracts up to 6 million visitors in a year. Shakespeare. And this episode is dedicated to places where you can 'find' him there today. There's a little biographical background, focussing mainly on his Stratford years and a run-through of five of the most significant places in his life which you can still visit today. As usual, there is much more detail on the podcast. Reading SuggestionsShakespeare The Biography by Peter AckroydHidden Shakespeare by Nicholas FoggShakespeare by Bill BrysonFools and Mortals by Bernard CornwellHamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Links for this post Shakespeare’s Birthplace Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guild HallAnne Hathaway’s Cottage New Place Holy Trinity Church City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Both Vincennes and St Germain-en-Laye make excellent days out from Paris, or even half days as both can be reached by public transport in less than half an hour. Each has a magnificent castle to visit, plus a range of other cultural, relaxation and shopping possibilities. So this episode tells you how to get to each place, following up with what there is to see and do there, plus – bien sûr! – a few of the interesting historical snippets which will inform your visit. Links for this post Château de Vincennes Vincennes Tourist Office Château de St Germain-en-Laye St Germain-en-Laye Tourist Office Espace Vera Debussy’s Birthplace City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Our Amsterdam Anthology rounds off the series by offering some different perspectives on the city. Here, you’ll find Amsterdam seen through the eyes of writers, some from the past, many contemporary: travel writers, journalists, novelists and an author of short stories. Between them they provide lots of different ways to get to know – or reminisce about! – the city and, we hope, plenty of inspiration for further reading. Reading Suggestions My Dam Life by Sean Conlan Amsterdam Stories by NescioAmsterdam by Ian McEwenThe Coffee Trader by David LissThe Miniaturist by Jessie BurtonThe House of Fortune by Jessie BurtonTulip Fever by Deborah Moggach City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Tulips and diamonds: both figure centrally in the story of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known as the ‘flower shop of the world’ and a visit to Amsterdam’s flower market a must for any visit. Equally, you will surely want to explore Amsterdam’s heritage as the ‘City of Diamonds’. This episode brings a little background history on both topics, plus ideas for three places to visit to find out more. Reading Suggestions The Tulip by Anna Pavord Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Links for this postThe Tulip Museum The Diamond Museum Royal Coster Diamonds City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This episode revolves around Amsterdam's top art gallery, the Rijksmuseum. It starts with a little history, explaining how art came to be of such importance in Amsterdam's Golden Age in the 17th century, then continues with some biographical details on the two top artists from the era, Rembrandt and Vermeer. It finishes with pointers to some of their best-known works, plus ideas for other highlights to look out for when visiting the gallery. Reading SuggestionsTulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Vermeer by Christopher Wright Rijksmuseum guidebook Links for this postThe Rijksmuseum Rembrandt House Museum Old World Voyages blog Essential Vermeer Simon Schama, Great Gallery Tours, the Rijksmuseum City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This episode introduces Amsterdam's Jewish culture. There's a little historical context, beginning with the arrival of Jews fleeing from other parts of Europe in the 16th century and ending in today’s city where Jewish culture is centred around the Jewish Quarter. Then there's a description of some of the most significant places to visit, focussing especially on the Portugese Synagogue and the Jewish Museum. The holocaust will be dealt with in the next episode. Links for this post National Holocaust Museum Hollandsche Schouwburg Portuguese Synagogue Jewish Museum City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

The churches of Amsterdam are not always what they seem. One is more of a national memorial, another is an art gallery and concert venue. A third is a museum where you can learn the story of the hidden churches which opened in the 17th century and where worshippers gathered for over 200 years. They key factor is a date – 1578 – when an event occurred which changed everything: the Alteration. This episode explains what happened and then tours half a dozen of the city’s churches and explains what you can expect to find if you visit them today. Reading Suggestions Amsterdam A Brief Life of the City by Geert MakAmsterdam A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell ShortoThe Invention of Amsterdam A History of the World’s Greatest City in 10 Walks by Ben Coates Links for this postThe BegijnhofThe Oude KerkThe Nieuwe Kerk The WesterkerkThe Noorderkerk St NicholasOur Lord in the Attic

Here are 5 suggestions for walks around Amsterdam. They include possible stopping places and between them they offer a way to see something of all of the main parts of the city. We give enough detail to follow the route if you take a map with you and a little info on the main places you’ll be passing, although we’ll be coming back to most of them in later episodes. None will take longer than an hour if you don’t stop anywhere. . Links for this post Grand Café Restaurant 1e KlasAnne Frank House Royal Palace Nieuw Kerk The Houseboat Museum Albert Cuyp Market The Reijksmuseum The Van Gogh Museum The Stedelik Museum MOCO Hop on Hop off bus tours Boat trips City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This last episode on the Valletta series brings you lots of different stories from Malta. We start with a little descriptive writing, factual and fictional, followed by mini-biographies of 4 people who’ve featured in previous episodes but not really had the time they deserve: St Paul, St Publius, Caravaggio and Daphne Caruana Galizia, the high-profile journalist murdered for her stand against corruption in Malta. And to finish, some literary extracts, namely a mystery story set in Malta and 2 World War II love stories. In short, a whole range of new perspectives on Valletta and its surroundings. Reading Suggestions The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas MonserratLadies of Lascaris by Paul McDonaldSecrets of Malta by Cecily Blench A Death in Malta by Paul Caruana GaliziaA Sunny Place for Shady People by Ryan Murdock Links for this PostShort Lets Malta blog City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Valletta series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!

This episode is dedicated to two topics which are very important in Malta - food and festivities. Malta has more public holidays – 14 – than most other European countries, plus a whole range of other feasts and festivals. Of course, food is key to most of them and so this episode introduces you to both. We cover the varied culinary offerings, influenced by so many centuries of foreign cultures coming to the island and then look at the equally expansive range of celebration days, religious, national and cultural. In short, plenty of fun! Reading Suggestion Taste of Malta by Anton B Dougall City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Valletta series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!

There are traces of World War II everywhere in Valletta. This episode begins with a little history from the period and explains why the island of Malta was awarded the prestigious George Cross. Then we look at 3 museums which all take a different approach, covering the military action here on ‘Fortress Malta’ and also explaining what the war did to the daily lives of its people. We end with a look at some of Valletta’s memorials to this turbulent period, which are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other at the Floriana end of the city. Reading SuggestionsFortress Island Malta by Peter JacobsLadies of Lascaris by Paul McDonaldChurchill and Malta’s War by Douglas Austin Links for this postNational War Museum Malta at War Museum Lascaris War Rooms City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Valletta series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!

Valletta is a very walkable city and this episode offers three walking routes for exploring it. They could be done in a day if you want to see all the main sights quickly, or you could spread them out over a few days, linger a little, go into some of the places we pass by and build up an in-depth knowledge of Malta's capital city. Take a street map with you and you should be able to follow the routes easily. Reading Suggestions The History of Malta by Nuria RehnFortress Island Malta by Peter JacobsLadies of Lascaris by Paul McDonaldA Death in Malta by Paul Caruana Galizia Links for this postOur Lady of Victories Church The Grand Master’s Palace The Armoury St John’s Co-Cathedral Fort St Elmo National War Museum City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Valletta series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!

Our Marseille Anthology includes some travel writing, plus a range of fiction pieces set in the city. Extracts include Simone de Beauvoir hiking in the surrounding countryside and Jean-Claude Izzo's description of the Italian immigrant community in Le Panier in the 1930s. The Count of Monte Cristo's daring escape from the Château d'If is here, as are a meal of boullabaisse in a waterside restaurant and a visit to the underwater caves where prehistoric man left artwork behind. There are even two passages which help explain why Marseille has sometimes been called 'the wicked city'. Reading SuggestionsWicked City by Nicholas HewittTotal Chaos by Jean-Claude IzzoChourmo by Jean-Claude IzzoSolea by Jean-Claude IzzoDecline and Fall by Evelyn WaughThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasFirst Fingerprint, by Xavier-Marie BonnotThe Marseille Caper by Peter Mayl City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!Check our website to find more episodes from our Marseille series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.ukAnd if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!