Travel podcasts for city break fans. All the historical and cultural background you need to enjoy your visit.
Episodes
Nov 17, 2021
Nov 17, 2021
36 min
A stroll through the history of Edinburgh Castle takes in kings and sieges, feasting, battles, murders and plots. There are plenty of tales of capture and recapture, of English invaders and rival Scottish clans. Find out too what to look out for when you visit the castle today, including The Great Hall, built by James IV to host feasts and celebrations, the little room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James, born to reign over both Scotland and England, and ancient treasures like the Stone of Scone and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Useful links
https://www.edinburghcastle.scot
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
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 Edinburgh 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.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Nov 10, 2021
Nov 10, 2021
26 min
Walk the ghostly narrow closes of the old town, visit the elegant Georgian streets of the new town, tour that glorious castle, sample the whisky, the seafood or maybe a tattie scone; it's no wonder that Edinburgh is one of the UK's most popular city break destinations. Here is an overview of the series, offering some geographical, historical and cultural details to whet your appetite for the remaining 15 episodes when we will tour all the main sites, telling you the stories behind them and introducing a wealth of colourful personalities who have influenced the city over the centuries.
Useful links
Nov 3, 2021
Nov 3, 2021
2 min
There will be no episode this week, but the new series, City Breaks Edinburgh, will begin next week.
Oct 27, 2021
Oct 27, 2021
34 min
Our interview with Stefanie Schnellhammer of Keksliebe covers all things culinary: The difference between Keks and Kuchen, how to eat a Weisswurst (and why you should always do it before 11.00 am) and why Prinzregententorte is Munich's favourite cake. She takes us through a number of Bavarian specialities and gives tips on where to find them when eating out in Munich or on a day trip to Lake Starnberg.
useful links
https://www.nymphenburg-sekt-cafe.de
https://www.starnbergersee.de/orte/feldafing
Oct 20, 2021
Oct 20, 2021
26 min
We welcome Jax Slisz back for a second week in order to hear about the 2 Munich tours he runs which help him explain some of the darker aspects of Munich's history to visitors: a 3rd Reich Tour and a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. He talks passionately about what there is to see, why it's important to know this story and how the memories of his Polish grandfather, Alois Slisz, underpin his desire to educate others about this period of German history.
useful links
https://citybreakspodcast.co.uk/munich
video on the WW2 memories of Alois Sisz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m680cbtwcDU
Oct 13, 2021
Oct 13, 2021
34 min
After 5 years in Munich, Jax has founded his own tour guiding company, Heart of Munich Tours, and here he tells us what's on offer and shares lots of insider tips: why are Marienplatz and the Hofgarten two of his favourite stopping-off places, what cultural events is the city famous for apart from the Oktoberfest, what's the atmosphere like in the Hofbrauhaus and why is a beer garden only a (traditional) beer garden if it is shaded by chestnut trees?
useful links
https://citybreakspodcast.co.uk/munich
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
34 min
Three great travel bloggers share their city break ideas with us: we explore the world from Athens to Kochi and the alphabet from Auckland to Vilnius, taking in Funchal and Seattle on the way and all with lots of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way. Have a listen and be inspired.
Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
This week's guest websites
Sep 29, 2021
Sep 29, 2021
30 min
Part 2 of our interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website, in which he takes us on a journey through some of the highlights of Italy's best-known literary work, The Divine Comedy by the 14th century Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri. 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Dante's death and so now is the perfect time to get to know more about him and all the reasons why he is so famous, in Florence, in Italy and worldwide.
useful links
https://www.feelflorence.it/en
https://www.feelflorence.it/en/node/44397
Sep 22, 2021
Sep 22, 2021
25 min
The first of a two-part interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website. The 14th of this month is the central day in a year-long series of events to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, Florence's world-famous poet, author and philosopher (1265-1321). Andrea tell us a little about Dante himself and the Florence he knew, introduces us to his best known work, the Divine Comedy and outlines some of the many events happening in Florence this year to mark the anniversary.
useful links
https://www.feelflorence.it/en
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
Sep 15, 2021
Sep 15, 2021
29 min
We interview Helen Farrell, editor of The Florentine, to find out how this publication and website can enhance your knowledge of Florence. She explains their news and listings functions and outlines the wide range of cultural information on offer; everything from new literature set in the area, to the recent celebrations for the 700th anniversary of Dante's death, via - of course! - Florence's recent Cocktail Week.
Helen's Reading Suggestions
Still Life by Sarah Winman
The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King
The Hunting Season by Tom Benjamin
Angels of Mud by Vanessa Nicolson
The Florence Duck Store by Harry Cochrane
useful links
https://www.theflorentine.net/subscription
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk