HistoryExtra
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link: https://www.historyextra.com
description: Home of Britain’s bestselling history magazine and award-winning podcast
date: 2025-02-14T15:21:32.000Z
update period: hourly
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update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Ye olde travel guide: Rome 192 AD
items: Ye olde travel guide: Goree, 1782
items: Ye olde travel guide: Seville, 1670
items: Ye olde travel guide: Savannah, 1859
items: Ye olde travel guide: Amsterdam, 1648
items: Ye olde travel guide: Turin, 1887
items: Ye olde travel guide: Prague 1600
items: Ye Olde Travel Guide: Ballarat 1854
items: Ye olde travel guide: Caracas 1783
items: Ye olde travel guide: Heidelberg 1618

Ye olde travel guide: Rome 192 AD
type: item
date: 2018-04-16T12:50:02.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Roman
subject: Gladiators
subject: Life in ancient Rome
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: Anthony Riches reveals the pleasures and dangers that are in store for a visitor to the capital of the Roman empire
encoded: Rome. Even the name inspires awe. One million inhabitants, consuming nine million kilos of grain a year and a million cubic metres of water per day. It has more diversions than could ever be crammed into even the longest of visits – but don’t let that stop you trying! When to go When all roads lead to Rome, there’s no excuse for not coming to the civilised world’s premier city. While there’s no wrong time to visit the glory that is Rome, we recommend that you arrive in late spring, usually a pleasant 22 degrees, and before everyone that matters flees from the stifling heat to the seaside. The end of April is a very pleasant time to visit (more later), but the autumn is to be avoided. Rain, more rain, and plenty of it! What to take with you You’ll only need two things. Money – this isn’t a cheap city for the outsider – and bodyguards to make sure that you don’t lose it. Skilled local protection will be expensive, but both the number of tourist frauds and the danger of robbery with violence make this expense essential. Oh, and don’t forget to pack your toga. Formal dinner parties will demand that you look the part. You’ll need a full purse to make the most of the delights offered by this fabulous city. You can ‘do Rome’ on five sestertii a day, but with a bottle of decent Falernian easily costing that much, you’ll want at least 50 sestertii per night. To really make the most of the city you’ll need one gold aureus to spend per day, but don’t carry it all round with you! Visit a bank and deposit your wealth, only withdrawing enough to fund your activities every day or two. And don’t trust any of the people around you with your money – including your local bodyguards! Where to stay First set your daily budget, then look for an appropriate hostelry. As ever, the more you pay the more convivial atmosphere you can expect. On a budget, look for a caupona (a restaurant with rooms) but be ready for a lively time. Your host will be doing whatever he – or she – has to in order …

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Ye olde travel guide: Goree, 1782
type: item
date: 2014-06-19T21:30:12.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Julian Humphrys explores an Atlantic island under British rule that isn't quite the tropical paradise you'd expect...
encoded: This article was first published in the June 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine Few choose to holiday on Gorée. But if you do find yourself on an overnight stay, be on your guard: drunken, unruly soldiers, disease-carrying bugs and a violent governor all await you. Abolitionists be warned: the impact of the slave trade is impossible to avoid. When to go Atlantic breezes keep the temperature on Gorée bearable throughout the year; by west African standards, it’s a relatively healthy place. You may have little choice in timing your visit – chances are that it will only be a necessary stopover on a voyage to somewhere else – but if possible avoid the rainy season, from July to October, when the bad, damp air can foster deadly outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever. Dangers and annoyances Like most of west Africa, Gorée is plagued by an assortment of insects whose sole purpose in life seems to be to drink as much of your blood as possible. The wise traveller always brings some kind of protective net – thin cheesecloth works well – to keep bugs at bay. If you like to read, be on the alert for termites: they’ll make short work of any books left on the ground. But hazards on Gorée aren’t confined to the insect variety. Be wary of the soldiers of the British garrison – most are unruly servicemen or criminals here only because they were offered the option of serving in Africa as an alternative to a flogging, or worse. If you hear that it’s pay day, stay indoors – the streets will be crammed with drunken soldiers, all on the lookout for trouble. Colonel Wall, the governor, isn’t much better. A tall, foul-mouthed Irishman, he rules the island with a rod of iron. Don’t get on his wrong side: dark rumours are already circulating in England about his violent temper and scant regard for legal niceties in dealings with soldiers and civilians alike. Eating and drinking Expect to dine on rice shipped over from the mainland, as well as an amazing variety of fish caught by the locals fro…

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Ye olde travel guide: Seville, 1670
type: item
date: 2014-05-23T14:25:04.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Brendan Sainsbury proposes a visit to a mighty port city groaning with the riches of New World exploitation
encoded: This article was first published in the May 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine Rich with the spoils of Spain’s American empire, Seville is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. But wealth is unequally distributed, the once-great river port is silting up, and thieves, floods and public executions can turn the streets into dangerous obstacle courses. When to go The best time to visit is when a transatlantic fleet is in port. The weighty Veracruz and Cartagena convoys meet up in Havana and normally arrive in Seville in early September, although larger vessels are increasingly docking in the deeper waters of Cádiz. Heaving with exotic cargo from the New World, the ships pull into Seville’s Arenal quarter where the whole city gathers to celebrate. Expect music, commerce, gossip, festivities and a diverse multitude of people. It is a truly incredible spectacle. What to Take With You A wide-brimmed hat is essential to mitigate the debilitating effects of the strong Spanish sun. Gentlemen are also advised to pack a good pair of stout boots. Although Seville experiences very little rainfall, the Guadalquivir river regularly bursts its banks, an event that turns the streets into muddy and barely navigable quagmires. Costs and Money Spain’s finances are weak, and wild fluctuations in food prices can be triggered by natural disasters such as flooding. Many locals rely on charitable handouts. The Spanish currency is the much-sought-after escudo. Gold escudo coins come in several denominations and are used only by the wealthy. The wider populace uses silver reales. Sights and Activities Any visit should start in Seville Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic structure originally conceived in 1401 but still busy with sculptors, architects and artists adding embellishments to its ornate interior. Unless you’re a visiting Habsburg, it’s unlikely you’ll be invited inside the Alcázar (royal palace) where the boy king, Carlos II, often lodges, but you can admire its unusual Mudéjar a…

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Ye olde travel guide: Savannah, 1859
type: item
date: 2014-04-26T16:57:50.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Dan Cossins invites visitors to Savannah, where abolitionist stirrings are threatening the city's serene veneer...
encoded: This article was first published in the April 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine Home to leafy plazas, stately mansions and a craze for chilled champagne, Savannah is a delightful place to visit. But abolitionists take note: this is a city built on the dark trade of slave labour... When to go Savannah enjoys a semitropical climate. Winters are mild, perfect for the busy social season, while summers are oppressively humid, particularly July and August when wealthy citizens escape to the mountains or New England. The best time to visit is spring, when it’s warm and the air is filled with the scents of magnolia and jasmine. Costs and money It’s US dollars here, but the currency can be confusing. Local and state banks print their own paper money, and even small businesses produce their own small denomination notes and coins. A good rule of thumb is to accept only currency issued by local banks or businesses, as locals will likely accept them. Counterfeiting is commonplace, so keep your wits about you. Dangers and annoyances Summer brings mosquitoes from the surrounding swamplands and tiny biting bugs called ‘no-see-ums’. As for safety, you’ll be fine in central areas. However, be sure to tread carefully in the rough, ramshackle wards on the eastern and western fringes, where sailors and labourers – whites, free blacks and ‘hired-out’ slaves alike – drink, brawl and whore. Even here, though, the streets are gas-lit and patrolled by night watchmen. These days, so-called ‘vigilance committees’ weed out anti-slavery troublemakers. Indeed, it is best to keep any abolitionist sentiments you may hold to yourself: locals recently tarred and feathered a visitor from Massachusetts for making his feelings known on this divisive issue. Sights and activities Visitors can’t fail to be charmed by Savannah’s 24 garden squares, shaded by magnificent, sprawling oak trees draped in Spanish moss, which hangs from branches like so many fraying white-grey scarves. These leafy plazas, connect…

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Ye olde travel guide: Amsterdam, 1648
type: item
date: 2014-03-27T15:18:43.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Russell Shorto recommends a city that, with the threat of invasion lifted, has become the emporium of the world
encoded: This article was first published in the March 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine After centuries as a pokey little place famous only as a centre of pilgrimage, Amsterdam has morphed into the global hub of art, commerce and science. And what better way of navigating the city than on its staggeringly efficient waterways. When to go Any time is good, though high summer is the malaria season along the canals. The tulips for which the city is famous – even after the tulip mania of a decade ago, when the price of bulbs soared and then collapsed – still pop up in the spring. In winter you can skate on the canals. What to take with you Layers! The northern winds blow strong here. Look at the locals: they aren’t all fat, just protecting themselves from the elements. If you want to fit in, bring a crisp, white lace collar. Costs This is the world’s greatest city right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most expensive. The Dutch are great ones for bargains. Haggle with merchants, and you’ll be respected. Amsterdam is the emporium of the world. Along its canals you can buy live elephants, stuffed monkeys, Delft tiles and spices from the East Indies. Everything is cheaper here than elsewhere in Europe, because most goods arrive here first before being shipped elsewhere. Sights and activities Leaders from other European cities come to marvel at the new canal zone, which is about three-quarters finished now. Nearly four decades ago the city fathers laid out a massive urban expansion programme, which involved wrapping a horseshoe ring of canals around the medieval city centre, increasing the size of the city fivefold. Thousands of gable-topped brick houses, miles of road and canal, and dozens of humpbacked bridges later, the result is a place unlike any other. For the first time, a city has been crafted around the needs and comforts of individual residents. The homes themselves are a reflection of this. Think of homes in other European cities. Who lives in them? An extended family…

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Ye olde travel guide: Turin, 1887
type: item
date: 2014-01-20T15:12:33.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Diana Bretherick invites visitors to enjoy a beacon of culture, but one with a dark reputation as a centre of black magic
encoded: This article was first published in the January 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine If the legends are true, the devil lurks around every corner in this, the birthplace of Italian unification. But travellers fear not, for alongside its cultural delights, the city boasts a Christian relic that continues to amaze and perplex: the Shroud of Turin, which many believe wrapped the body of Christ When to go Being so far north, Turin does not have a Mediterranean climate. Instead it has hot summers and during autumn and winter it is rather damp and notable for its fog. Turin’s famous criminologist Professor Cesare Lombroso is of the view that hot weather tends to encourage violent crime. With this in mind it might be best to avoid the summer months altogether. September would probably be a safer bet. What to take with you A stout cane and a good pair of comfortable walking shoes are essential in this city. Because of the damp climate there are countless covered walkways lined with shops and cafes, a feature that makes walking through the city a pleasure. It might also be advisable to take with you a talisman warding off evil spirits and demons, as the city is alleged to be a centre for Satanism and black magic. Costs and money It would be better to deal in cash only. There has just been an economic collapse after a construction boom. Property prices are beginning to plummet and, as a result, banking is considered by most Torinese to be rather precarious. Prices in Turin are high so make sure that you have with you plenty of lire, the local currency. Sights and activities There is plenty to see and do in Turin, particularly if you are interested in art and history. The Galleria Sabauda houses an impressive art collection. In the same building you can find the Museo Egizio – the largest and most prized collection of Egyptian artefacts to be found outside of Egypt itself. A visit to Cesare Lombroso’s Museum of Criminal Anthropology is a must. You will need permission from the m…

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Ye olde travel guide: Prague 1600
type: item
date: 2013-12-28T19:27:43.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Tudor
subject: Where history happened
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Simon Winder invites visitors to Prague, a city striving to combat the impact of war
encoded: This article was first published in the Christmas 2013 issue of BBC History Magazine All roads lead to Prague – mostly because its most famous resident, Rudolf II, is Holy Roman Emperor, king of Bohemia and Hungary, and ruler of countless other places in Europe. The city has much to dazzle, but unsuspecting tourists beware: danger lurks around every corner When to go While the city is in some ways more pleasant in the summer it is also then more prone to devastating outbreaks of fatal sickness, which can be an inconvenience for tourists. In the winter months it is bitterly cold and has been getting progressively colder as the Little Ice Age bites. The resulting poor harvests, combined with the devastation of agricultural land to the east by Tartar raiders, makes the winter supply of food expensive and scarce, so looking after frivolous foreign visitors is a low priority for the authorities. What to take with you Food can be scarce so bring your own supplies. Visitors to Prague are permitted to carry a sword and dagger and these will certainly come in handy. Actual fighting in the town is rare, but a tourist with a bag of coins on their belt, who is cluelessly gawping at the sites in the Old Town and who lacks this visible deterrent, will be a sitting duck for the innumerable petty thieves who infest the city. Costs and money As the royal and imperial capital under the eccentric, neglectful rule of Rudolf II, Prague is ruinously expensive, with all available rooms crammed with ambassadors, noble entourages, contractors and mercenaries. The huge numbers of alchemists, painters, architects, decorators, jewellers and zoo-keepers employed by Rudolf also don’t help the overcrowding situation. Paying for even basic accommodation could see you run through your ducats at an alarming speed. Sights and activities Be sure to stop and admire the beautiful Prague Bridge, built more than two centuries ago. With its massive fortifications at either end, it controls all crossings of…

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Ye Olde Travel Guide: Ballarat 1854
type: item
date: 2013-12-01T14:00:42.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Victorian
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Jenny Brown invites visitors to seek their fortune in Ballarat, known to many as 'the golden city'
encoded: This article was first published in the December 2013 issue of BBC History Magazine Ballarat, the world’s richest gold field, where a pick might yet strike a 2,000oz nugget, is seething with gold fever and political ferment. But miners beware. The Victorian government has hiked the price of mining licences to preposterous levels – whether you find payable gold or not... When to go Now! It’s the second phase of the Australian Gold Rush and a mainly young male population, fluxing between 25,000 and 50,000, is already on the field. What to take with you Load a wooden wheelbarrow with a tent, blankets, pick, shovel, axe, panning equipment, a cooking pot and gun. Stuff a big knife into your belt and take a slavering mongrel dog to deter thieves and midnight claim-jumpers. Costs and money If you can afford a hotel, the tariff is 50 shillings a week for the rudest accommodation and service, or 140 shillings per week for a halfway decent room. Every commodity is scarce and price gouging a given. If you’re intent on mining legally, you’ll need a licence, which can be an expensive outlay. Payment can be in gold dust. Sights and activities Be warned: Ballarat doesn’t boast the same sort of diversions that can be found in Sydney. Construction has begun on the stone Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ the King, designed in the English Gothic style, perhaps in the hope of bringing spiritual instruction to a town where drinking, whoring and gambling is rife. A seemingly never-ending stream of men – voicing a wild expectation “of gold in every dishful” in a diversity of languages, from French and Italian to Polish and Chinese – descend on the town on a daily basis, setting themselves up in tented communities. If the gold rush continues, redevelopment of the area will be necessary. Dangers and annoyances In a tightly packed field, a neighbour encroaching on your digging space is a common irritation. With no sanitation and countless flies, typhoid is a major health risk. The most imm…

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Ye olde travel guide: Caracas 1783
type: item
date: 2013-11-07T18:41:57.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Where history happened
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In the latest instalment of our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Marie Arana recommends a feverish South American metropolis that prides itself on its hospitality
encoded: This article was first published in the November 2013 issue of BBC History Magazine If the people of Caracas have a maxim, it’s ‘hospitality and trustworthiness’, and you’ll find them falling over themselves to make you feel at home in what is one of the jewels of Spanish South America. If only the same could be said of the local crocodiles… When to go The best time to visit is September to April, the dry season, when temperatures range from 70 to 82 degrees, and an inland breeze renders this feverish metropolis tolerable. It shouldn’t surprise you if friends try to discourage you from travelling to the Americas. The northern Homo Americanus is proving exceedingly pesky and is due to sign a severance with the British crown this year. But the southern variety is refreshingly tranquil. What to take with you You can rough it; you can bring party clothes. More adventurous visitors may wish to bring gear for a river or mountain crossing, while also allowing for the intermittent grand ball. Caracas is a region of extremes. You will be expected to roll with its glories and hazards. Fortunately, Venezuelans are prepared to lend you a freshly ironed shirt. Costs and money The official currency is the Spanish peso. For all its European vicissitudes, Spain has a firm grip on the South American continent. Because of the Laws of the Indies, a sobering Inquisition and a keen mastery of the Caribbean, King Charles III is firmly in charge here. The Mantuanos, the aristocratic locals – whose women wear veils, ride the shoulders of black slaves, and walk with a spirited ringing of bells from their skirts – have begun to object to the rich one per cent, who are largely Basques, and the grasping Canary Islanders. Tourists, on the other hand, are welcome. For that reason, you’ll find food, lodging, mules and guides surprisingly affordable. Dangers and annoyances There are an average of 11 earthquakes a day, some more discomfiting than others. Crocodiles abound, with a frightening habit …

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Ye olde travel guide: Heidelberg 1618
type: item
date: 2013-10-01T15:40:11.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Where history happened
subject: Ye olde travel guide
description: In our historical holidays series, in which experts imagine they're writing a travel guide in the past, Cassandra Clark introduces the charms of Heidelberg, seat of Prince Palatine Frederick V
encoded: This article was first published in the October 2013 issue of BBC History Magazine It’s a long journey through Europe to Heidelberg, in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. It’s here that Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England and VI of Scotland, holds court with her husband Prince Palatine Frederick V, and there is plenty to keep pleasure-loving visitors entertained... When to go There’s no bad time to visit. Heidelberg enjoys mild winters and warm, often rainy summers – be prepared for showers at any time – so spring and autumn are often considered the most congenial seasons. But the sooner you go, the better: the royal couple are rumoured to be preparing to decamp to Prague, where the crown of Bohemia awaits Frederick. What to take with you Your best garments if you’re staying up at the town’s castle, your brains if you’re staying down below at the university. Costs You’ll need plenty of bills to exchange for thaler, schillinge, pfennige or mark – prices have soared since the glamorous royal couple took up residence. Sights and Activities Heidelberg Castle, on the slopes of the crag known as Königstuhl (King’s Throne), is a must-see. Rebuilt in 1537 after a gunpowder explosion destroyed an earlier fortification, its famous Fountain Hall incorporates columns brought from Charlemagne’s imperial palace at Ingelheim. Frederick has added an English wing for his bride, with impressive views over the town. In one of the towers he has installed a theatre modelled on the recently destroyed Globe in London. Masques featuring the royals and plays by Shakespeare, performed by professional actors, are all the rage. For his wife’s 19th birthday Frederick ordered the construction of an ornate triumphal arch, completed in just one night, as the entrance to the Stückgarten (pleasure garden) he is creating for Elizabeth. The Hortus Palatinus, as it’s called, is already considered the eighth wonder of the world, and features terraces, exotic plants, fountains and grottoe…

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