Paris, Rome, and Berlin are well-known to us, even if we’ve never been there. But what about Lyon, Marseilles, or Strasbourg; Genova, Palermo, or Trieste; Hamburg, Cologne, or Leipzig? In this course we will learn about Europe’s lesser-known cities, studying their history, development, geography, demography, architecture, economy, and cultural life.

Each city has a different story to tell. Why did it arise where and when it did? Did princes and bishops contribute most to its embellishment or was it rich Hanseatic merchants or silk traders? How were the inhabitants affected by religious wars and nationalist movements? What happened there during World War II and afterwards? Is the city associated with great writers, artists, filmmakers?

Please note: this course is not about our travel experiences, although some of us may discover a future destination.

Format: Each participant will be asked to research and present a different city chosen from a list of suggestions provided by the coordinator; visuals should be an important part of the presentation.

Resources/Expenses: No text; optional videos.