Michael Portillo returns to the rails this Thursday on BBC Two’s “Great Continental Railway Journeys,” with an episode that explores the historical and emotional weight of Sarajevo. This journey takes Portillo back to a city etched in his memory, a place that holds both personal and historical significance.
Following in the footsteps of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in Sarajevo ignited World War I, Portillo retraces the fateful route. The episode layers this historical exploration with Portillo’s reflections on his own time as Britain’s defense secretary during the Yugoslav Wars, and his memories of a previous visit to Sarajevo during that turbulent period. It’s a blend of personal experience and historical context, giving viewers a deeper understanding of the city’s complicated past.
Beyond the shadows of conflict, Portillo also explores Sarajevo’s rich Ottoman heritage, visiting a historic mosque in the old quarter. And amidst the reminders of past struggles, he finds hope in a meeting with a mixed-heritage Bosnian family, whose optimism for the future offers a poignant counterpoint to the city’s history of division. Don’t miss “Great Continental Railway Journeys: Sarajevo,” airing Thursday, March 13th at 6:30 PM on BBC Two.
