Catch up TV

Series 8: 5. Mostar to Dubrovnik

Michael Portillo is on the last stretch of his railway adventure through the Balkan countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. He enjoys a helter-skelter journey on the historic line from Sarajevo to Mostar, descending 600 metres through the Dinaric Alps, passing through over 90 tunnels and travelling across more than 40 bridges to the capital of Herzegovina. He reflects on the ethnic and religious divisions which tore apart the old Yugoslavia and his own experiences as part of an international commission seeking the bodies of thousands of missing persons.\n\nAdmiring the iconic bridge at the heart of the city, now rebuilt after its destruction during the conflict, Michael is keen to learn how the people of the city are rebuilding their lives. At the Mostar Rock School, he meets diverse young people from the community who play music together. En route back to Croatia, Michael inspects the handsome Peljesac Bridge, opened in 2022, which provides borderless travel over the Adriatic Sea from north to south Croatia, avoiding the need to cross into Bosnia.\n\nThe magnificent walled city of Dubrovnik is Michael’s final destination. He discovers it was once the independent republic of Ragusa and enjoys its traditional music and dancing.

Source: BBC 2