Great Continental Railway Journeys

Michael Portillo journeys from Barcelona to Majorca, exploring the early origins of the Spanish Civil War and the political tensions that preceded it. He examines how the conflict deeply split his own family and forced his father into permanent exile.

The episode titled ‘Barcelona to Majorca’ forms part of a travel programme presented by Michael Portillo. In this instalment, he sets off from the bustling streets of Barcelona and makes his way across the sea to the island of Majorca, using the journey as a backdrop for his investigation into history. During the trip, Portillo turns his attention to the early origins of the Spanish Civil War. He follows the historical threads that led to the conflict, seeking to understand how the events that unfolded long before the war erupted are reflected in the landscape and communities he encounters along the route. The narrative also touches on how the war split his own family, highlighting the personal impact of the national turmoil. Portillo reflects on the way the conflict created rifts among relatives, deeply illustrating how political upheaval can reverberate through private lives and alter relationships that had previously seemed secure. He also recounts that the fighting forced his father into exile, a consequence that underscores the depth of the war’s reach. By sharing this familial experience, Portillo conveys the lasting displacement and loss that many endured, linking his personal story to the broader historical currents that shaped the era.