A lot of people don’t know that there is an underground complex underneath Walt Disney World. I haven’t seen them but I’ve heard about them from people that have seen them and that have worked there. I’ve always found the whole idea of hidden passages and such fascinating, which is why I accepted the offer to review Cities Of The Underworld Complete Season Three on DVD.

From the publisher - “Every city has its secrets - but who could imagine how many linger below ground, sometimes for thousands of years? Secret passageways, combat tunnels, buried palaces, Mafia escape routes and ammunition depots are just a few of the subterranean surprises you’ll discover in Cities of the Underworld: The Complete Season Three, an all-access pass to 13 secret worlds buried beneath our city streets, shot in HD, on location around the world!

Ever wonder how Las Vegas casinos keep their cash safe? Or where Roman gladiators learned to fight? How about what’s beneath Egypt’s first pyramid or San Francisco’s scenic hills? Host Don Wildman returns once again to answer these questions and explore other buried secrets from London to Sicily, Okinawa and Ethiopia. Part history buff, part urban explorer, Don uses state of the art surveillance equipment t o help investigate places often known only to archeologists and local residents. Walk in the footsteps of history but be careful - it’s dark and dangerous down there.”

A&E Home Video released the Cities Of The Underworld Complete Season Three DVD on May 26, 2006. The series contains 13 episodes on 4 discs, and it’s total run time is 10 hours and 11 minutes.

DISC 1:

CITY OF BLOOD–Many think of London as one of the most civilized cities in the world, but Don explores its past to unearth a time when body snatchers, Jack the Ripper, occult clubs, and pagan rituals were the order of the day.

TUNNELS OF HELL–One of the bloodiest battles of World War II was fought beneath the city of Okinawa, in a web of combat tunnels and caves in which Japanese soldiers and civilians faced off against American forces.

REAL MAFIA UNDERGROUND–In Sicily, the birthplace of the Mafia, Don wends his way through an ancient waterway used as a mob escape route, and discovers an eerie bone crypt dating back thousands of years–part of the region’s violent past.

SECRET SIN CITY–Modern-day Las Vegas couldn’t exist without the underground vaults and mechanics that protect the casinos’ cash and let visitors tour the world–in just a few blocks.

DISC 2:

HITLER’S TRENCHES–The bloody tunnels and trenches of World War I made it the deadliest war the world had seen, and set the stage for the rise of Adolph Hitler.

BARBARIANS’ LAIR–>From the immense quarries of the Knights Templar to torture chambers and the tunnels of medieval “ghost knights,” Don tracks down the secrets of Europe during its 1,000 years of darkness.

LAND OF MANSON–The Los Angeles underground hid the evils of Charles Manson, corrupt cops who secretly ran the city, and, amazingly, the world’s largest subway system, which still lies in waste.

DISC 3:

GLADIATORS: BLOOD SPORT–Don inspects ancient crypts, subterranean chambers used for pagan worship, and the school that taught gladiators such as Spartacus how to wage bloody combat for the amusement of the Roman masses.

SECRET HOLY LAND–Clues to Ethiopia’s lost Christian legends can be found in its remarkable underground cathedrals, the buried Palace of the Queen of Sheba, and the possible resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.

UNDER THE ROCK–Famous for its peace-loving hippies of the 1960s, San Francisco has a darker side as well: it hides the biggest ammunitions depot on the West Coast and at one time was a Cold War arsenal for nuclear missiles.

DISC 4:

TOMB OF THE LOST MUMMIES–Don inspects tunnels underneath Egypt’s first pyramid, decodes the first written language in history, examines the remains of Muslim and Roman fortresses, and encounters hundreds of Egyptian mummies.

GODS OF WAR–Zeus and Poseidon face off, as the Turkish landscape conceals the mysterious legends of the Trojan War and the evidence of a king’s scheme to erect one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World–on desecrated ground.

ALCATRAZ DOWN UNDER–Sydney’s startling underground history comes to life as Don reveals a 19th-Century prison, a complex of caves that sheltered an outlaw gang, a secret World War II chemical weapons stash, and more.

BONUS FEATURE: Additional Footage

We really enjoyed the DVD. We’d never seen the show on television on the History Channel so it was new for us. The host Don Wildman is quite energetic and enthusiastic, for me he’s like the Steve Irwin of secret underground places. He seems to really enjoy exploring the locations, as well as learning and sharing their stories. Each of the episodes is a combination of a little history and a little mystery. Learning about these places was fun! Our favorite episode was City of Blood, filmed in and around London. The idea that high ranking officials were possibly practicing pagan worship right under a church fascinated me.

Cities Of The Underworld Complete Season Three DVD can be purchased online.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive their own Cities Of The Underworld Complete Season Three.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment on this post telling me which of the above hidden locations sounds most interesting to you.

BONUS ENTRIES

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THE SMALL PRINT

US addresses only please. This contest will end Saturday 06/20/09 at 11:59 pm est. Only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner will be selected randomly. The winner must contact me within 2 days to confirm they wish to receive the prize. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Tags: Cities Of The Underworld, History Channel
Posted in DVDs and CDs, Giveaways, Reviews, val's views |

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