Art Pursuits 2022 brochure

JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY 

2022 

BE ENLIGHTENED

Blue Mosque, Turkey 

2 

To book call 01280 736 115 or visit artpursuits.com

Welcome... 

December 2021 

Dear travellers, ‘students’ and friends, 

We are looking forward to a full season of travel ahead of us in 2022 and 

our new collection of tours brings an exciting array of once in a lifetime 

experiences, both close to home and further afield. Each tour has been 

carefully planned and crafted by our team of dedicated and experienced tour 

developers and expert lecturers. 

As well as the return of a number of our ‘classic’ tours throughout Germany 

and Italy, we are excited to discover new destinations; we follow in the footsteps of the Knights of St John as 

we are expertly guided by Nigel McGilchrist through Mediaeval Rhodes; the layers of Lisbon are peeled back 

by Isabelle Kent to discover the city prior to the earthquake of 1755; and go further back in history with Sally 

Dormer as she discovers Royal Mediaeval Paris. 

As always, the safety and well-being of our travellers is of the utmost priority and we have stringent checks and 

practices in place that keep you safe on any holiday with us, allowing you to relax and enjoy your experience. 

We look forward to welcoming you on a tour with us soon, 

With best wishes, 

Steve Goodenough 

Managing Director 

“ ” 

Travel is the only thing you 

buy, that makes you richer 

Anonymous 

Front cover image: Sainte Chappelle, Paris, p56 

To book call 01280 736 115 or visit artpursuits.com 3

CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 

WHY CHOOSE ART PURSUITS 6-7 

SO MUCH INCLUDED 8 

MEET THE ART PURSUITS TEAM 9 

MEET OUR EXPERT LECTURERS 10-11 

ITALY 

RAVENNA Early Christian & Byzantine 

Marbles & Mosaics 

ITALIAN COURT CITIES The Rise of the 

Italian City-state during the Reniassance 

LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 

The Milk of Dreams 

NEW 12-13 

NEW 14-15 

NEW 16-17 

SOUTH TYROL Art in the Italian Alps 18-19 

LE MARCHE Venetian Painters Abroad 20-21 

FRIULI & TRIESTE Domain of Venetian Lion 

and Habsburg Eagle 

PARMA & PIACENZA Art, Architecture and 

Gastronomy in the Duchy of the Farnese Family 

LUCCA The Glorious Cities of Northern 

Tuscany: Lucca, Pistoia, Prato & Pisa 

RENAISSANCE FLORENCE Art & History in 

the Time of the Medici 

22-23 

NEW 24-25 

26-27 

28-29 

GERMANY 

ROMANESQUE RHINELAND Romanesque 

Art & Architecture in the Rhineland 

REGENSBURG A Mediaeval Metropolis on 

the Banks of the Bavarian Danube 

FRANCONIA Artistic & Architectural 

Treasures of Northern Bavaria 

IMPERIAL SAXONY Treasures of Mediaeval 

Art & Architecture in the Ottonian Crownland 

DRESDEN Architecture, Paintings 

& Treasures 

SWABIA Art & History between Augsburg and 

Stuttgart 

BODENSEE One Lake, Three Countries, 

Countless Treasures 

NUREMBURG Treasures of Franconia, 

Renaissance to Rococo 

AUSTRIA 

30-31 

32-33 

34-35 

36-37 

38-39 

40-41 

42-43 

44-45 

INN VALLEY In the Realm of the Last Knight 46-47 

VIENNA From the Emperor’s Clothes to 

Klimt’s Kiss 

FRANCE 

NEW 48-49 

TOULOUSE Pilgrims & Heretics NEW 50-51 

4 To book call 01280 736 115 or visit artpursuits.com

PROVENCE School of the South NEW 52-53 

NANCY Flowers of Lorraine 54-55 

MEDIAEVAL PARIS From Merovingian 

to Valois 

BELGIUM 

NEW 56-57 

BELGIUM From Ensor to Magritte NEW 58-59 

CZECH REPUBLIC 

THE AGE OF SPLENDOUR 

Great Houses & Gardens of Moravia 

PORTUGAL 

LISBON Before the Earthquake: Mediaeval 

Treasures & Renaissance Splendour 

MOROCCO 

MARRAKECH 

City of Palaces, Gardens, Artists & Artisans 

GREECE 

60-61 

NEW 62-63 

64-65 

RHODES The Mediterranean's Scepter'd Isle NEW 66-67 

TURKEY 

ISTANBUL The Capital of Empires 68-69 

UZBEKISTAN 

THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND 

Art & Architecture of Central Asia 

USA 

72-73 

NEW YORK Capital of Modern Art 74-75 

UNITED KINGDOM 

GEORGIAN ARCADIA Great Country 

Houses and Landscape Parks of North 

Yorkshire 1700–1800 

76-77 

DORSET Hidden Country Houses & Gardens 78-79 

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTRY HOMES 

From Renaissance to Baroque 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

80-81 

HOW TO BOOK 82 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 83 

EXCLUSIVE GARDEN TOURS 84-85 

SMALL SHIP OCEAN CRUISING 86-87 

BOOKING CONDITIONS 88-89 

TOUR CALENDAR 90-91 

ARMENIA 

ARMENIA The Hidden Land 70-71 


WHY CHOOSE ART PURSUITS 

TRAVELLING WITH ART PURSUITS 

Art Pursuits has offered high quality tours since 2001, specially created for small groups of people with a shared passion. 

Travelling in comfort, staying in stylish hotels and dining in fine restaurants, lovers of art, architecture, history and culture 

can enjoy tours designed by experts and led by experts, who will add colour and bring a depth of understanding to your 

travel experiences. 

EXPERT LECTURERS 

Key to your enjoyment and at the heart of every Art 

Pursuits tour, our expert lecturers have been chosen for 

their specialist knowledge and impeccable academic 

credentials, but equally for their enthusiasm and their 

passion. They are delighted to share your experiences, with 

their expertise bringing each subject to life. 

EXPERIENCED TOUR MANAGER 

Carefully selected for their local knowledge, travel 

experience and organisational skills, our small team of 

friendly and experienced Tour Managers are an extension 

of the Art Pursuits team and are always on hand to ensure 

you enjoy a seamless travel experience. Your holiday 

enjoyment is their priority and they will go the extra mile to 

ensure everything meets your expectations, leaving you to 

relax and enjoy every moment. 

YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS 

Travelling to and from your chosen destination is an 

important part of your tour, with that in mind we use 

flights with British Airways on most tours, and on occasion 

will use alternative carriers to better suit the tour. Where 

schedules allow we only select flights and train departures 

at the most convenient times. All prices are based on 

economy class but our team would be more than happy to 

assist should you wish to upgrade. 

Alternatively, you may prefer to make your own travel 

arrangements at the start and end of your holiday, or even 

extend your stay by a day or two. Please call us for details 

and the price of your tailored tour. 

UNIQUELY CRAFTED TOURS 

Each of our unique tours has been carefully crafted with 

you in mind. Guided by our experts and your feedback, 

we have created a host of fascinating itineraries showing 

you the iconic ‘must see’ sights and lesser-known gems in 

some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. We pride 

ourselves in taking care of the details, so every tour not 

only meets, but exceeds your expectations. 

The art of travelling and studying art and history in beautiful places 

6 


CAREFULLY SELECTED HOTELS 

Carefully selected to match the style of the tour, our 

hotels are very much part of what makes your tour 

memorable. 

We consider the best possible location, whether that 

is in the centre of a city, or on a tranquil lakeside 

shore. We place equal importance on the warmth 

of the welcome, ambience and standard of service. 

It may be characterful and quirky, or elegant and 

contemporary, most of our hotels are four-star rated, 

but all offer the high standards and comfort we know 

you expect. 

NO HIDDEN EXTRAS 

The published price of all of our tours includes your hotel, 

transport, entrance fees, taxes, driver gratuities, and the 

services of our expert lecturer and Tour Manager. Each 

tour includes some meals and where lunch or dinner is 

included, wine, tea and coffee are also served plus we will 

take care of waiter gratuities. 

We welcome single travellers. Unfortunately, most hotels 

charge more per person for a single-occupancy room than 

for a shared room. However, to keep single supplements to 

a minimum our tour price for single travellers only reflects 

these actual costs. 

OUR PERSONAL SERVICE 

From your initial enquiry to your post-tour feedback, you 

will enjoy the personal service of our small and friendly 

team of travel advisors. With in-depth knowledge of all our 

tours, they are on hand to share their expert advice and 

answer all of your questions. 

GROUP SIZE 

To enhance your enjoyment of the tour you will be 

travelling as part of a small group of like-minded people. 

Groups are usually restricted to a maximum of 22 but 

with an average group size of 17 you will be able to enjoy 

private visits to unique venues and exclusive places that 

would not be accessible to the wider public. 

ACTIVITY AND FITNESS 

Whilst each itinerary is designed to balance exploration 

with relaxation, the nature of these tours means there will 

at times be extensive walking and inevitably some long 

periods of standing. If you have any concerns please do not 

hesitate to call us and we will be happy to discuss in more 

detail so you can decide if this is the right tour for you, or 

help you find a suitable alternative. 

SPECIAL VISITS 

Many of our tours include exclusive visits to sites including 

churches, private houses and collections. Occasionally a 

venue may not be able to fulfil the special arrangements 

we have made but please be assured we will always seek 

out an interesting alternative should that situation arise. 

FULL FINANCIAL PROTECTION 

You can book with us and travel with confidence knowing 

that as members of ABTA we are a fully bonded and 

licensed tour operator with air holidays protected by ATOL. 

Should you need to contact us when you are on holiday, 

our Tour Manager is available 24/7 with access to our 24- 

hour emergency contact. 


SO MUCH INCLUDED ..... 

• Inclusive travel by air & selected tours by rail 

• Private coach travel throughout 

• Quality accommodation in carefully selected hotels 

• Many dinners and lunches with wine, tea & coffee 

• Unique itineraries expertly planned 

• Guided visits and entrance fees 

• Services of an experienced Tour Manager 

• Expert Lecturer to guide you around 

• Detailed programme and study notes 

• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters 


MEET THE ART PURSUITS TEAM 

STEVE GOODENOUGH 

Steve gained his extensive knowledge 

of the travel business over many 

years before he joined the special 

interest company, Arena Travel, in 

2016 as Managing Director. Steve is 

based in the Market Harborough office, 

where he takes overall responsibility for all 

the Arena Travel brands. 

HELEN GREASBY 

After studying Tourism Management 

at University, Helen travelled 

extensively in Europe and beyond 

before working for several UK Tour 

Operators and joining the Art Pursuits 

team. Excellent customer service skills 

and attention to detail enable Helen to organise your 

travel requests with all the knowledge necessary to offer 

you a dedicated service. 

JULIE KIRKUP 

Living in France for four years, 

working as a bilingual PA, gave 

Julie excellent skills which help her 

in her role at Art Pursuits. Julie is 

responsible for putting together our 

programme of tours including France 

and Spain. 

MARION VAN HOECKE 

Born in the Flemish part of Belgium, 

Marion has lived in the UK since 

1995, working as a PA whilst teaching 

French and German - assisting 

children with special needs. Marion 

is now working as a freelance translator 

and is an experienced Tour Manager for Art Pursuits. 

CLAIRE JAMIESON 

Before joining Art Pursuits in 2013, 

Claire managed an independent travel 

agency. This work took her around 

the world researching the finer points 

that make inspiring trips. Claire’s wide 

knowledge of travel makes her the ideal 

person to oversee all aspects of Art Pursuits 

travel arrangements. 

PATRIZIA LERCO 

Patrizia lives in Venice where she 

works for Art Pursuits, developing 

our Italian tours and is a skilled and 

experienced Tour Manager. Patrizia is 

known to many of our loyal clients for 

her personal care and commitment to 

making sure the tours run smoothly. 

AMY BALLINGER 

Amy joined Arena Travel’s Cultural 

and Garden Tours team two years 

ago and her role is Brand Marketing 

Assistant. Amy is able to use her 

creative flair and organisational skills 

to oversee marketing throughout our 

Cultural tour division. Amy enjoys writing her own 

tea and lifestyle blog in her spare time. 

CHRIS DOWLING 

Growing up in Venice, Chris 

developed a passion for travel and 

art history in the world’s most 

beautiful city. He organises many of 

Art Pursuits’ Italian tours as well as 

creating tours and itineraries for students 

of art history, political science and international 

studies in Italy and Europe. 

MELLISSA TAYLOR 

Mellissa acquired her travel 

experience whilst working for 

companies ranging from the 

luxury brand, Elegant Resorts, to 

an educational tour operator and a 

specialist destination company. Mellissa 

oversees the Art Pursuits office in Buckingham. 


MEET OUR 

EXPERT LECTURERS 

TOM ABBOTT 

Tom Abbott studied psychology and art 

history in the US before completing his 

graduate research in the history of art and 

architecture in Berlin, where he now lives. 

Tom also studied at the Louvre School of 

Art History in Paris and has lectured around 

the world, specialising in architecture and art 

from the Renaissance to the Baroque and beyond. 

DR JUSTINE HOPKINS 

Dr Justine Hopkins is a freelance lecturer 

and writer, specialising in art of the 

19th and 20th centuries. Justine has 

taught for various universities, including 

Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and London, 

and lectures regularly for both Tate galleries, 

the V&A, the National Gallery, and numerous 

independent art groups. 

DR ULRIKE ZIEGLER 

Specialising in mediaeval art and in 

cultural politics of post-war Germany 

at the universities of Regensburg and 

Aberdeen, Dr Ulrike Ziegler is a wellrespected 

member of Art Pursuits and 

has lectured at universities and for multiple 

cultural institutions, along with organising and 

leading many study tours in both Germany and Austria. 

Ulrike is now working on Art Pursuits' German programme. 

BARBARA PEACOCK 

Barbara Peacock is Director of Wessex 

Fine Art study courses and has run many 

successful tours in both Britain and 

abroad and lectures for the Art Society, 

the Art Fund and for the National Trust. 

She was a lecturer in the department of 

Extra-mural Studies at the University of 

Southampton. 

ISABELLE KENT 

Isabelle is an art historian, writer and 

lecturer specialising in Spanish art. She 

teaches regularly for the V&A, Art Fund, 

Royal Academy and the University of 

Cambridge. From 2017 to 2019 she worked 

as the Enriqueta Harris Frankfort Curatorial 

Assistant of Spanish Painting at the Wallace 

Collection. Her book on collecting the art of Bartolomé Esteban 

Murillo in Britain was recently published by CEEH. She received 

her BA and MPhil in History of Art from Trinity College, Cambridge. 

DR WILLIAM TAYLOR 

Dr William Taylor has travelled and 

lectured across the Middle East and 

Central Asia and has published books 

about these regions. As Chairman of 

the Anglican and Eastern Churches and 

vicar of St John’s church in Notting Hill, 

London, William has personal contacts in many 

monasteries and churches. He is a linguist and has worked in 

Jordan, Cairo and Turkey; his PhD focused on Orthodox Churches 

of the Ottoman Empire. 

DR SALLY DORMER 

As Director of the Early Mediaeval Year 

Course at the V&A, Sally is an expert in 

mediaeval art and history. She completed 

her PhD at the Courtauld Institute, and was, 

until recently, Dean of European Studies, a 

study-abroad semester for undergraduates at 

the University of the South and Rhodes College, TN, USA. Sally 

also lectures for the Art Fund, the Arts Society, and Ciceroni. 

NIGEL McGILCHRIST 

Having lived and worked in the 

Mediterranean area (Italy, Turkey & 

Greece), for forty years, Art Historian, 

Nigel McGilchrist has taught for several 

universities in the USA and in Italy and now 

lectures freelance. He has worked for the Italian 

Ministry of Arts on wall painting conservation and 

is the author of the 20-volume series, McGilchrist’s Greek Islands. 

10 


BEN STREET 

Ben Street is an art historian, educator, 

lecturer and writer based in London. He 

is a consultant lecturer on modern and 

contemporary art at Sotheby’s Institute of 

Art and Christie’s Education, and a lecturer 

at Tate, the National Gallery, Dulwich Picture 

Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He 

has written numerous texts for museum and gallery publications 

across the world and is the author of audioguides for major 

exhibitions at the Royal Academy and Tate Modern. Ben is the cowriter 

and presenter of ‘Duchamp’s Urinal’ for BBC Radio 4. 

SUE ROLLIN 

Sue Rollin specialises in the ancient 

and Islamic Middle East, India and the 

Mediterranean. An archaeologist, historian 

and linguist by training, Sue lectures 

for the Arts society and the V&A and has 

led Study Tours in Spain, Sicily, Morocco, 

the Middle East, Central Asia and India. Sue 

speaks Spanish, Italian, French and German. She is co-author 

of two travel guides: the Blue Guide to Jordan and Istanbul: A 

Traveller’s Guide. 

DR GEOFFREY NUTTALL 

Following a career in publishing, Dr 

Geoffrey Nuttall followed his wife into 

art history. He is head of journals at 

Cambridge University Press and had 

gained a PhD, a study of artistic patronage 

of Lucca’s great mercantile families at the 

Courtauld Institute. 

DR KATHY MCLAUCHLAN 

Dr Kathy McLauchlan is Course Director of 

three year courses at the V&A Museum. 

After graduating from Oxford Kathy 

obtained her PhD from the Courtauld 

Institute with a thesis on the work of 

students at the French Academy in Rome. 

Kathy lecturers widely to adult audiences. 

DR PAULA NUTTALL 

Dr Paula Nuttall is an authority on Italian 

and Netherlandish Renaissance Art and 

director of the V&A’s Mediaeval and 

Renaissance year course. Paula is the 

author of Flanders to Florence and Face 

to Face: Florence and Renaissance Painting, 

and has lectured on many Art Pursuits' tours over 

the years. 

CLARE FORD-WILLE 

Having lectured on European art, 

architecture and sculpture, primarily 

for the University of London, moving 

on to the National Gallery, the V&A and 

NADFAS, the independent art historian, 

Clare Ford-Wille is a perfect member of Art 

Pursuits – you’re sure to learn a lot during her 

lectures. 


ITALY 

RAVENNA 

Early Christian & Byzantine Marbles & Mosaics 

San Vitale 

In Ravenna we see proof that although the Western Roman Empire weakened, and ultimately collapsed in the late 5th- 

Century, incomparable artistic achievement continued into the mid-6th Century. By the time Alaric, the Visigoth, sacked 

Rome, the Eternal City, in 410, Ravenna had been the imperial capital for eight years. Its 5th-Century Roman buildings, 

including the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, are consequently among the finest that survive, an unlikely patrimony for what 

had been a marshy, malarial garrison town. Ravenna’s 

strategic and political importance has been established; 

the Ostrogoths and in 540, the Byzantine army, fought 

hard to capture it. The Ostrogothic king Theodoric and the 

Byzantine Emperor Justinian made Ravenna their Italian 

capital, and both endowed it with treasures unparalleled 

in 6th-Century Italy. Most glorious are the mosaic and 

marble filled interiors of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and San 

Vitale. Join Dr Sally Dormer on this tour, which explores 

how Ravenna became one of the greatest cultural centres 

Ravenna 

in Italy, a rival to Rome and Milan. 

12 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Early afternoon flight from London Heathrow to Bologna. We travel by 

private coach to Ravenna to the four-star Palazzo Bezzi hotel in the 

heart of the city. 

Day 2 

A day to explore Ravenna on foot, starting with San Giovanni 

Evangelista and then the mesmerizing starry mosaic sky of the 

5th-Century so-called Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, once part of the 

church of Santa Croce. Next door rises the huge octagon of San Vitale, 

erected a century later and internally adorned with the spectacular 

mosaics of a Byzantine Emperor and his Empress, probably Justinian 

and Theodora, and their entourage. After lunch we visit the Domus 

of the Tappeti di Pietra, with its 5th and 6th-Century mosaics 

adorning the floor of a private dwelling found under the church of 

Sant’Eufemia. We will then walk to the Church of San Francesco, to 

admire the tomb of Dante Alighieri. In the evening we will return to 

the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia for a private exclusive viewing. 

Day 3 

In the morning, we will visit the baptistery of Bishop Neon, depicting 

a stately procession in mosaic, of white-robed Apostles. The 

Archiepiscopal Museum next door contains the early 6th-Century 

Chapel of St Andrew and the Throne of Maximian, a unique ensemble 

of mid-6th Century ivory panels designed as a bishop’s cathedra 

or throne. We then visit the Cathedral to see some fine examples 

of marble sarcophagi made in Ravenna in the 5th-Century. In the 

afternoon we visit the so-called “Palace of Theodoric”, the impressive 

remains of a building probably dating from the 7th or 8th-Century, 

which may have housed the Exarchs (the city-governors). Close by 

stands the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, built by the Ostrogothic 

King Theodoric in the early 6th-Century. The mosaics, some of which 

were later censored on account of their heretical Arian imagery, 

contain fine representations of the city of Ravenna and the nearby 

port of Classe at the time of Theodoric. The Arian Baptistry is a small 

building, also constructed under Theodoric, with mosaics of the 

Baptism of Christ, depicted as a beardless young man standing in 

the River Jordan. The final visit of the day will be to the Mausoleum 

of Theodoric, a monumental structure in Istrian stone, standing in 

impressive isolation in a garden outside the city walls. 

Day 4 

In the morning we set off by coach to Classe, Ravenna’s Ancient 

Roman port, where we will visit the excavations of the port and the 

first of Ravenna’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, the 6th-Century 

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, which is dominated inside by 

an apse mosaic of the Transfiguration. After a group lunch in a local 

restaurant, we return to Ravenna for a free afternoon. 

Day 5 

In the morning we travel to Pomposa, a thousand-year-old abbey to 

the north of Ravenna and one of the most evocative sites in the Po 

delta. We will then stop in Bagnacavallo to visit the Pieve of San Pietro 

in Silvis. After a group lunch in a local restaurant, we continue by 

coach to Bologna Marconi airport for a late afternoon flight to London 

Heathrow. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr Sally Dormer 

TOUR DATES 

14 – 18 May 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 

£2,195 per person 

Double room for sole use supplement: £240 

‘No flights’ price: £2,095 per person 

Deposit: £450 per person 

WHAT IS INCLUDED 

• Return economy class flights from London 

• Private coach transfers and excursions 

• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Palazzo 

Bezzi, Ravenna 

• Two dinners and two lunches 

• Guided visits to monuments and museums listed in the 

programme 

• Services of the Lecturer and Tour Manager 


• All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers 

and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Palazzo Bezzi, Ravenna 

Palazzo Bezzi, is a four-star superior hotel in the heart of 

Ravenna, only a few steps away from the centre and from the 

most prestigious Byzantine mosaics. The hotel offers its guests 

all the charm of its old tradition, combined with care and 

attention to detail. Rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, 

Wi-Fi, telephone, minibar, TV and hairdryer. 

Palazzo Bezzi 

Ravenna 

Palazzo Bezzi 

Palazzo Bezzi 


ITALY 

ITALIAN COURT CITIES 

The Rise of the Italian City-State During the Renaissance 

Palazzo Ducale, Camera degli Sposi, Mantua 

The rise of the Italian city-state during the Renaissance defines a period of paradoxical contrast. Although scourged by 

often tyrannical rule and frequent territorial warfare, the great ruling dynasties of the period, among them the Montefeltro, 

Malatesta, Sforza and Gonzaga families, enabled through their patronage a flowering of artistic, intellectual and 

architectural ambition that gave birth to some of the most splendid examples of art and architecture of the Renaissance 

period. This tour will explore the cultural flourishing of two of the most representative of Northern Italian court cities 

– the romantic Mantua, known by locals as La Bella Addormentata, the sleeping beauty, and the picturesque Urbino. 

In its island-like position in the middle of three artificial lakes, Mantua was the setting for one of the most illustrious 

courts of the Renaissance Italy, ruled by the Gonzaga family from 1328. In the Renaissance the hill town of Urbino, 

under the rule of Federico da Montefeltro, experienced a cultural flowering beyond compare. Federico’s Palazzo Ducale 

is widely regarded as the most beautiful of Italian Renaissance palaces. We will end the tour visiting Pesaro and the 

Villa Imperiale in the hills outside the city, an outstanding example of Mannerist architecture. This tour will bring to life 

these vibrant cities, and the fierce rivalries between their noble families which served to stimulate the urban expression 

of Renaissance ideals. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Bologna. Transfer by private 

coach to Mantua, our base for the first three nights of the tour. Upon 

arrival in Mantua, enjoy an introductory walk including the 11th-Century 

Rotonda di S. Lorenzo and the Cathedral of San Pietro. We will also visit 

the Christian temple of Sant’Andrea, designed by Renaissance humanist 

and architect Leonbattista Alberti, a ground-breaking example of Early 

Renaissance church architecture. 

Day 2 

A day in Mantua on foot. The grand Piazza Sordello, Mantua’s oldest 

square, encapsulates the town’s history. Bordered by mediaeval palaces 

and towers, this square has always been the political centre of town. 

Next to the Episcopal palace and cathedral, a reminder of Mantua’s early 

history, the labyrinthine complex of the Palazzo Ducale is witness to the 

rise of the Gonzaga family. This monumental building with countless 

rooms and an abundance of art ranging from Andrea Mantegna’s breathtaking 

Camera degli Sposi to Isabella d’Este’s famous grotto and studiolo. 

In the afternoon we visit the extraordinary Palazzo Te, a Mannerist 

reinterpretation of an Italian villa suburbana, created by Giulio Romano 

for Federico II to meet his private passions. 

Day 3 

Full-day excursion to Sabbioneta where Vespasiano Gonzaga’s 

architectural dream of an ideal Renaissance city became reality. In 

the morning, our visit will take us to the Palazzo Ducale, the Teatro 

all’Antica, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi in 1588 and the church of 

the Incoronata. After lunch we will visit the Palazzo del Giardino and the 

Galleria degli Antichi before returning to Mantua for a free evening. 

Day 4 

By coach to Cesena, where the Biblioteca Malatestiana, created for 

Domenico Malatesta, stands as one of the great Renaissance libraries. 

This unique foundation – the first civic library in Europe – has preserved 

its appearance and codices since its opening in 1454. Onwards to Rimini, 

where two Roman roads, the Via Flaminia and the Via Emilia, ended. 

The Roman colony’s significance manifests itself in monuments such as 

the Triumphal Arch of Augustus. Evidence of former Malatesta glory is 

found in the Church of San Francesco, or ‘Tempio Malatestiano’, designed 

by Leonbattista Alberti, with interior decorations by Agostino di Duccio 

and Piero della Francesca. Continue to Urbino, our base for the last three 

nights of this tour. 

Day 5 

A day on foot in Urbino will allow us to discover the delights of the 

Palazzo Ducale. The palace is home to the Galleria Nazionale delle 

Marche, a magnificent collection of works by Paolo Uccello, Piero della 

Francesca and Raphael. 

Day 6 

A short drive in the morning will take us to San Bernardino, the 

mausoleum of the Montefeltro dukes, situated on the outskirts of Urbino. 

We return to the Piazza del Mercato to walk up the steps leading to the 

Oratorio di San Giovanni, beautifully frescoed with narrative scenes 

in International Gothic Style, while the cathedral, substantially rebuilt 

after an earthquake in the late 18th-Century, houses three altarpieces by 

Frederico Barocci. The afternoon is free before a farewell dinner. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr Paula Nuttal 

TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Casa 

Poli, Mantua 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel San 

Domenico, Urbino 

• Three dinners and two lunches 

• Guided visits to monuments and museums listed in 

the programme 



• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers 

and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Casa Poli, Mantua 

The contemporary Hotel Casa Poli is a four-star hotel located 

in the heart of Mantua. Guest rooms are fully equipped with 

Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, minibar, safe and a TV. 

Hotel San Domenico, Urbino 

Hotel San Domenico is a four-star hotel, converted from a 

Renaissance convent located in front of the Ducal Palace 

in Urbino. The building is stately but elegant and its Loggia 

provides a perfect setting for breakfast. Rooms are spacious 

and quiet and provided with all mod-cons. 

Day 7 

Morning visit to Pesaro on the Adriatic coast. In the 1530s Duke 

Francesco Maria della Rovere and his wife Eleonora Gonzaga converted 

a 15th-Century hunting lodge to become the palatial suburban Villa 

Imperiale, a project so ambitious it was never completed. Terraced 

gardens, loggias and a sunken courtyard are complemented by rooms 

lavishly frescoed with tromp-l’oeil views of Arcadian landscapes. After 

admiring the exterior of the Palazzo Ducale in Pesaro, we will stop for 

lunch at a seaside restaurant before travelling on to Bologna airport for a 

flight back to London. 

Hotel San Domenico 

Hotel Casa Poli, Patio 


ITALY 

LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 

Milk of Dreams 

Corderie dell'Arsenale 

The Venice Art Biennale is the world’s largest and longest-running exhibition of contemporary art. Taking place every 

two years, it attracts millions of visitors as well as artists, curators and dealers from across the world. Its main Pavilions 

are set in the Giardini della Biennale, the gardens originally created by Napoleon on the eastern part of Castello, and 

in the Corderie dell’Arsenale, the vast area of the Arsenale originally used by the ship-builders of the Serenissima to 

make ropes for its navy. With now over 90 countries represented, many Pavilions are also found across the city in 

many palazzi and museums. But the history and presence of modern and contemporary art in Venice go well beyond 

the Biennale exhibitions. Throughout the 20th-Century Venice has been a focal point for art patrons and collectors, 

brilliantly combining the new forms with the cultural heritage of the city into a unique and vibrant art scene. Peggy 

Guggenheim made the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal her home, now housing her most celebrated 

collection. She bought artworks around Europe and America in the first half of the 20th-Century, discovering artists 

such as Pollock and collecting pieces by Picasso, Kandinsky, Duchamp, Klee, and Magritte among others, in a collection 

embracing cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism. More recently, the French businessman and art collector 

Francois Pinault established his own exhibition space in the splendid setting of Punta della Dogana, the former customs 

building of Venice, renovated by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, a powerful rehabilitation of the setting in constant 

interaction with the work of artists, curators and the international art world. Join our guest lecturer Ben Street on this 

new tour as we discover the best and the latest in contemporary art at the Venice Biennale and the parallel exhibitions 

taking place in museums across the city, embedded in the tradition and charm of Venice’s unique artistic heritage. 

16 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Early afternoon flight from London to Venice. Transfer by water taxi 

from the airport to the four-star Hotel Saturnia in the heart of Venice. 

After settling in your rooms, we will set out on a short orientationwalk 

and visit one of the external Biennale Pavilions chosen by the 

Tour Lecturer, Ben Street. 

Day 2 

We will spend the day visiting the Giardini della Biennale, which have 

been hosting the exhibition since its inception in 1895. We will visit a 

number of the 30 national pavilions, which every two years showcase 

the most significant contemporary artists in individually curated 

exhibitions in stunning independent buildings, many of which were 

designed by world-famous architects, such as Alvar Aalto and Gerrit 

Rietveld. Pavilions we will visit include France, Great Britain, the USA, 

Austria, Holland, Belgium and Greece, among others. We will also 

visit the first part of the main Biennale exhibition, which occupies the 

central pavilion in the Giardini and features a wide array of the most 

interesting international contemporary artists. 

Day 3 

This day will be dedicated to visiting the Arsenale, the former 

ship-building warehouses which, after being restored and adapted 

technologically, are now fully given over to the other (and much 

larger) part of the main exhibition. This huge exhibition is curated 

by a single individual displaying many international artists, allowing 

visitors to get a sense of the current thinking and practices of major 

living artists. Many other national pavilions are also located in this 

part of the city, for countries who do not have a permanent building 

in the Giardini. These include Ghana, South Africa, Argentina, Malta, 

Ireland, Ukraine, India, China and many others. 

Day 4 

In the morning we travel by boat to visit Punta della Dogana, the vast 

space of the former Customs-House of the Serenissima, renovated 

by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, to see the latest contemporary 

exhibition of François Pinault’s rich private collection. We will visit 

the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, an extraordinary collection of 

European and American art of the first half of the 20th-Century, 

including works by Pollock, Picasso, Kandinsky, Duchamp, Klee, 

and Magritte among others, created by the American heiress Peggy 

Guggenheim in her former home on the Grand Canal. After lunch and 

a short walk, we will visit the second half of Pinault’s exhibition space 

in Venice, Palazzo Grassi. 

Day 5 

In the morning we visit some of the off-site Pavilions hosted in the 

Palazzi around the city, including the winning Pavilion of the 2021 

Biennale dell’Arte. In the afternoon visit to either the Fondazione 

Prada at Ca’ Corner, or the Gallery of Modern Art in Ca’ Pesaro before 

being transferred by water taxi to Venice airport for a late afternoon 

flight to London. As many of the national exhibitions of the Venice 

Biennale and other temporary exhibitions won’t be announced before 

the start of 2022, the above itinerary may be subject to changes. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Ben Street 

TOUR DATES 

19 – 23 June 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Venice 

• Transfers between airport and hotel and excursions by 

water-taxi 

• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel 

Saturnia, Venezia 

• Two dinners and one lunch 

• Guided visits to sites listed in the programme 



• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for water-taxi 

drivers and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Saturnia – Venezia 

The Saturnia and International is an exclusive family-run 

four-star hotel that enjoys a strategic position, nestled in the 

heart of Venice, a short walk away from St. Mark’s Square 

and La Fenice Theatre. Parts of the building date back to the 

14th-Century, evoking a truly charming atmosphere and a 

unique Venetian style with its historic setting and elegantly 

exquisite furnishings. The hotel also has its own restaurant, 

the Caravella, which offers Venetian cuisine with a gourmet 

and contemporary touch. 

Guggenheim collection, Venice 

Hotel Saturnia 

Bedroom 


ITALY UK 

SOUTH TYROL 

Art in the Italian Alps 

Castello del Buonconsiglio 

South Tyrol, situated between snow-clad Alpine peaks and Mediterranean sun, is Italy’s northernmost region, bordering 

Switzerland to the north-west, Austria to the north-east, and the rest of Italy to the south. The natural landscape along the 

Adige and Isarco rivers is breathtakingly beautiful – their fertile plains covered by vineyards and orchards are flanked by 

sheltered valleys and sublime mountains. The cultural landscape offers a wealth of highlights, both in proud hill towns and 

in picturesque villages: the trade route across the Brenner 

Pass along the Valle Isarco to Verona has been the main link 

between central Europe and Italy for centuries. Extensive 

fresco cycles of chivalric tales decorate the walls of the 

province’s rugged castles, and murals of the Romanesque 

to Baroque periods depict stories of the exemplary lives of 

saints in no less imposing parish churches: for centuries 

they have been accompanying merchants en route to 

Venice, pilgrims on the road to Rome, and knights on their 

quest to conquer the Holy Land. 

Castel Roncolo 

Castel Roncolo 

18 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

A morning flight from London Heathrow to Venice. Coach transfer 

from the airport to Bolzano, stopping for lunch en route, before 

arriving at your four-star hotel. 

Day 2 

A day in Bolzano and surroundings: in the morning visit the richly 

decorated churches and cloisters of the Dominican and Franciscan 

friars. Afternoon excursion to nearby Castel Roncolo, rising high above 

the Isarco River, with murals depicting scenes of chivalric pastimes. 

Return to Bolzano via Gries whose parish church houses the shrine 

of a fabulous Late Gothic altarpiece by Michael Pacher, one of the 

greatest woodcarvers and painters working in Tyrol in the second half 

of the 15th-Century. 

Day 3 

A day spent in Vipiteno/Sterzing, founded in 14 BC as a Roman 

military camp, it is Italy’s northern-most city, a mere ten miles from 

the Brenner Pass and the Austrian border. In the Middle Ages lead 

and silver mines in the nearby valleys attracted the attention and 

patronage of the Fugger bankers from Augsburg: merchant houses and 

the parish church of St. Mary, the largest between Munich and Verona, 

reflect the town’s prosperity, as do the remaining figures, woodcarvings 

and painted panels of an enormous winged altarpiece by Hans 

Multscher from Ulm, displayed in the former House of the Teutonic 

Knights. 

Day 4 

Coach transfer to Missian and from there on foot past vineyards 

and through shaded woods up a hill to the ruins of the castle of 

Hocheppan, the Castello di Appiano, with spectacular views of the 

Dolomites. In the castle’s courtyard, a 12th-Century chapel has walls 

completely covered with superb frescoes of the early 13th-Century. 

After a hearty Tyrolean lunch in the Castle Inn, return to Bolzano for 

some free time. 

Day 5 

Bressanone/Brixen is the region’s most beguiling town, its cathedral 

combining Romanesque cloister walls covered in graceful frescoes 

with baroque onion domes. The city’s prince-bishops amassed 

artistic treasures in their palace – now a handsome museum – with a 

magnificent Renaissance courtyard. After lunch a short coach trip will 

take us to Novacella/Neustift, the most significant abbey in Tyrol, set 

among award-winning vineyards. Visit the Baroque collegiate church 

with famous ceiling frescoes by Matthäus Günther, the library with its 

precious manuscripts, a maze-like art gallery, and the unique Baroque 

gardens with fishpond and aviary. 

Day 6 

Signs for the strada del vino will direct us to the charming town 

of Tramin/Termeno which has given its name to the aromatic 

gewürztraminer grape. There, perched on a little hill, the church of 

San Giacomo in Kastelaz holds a 13th-Century frescoed menagerie of 

fantastic hybrid creatures in one aisle, while in the other courtly saints 

and angels tell the story of St James. After a lunchtime visit to one of 

Tramin’s famous cantine, a short drive over to the village of Pinzano 

whose parish church is home to one of the most beautiful carved 

polyptychs of the late 15th-Century in the South Tyrol by Hans Klocker. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr Ulrike Ziegler 

TOUR DATES 

26 June – 2 July 2022 

7 days 

TOUR PRICES 



‘No flights’ price £2,475 per person 



• Return economy class flights from London to Venice 


• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Parkhotel 

Laurin, Bolzano 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Parkhotel Laurin, Bolzano 

The Laurie has welcomed guests since 1910. This four-star 

hotel is perfect for art lovers, with magnificent original 

artwork lining the walls of this hotel. Explore the hotel English 

garden, with impressive trees, flowers and shrubs. Start the 

morning with a cappuccino or relax after a day of exploring 

with a cocktail in the bar. The suites all have induvial 

handcrafted furniture and original works of art in each room. 

Day 7 

For centuries the prince-bishopric of Trent vigilantly retained its 

independence from the Counts of Tyrol and the Republic of Venice, 

and paid only nominal allegiance to the German Empire. The city 

became notable as the venue of the eponymous council (1545-63), 

which articulated Counter-Reformation policy. Its principal buildings 

– the duomo and the Castello del Buonconsiglio – are impressive 

showcases of the prince-bishops’ glorious rule from the Romanesque 

period to the secularisation of 1803, while grand and richly decorated 

palazzi are fine manifestations of Renaissance town planning. In the 

afternoon continue to Munich airport for a flight to London. 

Bedroom 

Vipiteno Sterzing 

Parkhotel Laurin 

Tramin 


ITALY 

LE MARCHE 

Venetian Painters Abroad 

Church of Santa Maria de Portonovo 

As the name suggests, Le Marche is a border area, and for centuries their territories were fiercely contested. At the end of 

the Middle Ages this remote region of Italy was incorporated into the Papal States, though local lords and prelates were 

nominally left in charge. This manoeuvred Le Marche — especially their southern reaches — into an off-piste position 

in comparison with its more easily accessible neighbours of Tuscany and Umbria. Nonetheless, this land of ‘Sleeping 

Beauties’ is home to some great art and architecture, ranging from the extraordinarily elaborate pilgrimage site of Loreto, 

containing a Holy House miraculously transported to the town by angels, to the intensely mystical paintings of Lorenzo 

Lotto, who was invited to the Le Marche by the Dominicans. Lotto was in fact just one of a number of major painters 

from the Veneto who worked in the region at some point during their lives; these include such great names as Giovanni 

Bellini, Carlo Crivelli and Titian, who were often attracted by the opportunities offered by the region’s numerous small 

courts. Each hilltop town has its own distinctive atmosphere and beauty, ranging from the steep stony streets of Fermo 

to the grandeur of many-towered Ascoli Piceno, from the solid bastions of Jesi to the melancholy charm of Recanati, 

home to Italy’s greatest lyrical poet, Giacomo Leopardi. No-one gazing upon the delicate beauty of these hills crowned 

by their mediaeval towns and villages can be in any doubt as to the source of the poet’s inspiration. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Bologna. By coach along 

the Via Flaminia to Rimini. A walk through the town to visit Tempio 

Malatestiano by Leon Battista Alberti. Continue to Recanati, our base 

for four nights. 

Day 2 

Full-day coach excursion to Jesi and Pergola. The Civic Art Gallery 

contains a number of fine works by Lorenzo Lotto, and an 

extraordinary Rococo Gallery, one of the longest and most splendid 

of its kind in Italy. After lunch, continue to Pergola to admire the 

monumental Bronzi Dorati da Cartoceto di Pergola. Discovered nearby 

in 1946 and possibly depicting members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, 

they are the only surviving gilt-bronze equestrian ensemble to survive 

from Roman Antiquity. 

Day 3 

Ancona, capital of the Le Marche, has been a major port since its 

foundation by Greek settlers in 387 BC. The Arch of Trajan commands 

over the harbour, while the Romanesque cathedral devoted to St 

Cyriacus towers on the hill above. In the Pinacoteca Civica we will study 

Titian’s enchanting Gozzi Altarpiece of 1520 and a Madonna and Child 

by Carlo Crivelli. San Francesco alle Scale contains an Assumption 

by Lorenzo Lotto. Continue to Santa Maria di Portonovo, a beautiful 

11th-century church on the Conero Riviera, followed by lunch inside a 

former Napoleonic fortress. Return by coach to Recanati. 

Day 4 

Visit some of Le Marche’s charming hill towns, each with its own 

individual appeal. Monte San Giusto acquired its own Renaissance 

court under the Bonafede family; the church of Santa Maria della Pietà 

has a fine Crucifixion by Lotto. In Belforte the church of Sant’Eustachio 

contains a splendid International Gothic polyptych by Giovanni 

Boccati. Tolentino’s principal church is dedicated to the local saint, 

St Nicholas (d.1305). The great chapel of the church contains a cycle 

of frescoes by the 14th-Century painter Pietro da Rimini. Back in 

Recanati, an evening visit to the Museo Villa Colloredo Mels will 

conclude with a recital of opera arias. 

Day 5 

By coach to Fermo whose Duomo reveals Roman and Paleo-Christian 

elements, including remains of a basilica dating from the 6th-Century 

A.D. and mosaics in the apse reminiscent of those in Ravenna. The 

Museo Diocesano has Thomas Becket’s Cassock, a gift of the saint’s 

mother to the Church of Fermo in 1116. The Art Gallery in Palazzo dei 

Priori hosts the paintings by the Venetian Jacobello del Fiore depicting 

scenes of the life of St. Lucy. After lunch in the mediaeval borgo of 

Torre di Palme, continue to Ascoli Piceno, for the first of three nights. 

Day 6 

Ascoli Piceno has an unspoilt handsome historical centre lined 

with magnificent, white Travertine-faced buildings. A morning walk 

across the Roman Ponte di Solestà will lead us to the splendidly 

austere Romanesque Baptistery and the Duomo with an altarpiece 

by the Venetian Carlo Crivelli. More works of him are on show in the 

Pinacoteca Civica. Some free time in Ascoli. 

Day 7 

Full day excursion to Norcia, the birthplace of Saint Benedict. On the 

way there we’ll stop for a coffee break at Castelluccio, internationally 

renowned for its colourful meadows blossoming in spring and 

summer. Return by coach to Ascoli Piceno for our final dinner in a local 

restaurant. 

TOUR DATES 

20 – 27 September 2022 

8 days 

TOUR PRICES 









Gallery, Recanati 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel 

Palazzo dei Mercanti, Ascoli Piceno 

• Four dinners and two lunches 





and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Piazzo del Popolo, Ascoli Piceno 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Nigel McGilchrist 

Hotel Gallery, Recanati 

Fronting a cobbled lane, this elegant hotel has valley views. 

Featuring classic decor, the relaxed rooms provide flat-screen 

TVs and room service is available 24/7. The air conditioned 

rooms also feature a TV, minibar, safe and complimentary 

Wi-Fi. 

Hotel Palazzo dei Mercanti, Ascoli Piceno 

Just a few steps away from Piazza del Popolo, beating heart of 

the town since the Middle Ages, this historic residence faces 

onto Corso Trento e Trieste, an important street of the old town 

centre which crosses Corso G. Mazzini, the old “decuman”. 

Shops, restaurants and cultural centres are all just a short 

walk away. Rooms are fully equipped with a hairdryer, safe 

and complimentary Wi-Fi. 

Day 8 

By coach to Spoleto. The Cathedral has outstanding frescoes by Filippo 

Lippi and Pinturicchio. After lunch continue to Bologna airport for an 

evening flight back to London Heathrow. 

Hotel Gallery 

Hotel Palazzo dei Mercanti 


ITALY 

FRIULI & TRIESTE 

Domain of Venetian Lion & Habsburg Eagle 

Miramare Castle 

Friuli Venezia-Giulia with its capital Trieste represents a true central-European cultural landscape, stretching between 

the Carnic and Julian Alps and the vast lagoons of the Adriatic coast. Under the shared auspices of the Venetian Lion 

of St Mark and of the double-headed imperial eagle of the Habsburgs, the threshold to the Balkans in the extreme northeast 

of Italy has always stood apart for its own particular artistic, historical and even linguistic heritage, shaped by 

Italians, Slavs and Germans. One of Italy’s five autonomous regions, it harbours many outstanding artistic treasures 

from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the century-long rule of the Serenissima: exquisite Roman and early Christian 

mosaics in the former Roman metropolis of Aquileia, rare sculpture and goldwork in the Longobard stronghold of 

Cividale, and brilliant frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo in Venetian Udine. Trieste, on the other hand, is an intriguing 

combination of Mitteleuropa and the Mediterranean, a slice of Vienna by the sea, as exposed to the southerly Scirocco 

and the north easterly Bora as it is to diverse cultural and political influences. Smaller towns such as San Daniele are 

home to splendidly decorated churches and painted palaces, while the varied countryside is dotted with rugged castles 

and elegant villas, little known even among Italians. In addition, the region offers delicious wines and culinary delights 

from funghi porcini to prize-winning prosciutto, complementing this tour’s many artistic highlights. 

22 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Venice. By coach to Sesto 

al Reghena, a charming mediaeval borgo situated on the border 

between the Veneto and the Friuli. Continue to Udine, our base for 

three nights. 

Day 2 

The delightful city of Udine lies at the heart of the Friuli. Its attractive 

squares, palazzi and churches, connected by arcades, reflect Venetian 

influence and the city’s role as the seat of the Patriarch of Aquileia. 

The cathedral features a chapel decorated by Venice’s 18th-Century 

superstar painter, Giambattista Tiepolo. From there continue to the 

castle of Udine, home of the Civic Museums, with a fine collection of 

Italian paintings. In the afternoon visit the Palazzo Patriarcale with 

Tiepolo’s murals, demonstrating the panache of his brush and the 

luminosity of his colours. 

Day 3 

Full-day excursion to San Daniele to visit the Oratory of Sant’Antonio 

Abate, featuring the most beautiful fresco cycle in the entire region. 

Continue to Cividale, the Roman ‘Forum lulii’, which eventually gave 

its name in corrupted form to the entire region of Friuli. This little 

town has extraordinary treasures: the famous stuccoed Tempietto 

Longobardo, an elaborate 8th-Century baptismal font and the socalled 

Altar of Ratchis with Lombardic relief carvings. Return to 

Udine. 

Day 4 

A full-day excursion to Aquileia and Grado, among Ancient Rome’s 

most powerful ports and subsequently as seat of a Patriarch, one of 

the most impressive early Christian sites in Europe with breathtaking 

4th-Century mosaic floors and an archaeological museum. Mainland 

invasions forced Aquileia’s residents to seek refuge in the lagoon of 

Grado. Continue to Trieste where the final three nights are spent. 

Day 5 

The great sea port of Trieste, sitting at the foot of the severe Karst hills, 

has diverse and contrasting parts. Walk through the centre to explore 

this eclectic city from the Roman Theatre to the Art Nouveau coffee 

houses frequented by literati such as James Joyce and Italo Svevo. 

Enjoy a mid-morning coffee break in the historic Caffè degli Specchi 

on the main square. After lunch coach to the Castle of Miramare, 

a few miles from the centre of Trieste, the Habsburgic residence of 

the Emperor Francesco Giuseppe’s younger brother. The castle was 

designed by the architect Carl Junker and it is built on a promontory 

with a spectacular panorama over the Riviera Triestina. 

Day 6 

In the morning visit the Museum of Villa Sartorio that houses a 

remarkable collection of drawings by Giambattista Tiepolo. Walk to 

the Museo Civico Pasquale Revoltella, to visit the urban Villa of Baron 

Revoltella, a wealthy businessman who contributed to the opening 

of the Suez Canal. In his Villa we can admire his rich collection of 

works of art. Coach to the Castle of Duino, historical dwellings of 

the princes Thurn and Taxis. Built in the middle ages as a military 

defence fortress, from the 17th-Century it became a humanistic court 

hosting artists and intellectuals such as Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss, 

Paul Valéry and Rainer Maria Rilke. During the First World War the 

castle was on the front line and was badly damaged. It was restored 

to its original splendour by the Thurn and Taxis family. Conclude our 

visit with a walk along the Rilke path with breath-taking views over 

the Adriatic sea. 

TOUR DATES 

1 – 7 October 2022 

7 days 

TOUR PRICES 









Astoria, Udine 


Savoia Excelsior Palace, Trieste 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Tempietto Longobardo, Cividale 


Hotel Astoria, Udine 

Astoria Hotel Italia is an elegant building situated in the 

historic city centre, just at the front door of the pedestrian area. 

Thanks to this excellent location, Guests can easily discover 

the artistic, cultural and leisure activities of Udine. Rooms are 

equipped with en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, hairdryer, 

Wi-Fi, safe, minibar, telephone and TV. 

Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace, Trieste 

Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace is a luxury hotel that immediately 

evokes Mitteleuropean splendour. It was first opened in 1911 

and throughout its history has hosted artists, diplomats and an 

international elite travelling on their “Grand Tour”. The rooms 

have been restyled with a blend of classical and contemporary 

elegance. The hotel also has a quiet library and a gourmet 

restaurant. 

Day 7 

After breakfast, transfer to Venice airport for an afternoon flight back 

to London Heathrow. 

Xxxxxx Hotel Astoria 

Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace 


ITALY 

PARMA & PIACENZA 

Art, Architecture & Gastronomy in the Duchy of the Farnese Family 

Camera della Badessa 

From the Romans to the Romantics, the city of Parma has a rich cultural history. It is the setting for Stendhal’s novel The 

Charterhouse of Parma and the birthplace of Verdi and Toscanini. It is renowned for its gastronomy and for its violets, 

introduced by Duchess Maria Luigia of Austria, Napoleon’s second wife, for whom Parma Violet perfume was created. Parma 

is no less rich in artistic treasures. It boasts a magnificent Romanesque cathedral and Baptistery, decorated by the great early 

mediaeval sculptor Benedetto Antelami. In the early 16th-Century, Parma was home to Correggio and Parmigianino, two of 

the most original painters of the Renaissance. Until the 20th-Century Correggio was arguably more famous than Leonardo da 

Vinci; a visit to Parma helps to explain why, affording a unique opportunity to experience at first hand his ground breaking 

ceiling paintings in the city’s convents and churches. From 1545-1731 Parma was ruled by the Farnese, the descendants of 

Pope Paul III, who created the Duchy of Parma for his illegitimate son. The vast Farnese palace, the Pilotta, now home to the 

city’s art collection, boasts an impressive late Renaissance theatre, the Teatro Farnese. The surrounding countryside offers 

further delights. Among these is the 15th-Century castle of Torrechiara, nestling among pretty vineyards, with its dazzling 

Camera d’Oro, a rare survival of Early Renaissance secular decoration, glorifying the owner’s love for his mistress; the castle of 

Fontanellato, wittily frescoed in mannerist style by the young Parmigianino, and the 18th-Century villa of Colorno, known as 

the Versailles of Parma, where Duchess Maria Luigia cultivated her violets. And no visit to Parma would be complete without 

tasting some of the region’s gastronomic delights. On our last day will visit Piacenza, the former capital of the Farnese duchy 

where bronze statues of Alessandro and Ranuccio Farnese stand outside the beautiful late-Gothic town hall. 

24 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Take our afternoon flight from London Heathrow to Bologna, arriving 

in the early evening. Transfer by private coach to Parma and our 

centrally located four-star hotel, arriving in time for dinner. 

Day 2 

This morning we explore the Romanesque centre of Parma on foot: 

Piazza del Duomo and the exterior of its 1000-year-old cathedral 

and, across the square, the octagonal Baptistery with its wealth 

of Romanesque sculpture and late mediaeval murals. We also 

visit the Diocesan Museum, which houses original sculptures by 

Antelami from the Baptistery. After lunch we will focus on Correggio’s 

revolutionary ceiling paintings, starting with the playful illusionism 

of the Camera di San Paolo (an abbess’s parlour), continuing to the 

ambitious dome of San Giovanni Evangelista and finishing with the 

astonishing, proto-Baroque dome of the Cathedral. 

Day 3 

Morning excursion to the hamlet of Torrechiara, nestling in the pretty 

hills of the Colli di Parma, the area’s prime wine-growing region, 

to visit the 15th-Century Castello di Torrechiara, a UNESCO World 

Heritage Site, with its splendidly decorated rooms. The highlight is 

the ravishing Camera d’Oro, depicting scenes of courtly love – a rare 

survival of early Renaissance secular art by the Milanese painter 

Benedetto Bembo, celebrating the love of Pier Maria de’ Rossi, Lord 

of Sanvitale, for his mistress. Nearby, we visit a salumificio followed 

by lunch with local products. We continue by coach to visit the 

nearby Fondazione Magnani Rocca, an elegant villa set in a beautiful 

early 19th-Century park, home to an impressive private collection, 

including works by Filippo Lippi, Dürer, Titian, Goya and Monet. 

Day 4 

In the morning we visit on foot the complex of Palazzo Pilotta, the 

vast palace of the Dukes of Parma, which houses the magnificent 

early 17th-Century Teatro Farnese, and the Pinacoteca Nazionale, 

with masterpieces by Leonardo, Correggio and Parmigianino. We 

continue to the elegant Renaissance church of Santa Maria della 

Steccata with a remarkable Mannerist vault by Parmigianino. After 

lunch we travel by coach to the small town of Fontanellato, to visit 

another of the region’s jewel-like Renaissance castles, the Rocca di 

Fontanellato, seat of the Sanvitale lords. Here Parmigianino frescoed 

a stylish room with the myth of Diana, his earliest masterpiece. We 

continue to Colorno, where we enter the very different world of the 

18th-Century Duke of Bourbon-Parma, successor to the Farnese. 

His French consort, Louise Elisabeth, daughter of Louis XV, created 

monumental Ducal Palace and spectacular formal gardens, known as 

the ‘Italian Versailles’. 

Day 5 

Leave Parma by coach, our last visit is to Piacenza, the original capital 

of the Farnese duchy. Colossal 17th-Century bronze equestrian 

statues of Alessandro and Ranuccio Farnese dominate the aptly 

named Piazza Cavalli outside the splendid late gothic town hall, while 

in the imposing Romanesque cathedral we shall encounter our final 

dome, by the Baroque painter Guercino. We continue to Milan airport, 

for our afternoon flight to London Heathrow. 

Expert Guest Lecturers, Dr Paula Nuttall and 

Dr Geoffrey Nuttall 

TOUR DATES 


5 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from from London to 

Bologna and Milan Linate to London 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Sina 

Maria, Luigia 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Sina Maria, Luigia 

The four-star hotel Sina Maria Luigia, is in the heart of Parma. 

Parma is famous for being the city of art, history and culture. 

The common areas and rooms are particularly welcoming 

with classic furniture, marbled floors and colourful painting. 

The hotels bar and its fine dining restaurant add to making 

this a perfect stay. 

Lobby 

Teatro Farnese 

Bedroom 

Hotel Sina Maria 


ITALY 

LUCCA 

The Glorious Cities of Northern Tuscany: Lucca, Pistoia, Prato & Pisa 

Lucca 

“A CHARMING MIXTURE OF ANTIQUE ‘CHARACTER’ and modern inconsequence; and not only the town, but the 

country — the blooming romantic country which you admire from the famous promenade on the city-wall.” Henry 

James’s musings in his Italian Hours still hold true: Lucca, at the foot of the Apennine Alps, beautifully combines 

historical self-awareness with contemporary life, and its magnificent circuit of defensive walls and bastions is now the 

domain of local cyclists and leisurely strollers. This part of Tuscany proudly upheld its status of an independent republic 

against the Grand Duchy of Tuscany dominated by Medicean Florence. Lucca’s beauty is unassuming but never boring: 

its marble clad churches and palaces contain artistic treasures ranging from the iconic tomb of Ilaria del Carretto 

to masterpieces by Fra Bartolomeo and Filippino Lippi. As for the surrounding countryside, Henry James justifiably 

reckoned that “nothing could be more charming than the country between Pisa and Lucca — unless possibly the country 

between Lucca and Pistoia”: fertile soil covering south-facing slopes, an abundance of water and a mild climate have 

made it one of Italy’s richest agricultural regions, at times resembling a gigantic nursery, which supplies cut flowers and 

ornamental plants worldwide. Here, prosperous patrons — from silk merchants in the Cinquecento to Napoleon’s sister 

Elisa in the early 19th-Century and beyond — built exquisite villas whose gardens reflect the luxuriousness of Lucchese 

silks which came to rival those imported from the East. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Pisa. After lunch in a local 

trattoria, we will visit San Pietro a Grado, said to be where St Peter 

celebrated the first mass on Italian soil and preserving a fascinating 

Romanesque church. From there we will continue to Lucca and our 

four-star hotel. After some time to settle in the rooms we will go for an 

orientation walk to the Piazza San Michele al Foro. 

Day 2 

Start the day with a meander up the tree-shaded Torre Guinigi, offering 

the best view of the city. The tower and adjacent palace were the 

home of Paolo Guinigi, prodigious ruler of Lucca in the early 15th- 

Century. After a coffee break in the Mercato, we will visit the Archivio 

di Stato in the nearby Palazzo Guidiccioni where we will have the 

opportunity to look at some documents and illuminated manuscripts 

associated with Lucca and its silk merchants, and have a tour of one 

of the most important archives in Italy. In the afternoon we will visit 

the church of San Michele in Foro, focusing on its role in the history 

of Lucca, discussing Filippino Lippi’s Magrini Altarpiece, and the 

church’s connections with England. Our walk will then take us past 

the nearby church of San Salvatore in Mustolio and the Ospedale della 

Misericordia, before reaching the Palazzo Mansi, the best-preserved 

Palace in Lucca and one of the sites of the National Gallery of Lucca, 

which still displays rooms furnished with Lucchese silk. On the way 

back to the hotel we will stop at the church of SS Paolino e Donato, the 

only Renaissance church in Lucca. 

Day 3 

We continue our exploration of Lucca with a morning visit to the great 

church of San Frediano. In the church we will focus on its evolution 

from early Christian times to the 16th-Century, including works by 

Jacopo della Quercia and Amico Aspertini. In the afternoon we will 

travel by coach to Pisa, the traditional enemy of Lucca, their histories 

intimately entwined. We will reach the Campo dei Miracoli and 

visit the Campo Santo – with its great series of frescoes, including 

Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death in which the ruler of Lucca Castruccio 

Castrocani degli Antelminelli has been immortalised. We will then 

admire the interior of the baptistry and the cathedral. 

Day 4 

Morning visit to the Cathedral to admire the Volto Santo: according 

to legend this mediaeval crucifix was carved by Nicodemus and 

miraculously brought to Lucca in 782. Artistically, the marble tomb of 

Ilaria del Carretto, wife of Paolo Guinigi, by the Sienese sculptor Jacopo 

della Quercia, takes pride of place for the touching portrayal of Lucca’s 

first lady at the beginning of the Quattrocento. We will also visit the 

nearby Museo del Opera del Duomo, and amongst other things look at 

the fascinating Anteminelli Casket. In the afternoon we travel by coach 

to the Apuan Alps near Carrara where quarrying of marble here dates 

back to the 2nd-Century. Returning towards Lucca, we will stop for a 

stroll around the beautiful main square of Pietrasanta. 

Day 5 

Morning excursion by coach to Pistoia. We will spend the morning 

visiting the Franciscan church of Sant’Andrea and the pulpit by 

Giovanni Pisano – one of the most remarkable sculptures of the 

14th-Century. In the afternoon, we will travel on to Prato, to see the 

Cathedral, with its frescos by Filippo Lippi, the cathedral museum 

and the pulpit by Donatello, and then end the day at the house of the 

Merchant of Prato, Francesco Datini. 

Day 6 

In the morning we will walk to visit the church of San Francesco and 

the adjacent Museo Nazionale Villa Guinigi, originally the luxurious 

suburban palace of Paolo Guinigi built between 1417 and 1419. The 

highlight of the museum is the great altarpiece by Fra Bartolomeo, The 

Ecstasy of Saint Catherine, as well as many other treasures spanning 

the artistic history of Lucca. 

TOUR DATES 


6 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Five nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Hotel 

Palazzo Dipintio, Lucca 

• Three dinners and one lunch 


programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Filippino Lippi 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr Geoffrey Nuttall 

Hotel Palazzo Dipinto, Lucca 

Overlooking the picturesque Hotel Palazzo Dipinto, in the 

heart of the historic center of Lucca, this ancient Palazzo was 

converted in 2017 into a charming four-star Superior Boutique 

Hotel, fitted with a contemporary and unique style. A skilful 

renovation has transformed the historic 13th-Century building 

into a refined design hotel, creating a modern and comfortable 

environment that offers its guests advanced smart-home 

appliances and impeccable, accurate services. In the historic 

centre of Lucca, Palazzo Dipinto is a place where you can locate 

a unique combination of tradition, technology and design. The 

Hotel offers a perfect location to visit the city on foot with its 

monuments and shopping streets; it is easily accessible and 

is located a short distance from the most important tourist 

attractions of the city. Rooms are equipped with hairdryer, 

Wi‐Fi, safe, tea & coffee making facilities and TV. 

Hotel Palazzo Dipinto 

Restaurant 


ITALY 

RENAISSANCE FLORENCE 

Art & history in the time of the Medici 

Bacchus statue 

Florence has been hailed as ‘the cradle of the Renaissance’ – birthplace of a re-wakening of a Weltanschauung with man at 

the centre of the cosmos. In this ‘città a misura d’uomo’ – a city made to human measure – Greek and Roman Antiquity were 

rediscovered during the 14th and 15th centuries, and the Florentine elite endeavoured to revive Classical statesmanship, 

society and art. As a result of this movement, Florence produced an extraordinary wealth of outstanding works of art: to 

this day, its lavishly endowed churches and treasure-crammed galleries bear witness to the Tuscan capital’s enduring 

creative prowess. Much of this was created under the 

auspices of the Medici family who gained control over the 

city’s political, financial and cultural fortunes during the 

15th and 16th-Centuries. Powerful statesmen, enlightened 

patrons and avid collectors, they and their contemporaries 

stimulated a unique rebirth of Classical culture, from 

Brunelleschi’s overwhelming cathedral dome to Botticelli’s 

intriguing painted poem of the Primavera and Donatello’s 

vigilant St George. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

We fly from London to Pisa. Transfer to Florence by private coach. 

After arrival at our four-star hotel, an initial walk will take us to the 

Piazza della Signoria where the mediaeval severity of the Palazzo 

Vecchio (exterior only) and the contrasting Renaissance clarity of the 

Loggia dei Lanzi frame a unique outdoor sculpture gallery. 

Day 2 

In the morning we visit the complex of San Lorenzo, the parish 

church of the Medici family, with Brunelleschi’s harmoniously 

proportioned church. Next, visit Michelangelo’s magnificent Medici 

Chapels and the New Sacristy. The afternoon tour includes the 

Cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore, begun at the end of the 13th century 

by Arnolfo di Cambio, while Brunelleschi completed it with his 

spectacular dome a century and a half later, and the adjacent and 

substantially older Romanesque Baptistery (exterior only). At the 

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, we study Ghiberti’s gilt bronze panels 

from the Baptistery Doors, Donatello’s haunting Penitent Magdalene 

and Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietà. 

Day 3 

The Bargello was built in the 13th century as the stronghold of 

the leaders of Florence’s militia. In 1865, the year Florence briefly 

became capital of Italy, the building opened as a National Museum 

of sculpture, with works by Ghiberti, Donatello, Verrocchio and 

Michelangelo. Beyond the Bargello rises the great Franciscan church 

of S. Croce: murals by Giotto and his pupils cover the walls of its 

chapels, while in one of its cloisters stands Brunelleschi’s exquisite 

Pazzi Chapel. Donatello’s St Louis of Toulouse in the refectory was 

originally made for the Orsanmichele, Florence’s guildhall. This 

afternoon, we visit Palazzo Medici, with its enchanting frescoed 

chapel depicting the Procession of the Magi by Fra Angelico’s pupil, 

Benozzo Gozzoli. The church of Santa Trinita, features Ghirlandaio’s 

accomplished frescoes in the Sassetti Chapel and an altarpiece 

created in a Netherlandish manner. 

Day 4 

Morning visit to Vasari’s monumental complex of the Uffizi, studying 

its unrivalled collection of Florentine Renaissance pictures, including 

works by Gentile da Fabriano, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, 

Mantegna, Leonardo and Raphael — to name just a few. A free 

afternoon for further exploration of the galleries or to take a break. 

Day 5 

The Dominican friary of San Marco is filled with works by Fra 

Angelico. The colour, elegance and humility of his work is visible both 

in his beautiful altarpieces and in the frescoes painted on the walls 

of the friars’ cells in the monastery. In the afternoon, we will explore 

the Dominican complex of S. Maria Novella, with Masaccio’s Trinity, a 

magisterial demonstration of mathematical perspective in art. At the 

end of the day, we will walk past Alberti’s Palazzo Rucellai (exterior 

only). 

TOUR DATES 

22 – 27 November 2022 

6 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London Heathrow to Pisa 

• Private coach transfers and for excursions 

• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel 

Regency, Florence 





• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities 

ACCOMMODATION 

Uffizi Gallery 

Hotel Regency, Florence 

Hotel Regency Florence situated in a quiet, residential area, 

Hotel Regency is hidden away from the busy city centre, 

yet only a short distance from Florence’s main tourist 

sites, including the Accademia Gallery. Facing lush, green 

parkland on one side and a historic square on the other, this 

hotel, is one of the leading small hotels of the world offers 

unparalleled service, with attentive, professional staff and 

beautiful accommodation. Guest rooms are equipped with airconditioning, 

TV, Wi-Fi, minibar, safe and hairdryer. 

Day 6 

In the morning we walk across the River Arno to the Brancacci Chapel 

at S. Maria del Carmine with its hugely influential fresco cycle by 

Masaccio and Masolino. After lunch, transfer to the airport for our 

flight to London Heathrow. 

Hotel Regency 

Bedroom 

Hotel Regency 

Hotel Regency 

To book call 01280 736 115 or visit artpursuits.com 

29

GERMANY 

ROMANESQUE RHINELAND 

Romanesque Art & Architecture in the Rhineland 

Cistercian Abbey 

Three fine Romanesque cathedrals – Worms, Speyer and Mainz – are an architectural focus of this tour through the Middle 

Rhine. The Salian, or Frankish, dynasty ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1024 to 1125 and made this area their centre. 

Four successive kings became emperors and established a power base on the Rhine that reflected their influence. During this 

period, they expanded their cathedrals to become some of the most spectacular in Europe. Mighty Speyer cathedral became 

the largest church in the Western Christian world and burial place of the Salian dynasty. All three cathedrals are good 

examples of Middle Rhenish Romanseque architecture, 

featuring stone-vaulted basilicas with impressive silhouettes 

rich in spires, cylindrical turrets, and arcaded galleries. The 

remains of the abbey at Lorsch and the imperial palace 

at Ingelheim are testimony to the Carolingian vision of 

a Northern European empire of two centuries earlier. 

The Hessisches Landesmuseum in Darmstadt offers a 

significant collection of mediaeval ivories and gold-work, 

complementing the architectural gems. 

Mainz 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Late morning flight from London Heathrow to Frankfurt. Coach 

transfer to your five-star hotel in Mainz and some time to settle into 

your rooms. In the late afternoon an introductory walk will acquaint 

us with Mainz’s history from its Roman foundations to Mark Chagall’s 

stained-glass windows. 

Day 2 

A day on foot in Mainz, starting with an extended visit to the 

cathedral and its richly endowed treasury. From the early Middle 

Ages, the archbishop of Mainz became second in command after the 

emperor, as imperial chancellor and one of the seven prince-electors. 

The cathedral, begun after 975 and added to until the 13th-Century, is 

richly furnished with episcopal tombs and rare 10th-Century bronze 

doors. The treasury houses sculpture by the so called Naumburger 

Meister, named after his famous works in Naumburg cathedral in 

present-day Saxony Anhalt. In the afternoon we will visit an absolute 

must-have although not Romanesque – the Gutenberg museum with 

its fine collection of manuscripts including two Gutenberg Bibles and 

spectacular Renaissance books. 

Day 3 

Full day coach excursion to Speyer. Of Roman origin, Speyer became 

an Episcopal see early in the Middle Ages. In its major parts the 

imposing cathedral survives as erected by the Salian emperors. The 

crypt, consecrated in 1041, houses the tombs of German emperors 

and kings from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Funerary and liturgical 

objects from the cathedral are on display in the treasury. Speyer’s rich 

Jewish cultural and architectural heritage is worth a visit. Together 

with Mainz and Worms, the city accommodated one of the earliest 

Jewish communities in the Holy Roman Empire and we will explore 

the remains of the synagogue and mikveh, the ritual purification 

bath, both the oldest surviving in central Europe. 

Day 4 

A day spent in the Rheingau region, scenic gateway to the nature 

reserve of the Middle Rhine Valley and home to world-famous 

vineyards. In the morning, we’ll visit the remains of the Carolingian 

palace of Ingelheim and the associated museum. Legend has it that 

it was Charlemagne himself, looking out from his Ingelheim palace, 

who decreed the planting of vines along the hillsides. St Bernard of 

Clairvaux established the Cistercian abbey of Eberbach in 1136 and 

the abbey church remains unscathed by time and alterations. Over 

lunch in the abbey, we taste some of the famous Rheingau Rieslings 

from its extensive vineyards. In the afternoon, take a private boat 

along a scenic stretch of the Upper Middle Rhine, now a UNESCO 

world heritage site, to see the historic towns, vineyards and castles 

that inspired artists including J.W. Turner. 


TOUR DATES 

21 – 26 March 2022 

6 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Frankfurt 


• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Hyatt 

Regency, Mainz 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hyatt Regency, Mainz 

The five-star Hyatt Regency is located along the Rhine River 

near Mainz, set in the Old Town. There are two restaurants, a 

terrace and a bar. The bedrooms included high-speed internet 

access, television, telephone, individual climate control, safe, 

coffee and tea making facilities and a minibar. 

Day 5 

Full day coach excursion to Worms and Lorsch. A short coach trip 

will take us to one of Germany’s mediaeval architectural highlights: 

the gatehouse of the former abbey of Lorsch – small but perfectly 

formed - an outstanding and exceptionally well-preserved example 

of Carolingian architecture. Worms is a city steeped in history: key 

moments of the Nibelungen saga are set there; in 1122, the Concordat 

of Worms ended the investiture controversy between pope and 

emperor; and in 1521, Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms to 

recant his writings. Our walk around the city will focus on the 12thcathedral, 

whose foundations go back to 1018. 

Day 6 

After some free time in the morning we take the coach to nearby 

Darmstadt for a visit of the Das Hessisches Landesmuseum with 

its exquisite Romanesque ivories and goldwork. In the afternoon 

transfer to Frankfurt airport for a flight with BA to London. 

Bedroom 

Mainz Cathedral 

Restaurant 


31

GERMANY 

REGENSBURG 

Mediaeval Metropolis on the Banks of the Bavarian Danube 

Regensburg 

The origins of Regensburg, situated on the northernmost point of the Bavarian Danube, lie behind the sturdy Roman walls 

of Castra Regina. Built to intimidate and ward off Germanic tribes these walls did not only defy fierce attacks but also the 

disintegration of the empire itself. As a mighty fortress it served the Bavarian dukes as residence and first capital of the 

Duchy of Bavaria. Since the 8th-Century Ratisbona was favoured by visits of Frankish kings and emperors as well as by 

the establishment of an Episcopal see. Its citizens developed into undaunted and enterprising merchants dealing in luxury 

goods from all over the then known world. Regensburg’s political significance and economic prosperity soon precipitated 

in major ecclesiastical and secular building projects. An exceptionally large number of these outstanding architectural 

treasures from a Carolingian ring crypt to a grand Gothic cathedral have survived the ravages of time. Furthermore, the 

virtually intact mediaeval townscape, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, makes Regensburg so memorable. This tour focuses 

on the riches and often hidden treasures of mediaeval art and architecture in Regensburg, some of which are only accessible 

by special appointment. The region’s other towns may be less well-known but are just as attractive: Straubing and Landshut 

are mediaeval towns founded by the Bavarian dukes brimming with art and architecture from late-Gothic to Renaissance 

and Mannerism. The surrounding countryside invites exploration of an unspoilt landscape of cliffs, rivers and forests, which 

inspired Albrecht Altdorfer and the painters of the Danube School in the early 16th-Century to “invent” landscape painting. 

Travelling by coach and by boat we will discover this less well-known, yet culturally rich part of Bavaria. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight with BA from London Heathrow to Munich. By private 

coach to the well-preserved town of Landshut, once second residence 

to the Dukes of Bavaria. Perched above the town, Trausnitz Castle 

contains a stunning late-Romanesque chapel and rare Renaissance 

wall-paintings. From there continue to Regensburg for an introductory 

walk past the surviving Roman city gate to the mediaeval bridge across 

the Danube. 

Day 2 

Explore the unspoilt mediaeval centre of Regensburg on foot: the 

morning focuses on the Gothic cathedral embellished with beautiful 

sculpture and stained-glass windows. Its freshly restored cloister 

with 11th- and 12th-Century chapel is a special highlight (by 

special appointment). The afternoon is dedicated to the history and 

monuments of the Imperial Free City, such as the town hall and wealthy 

burghers’ houses. The church and cloister (by special appointment) of 

the Scottish Benedictine abbey of St James is a gem of Romanesque 

architecture. 

Day 3 

Excursion to the market town of Straubing, where the 

Gäubodenmuseum houses a stunning Roman hoard treasure. The 

town’s main church of St James is a splendid example of a Late Gothic 

hall church, while the basilica of St Peter is a Romanesque building 

virtually untouched by later interventions. In the afternoon return to 

Regensburg via the Neoclassical temple of the Walhalla. Located on a 

hilltop above the Danube a great vista connects this national monument 

with the Neo-Gothic spires of Regensburg cathedral seen in the 

distance. From here, a private boat will take us back into the city. 

Day 4 

A second day in Regensburg will take us to the abbey of St Emmeram. 

The church boasts an unparalleled wealth of three mediaeval crypts 

ranging from Carolingian to Salian (special access) while its cloister is 

an art historical picture book of Gothic architecture. In the afternoon, 

the coach will take us to Regensburg-Prüfening (special access) where 

another Benedictine abbey church begun in 1108 boasts stunning 12th- 

Century fresco paintings in the church’s choir end. 

Day 5 

In the morning the coach will take us to Kelheim from where we take 

a boat through the nature reserve of the Danube gorge, the deepest 

and narrowest section of the Bavarian Danube. Our destination is the 

Benedictine monastery of Weltenburg, situated at one of the river’s most 

beautiful spots. Apart from savouring some of the culinary delights of 

the abbey’s production we focus on the exceptional abbey church built 

and decorated by Cosmas Damian Asam in the early 18th-Century. From 

here continue to the village of Rohr, to admire the spectacular “theatrum 

sacrum” of the Assumption by Egid Quirin Asam of the early 1720. 


TOUR DATES 

29 April – 5 May 2022 

7 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Goliath am 

Dom, Regensburg 


• Guided visits monuments and museums listed in 

the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Goliath am Dom, Regensburg 

A four-minute walk from Haidplatz (a historic city square), 

this quirky hotel is 7 minutes' walk from Regensburg Museum 

of History and 1.1 km from Regensburg railway station. 

Individually designed, colorful rooms have natural stone en 

suite bathrooms, plus free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. 

Upgraded rooms add living areas with pull-out sofas, plus 

designer toiletries. Room service is offered. 

Day 6 

A day on foot in Regensburg. Our morning walk will take us to the 

subterranean chapel of St Erhard (by special access), a 10th-Century 

edifice with a building history still not fully deciphered. The nearby 

Niedermünster church houses St Erhard’s outstanding early Gothic 

tomb. Our visit to the History Museum focuses on the paintings of 

Albrecht Altdorfer and further superb early Gothic sculpture. The rest of 

the day is free. 

Day 7 

Return to Landshut to visit the recently restored Gothic parish church of 

St Martin whose belfry is the tallest brick structure in the world. A short 

walk will take us to the Stadtresidenz, an elegant Italianate Renaissance 

palace which came to replace the castle seen on the first day. After 

lunch continue to Munich for a late-afternoon flight with BA to London 

Heathrow. 

Hotel Goliath am Dom 

Mediaeval Regensburg 

Hotel Goliath am Dom 


GERMANY 

FRANCONIA 

Artistic & Architectural Treasures of Northern Bavaria 

Bamberg 

Franconia, situated within the north of Bavaria, is home to many of Germany’s greatest mediaeval and Renaissance 

treasures. Its idyllic landscape of rolling hills and winding rivers is packed with proud towns and castles, monasteries 

and pilgrimage sites, from romantic Rothenburg and Bamberg’s majestic 13th-century cathedral to the exquisite rococo 

jewel at Vierzehnheiligen. Franconia is home to the brilliance of Germany’s most significant Renaissance artists: Albrecht 

Dürer, the complete personification of Renaissance Man north of the Alps, and the sculptors Veit Stoss and Tilman 

Riemenschneider, whose statues, reliefs and altarpieces are stunning virtuoso masterpieces in limewood and alabaster. 

Franconia prides itself on the beauty of the baroque architecture and art best exemplified with the magnificent Palace of 

the Bishops of Würzburg, resplendent with the world-famous Ceiling Fresco of the great Venetian Artist, Tiepolo. 

Opulent interiors, city structures, and garden landscapes create the magnificent baroque city of Bayreuth. Though 

famous for its Richard Wagner associations, the focus of our visit to the Franconian town of Bayreuth is in fact the 

creations of the intellectual Princess of Prussia, Wilhelmina, who in the mid-18th century transforms a sleepy residence 

town to a cultural centre of European relevance. As we explore the natural and cultural delights of Franconia, we reside 

in the picture postcard ambience of Bamberg, with its inspiring mediaeval and baroque architecture and art. Join our 

Art Pursuits Abroad Tour to Franconia and delight in the joy of beauty. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

A late morning flight from London Heathrow to Frankfurt. By private 

coach to Würzburg, capital of one of Germany’s most influential 

bishoprics, for a visit to the massive Marienberg fortress, home of 

the prince bishops from the eighth to the early eighteenth centuries. 

Its wine cellars and commander’s apartments house an exquisite 

collection of stone and wood sculptures by Riemenschneider among 

many other treasures from episcopal country houses. In the late 

afternoon continue to your four-star hotel in Bamberg, one of the 

most beautiful small cities of Europe, where all five nights of this tour 

will be spent. 

Day 2 

A day in Bamberg on foot to explore this unspoilt city. The morning 

is dedicated solely to the magnificent cathedral, combining 

Romanesque and Gothic elements, and embellished with fine 

sculpture, most notably the Bamberg Rider, icon of the Age of 

Chivalry. In the afternoon explore Bamberg’s beautifully preserved 

city centre, walking past the town hall, uphill to the Carmelite cloister 

with historiated capitals, and downhill to admire the handsome 

façades of Baroque mansions. 

Day 3 

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber – formerly an Imperial Free City – is 

almost perfectly preserved with its late mediaeval town walls 

and half-timbered houses – almost too romantic to be true. St 

Jakob, the town’s Late Gothic double-choired hall church, houses 

Riemenschneider’s stunning Holy Blood altarpiece. After lunch, 

another Riemenschneider ‘miracle carved in wood’ will be waiting for 

us in the remote pilgrimage church of Creglingen. 

Day 4 

Bayreuth is home not only to Richard Wagner’s Festspielhaus, but 

also to great Baroque buildings, from the exquisite opera house to 

the landscaped park, hermitage and hugely entertaining grottoes of 

the Eremitage, built for Margravine Wilhelmine, favourite sister of 

Frederick of Prussia. Return to Bamberg via the great 18th-Century 

basilicas of Banz and Vierzehnheiligen, embodiments of baroque 

stately grandeur and of rococo ‘meringue’ delicacy. 

Day 5 

A morning excursion will take us to the privately owned Schloss 

Weissenstein, trendsetting Baroque summer palace of a Bamberg 

bishop, for a special tour around the private apartments and a superb 

18th-Century private collection of paintings. Return to Bamberg to 

visit the Diocesan Museum in the cathedral cloister, which has a 

stunning display of 1000-year old imperial vestments, above all the 

purple and gold embroidered stellar cloak of Emperor Henry II. The 

late afternoon and evening will be free for you to go on a boat trip on 

the river or to stroll through the cobbled streets with their attractive 

mediaeval and Baroque buildings. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Tom Abbott 

TOUR DATES 


6 days 

TOUR PRICES 



Deluxe single room supplement: £195 






• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Villa 

Geyersworth, Bamberg 


• Guided visits monuments and museums listed in 

the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Villa Geyersworth, Bamberg 

Our hotel in Bamberg consists of two restored villas and a 

newly built wing in Tuscan style with a breakfast room and 

an idyllic terrace overlooking the river. A sauna, cardio-fitness 

area and an underground parking garage are also on offer at 

this hotel. Our rooms are equipped with TV, hairdryer, Wi-Fi, 

minibar, safe & telephone. 

Day 6 

A second visit to Würzburg will focus on the colossal prince-bishops’ 

palace, built by Balthasar Neumann in the second quarter of the 18th- 

Century. The enormous ceiling fresco of the staircase miraculously 

survived disastrous air raids of 1945 and is testament to the genius of 

the Venetian Giambattista Tiepolo. After lunch in one of Würzburg’s 

best and most typical restaurants continue to Frankfurt for a late 

afternoon flight to London Heathrow. 

Hotel 

Bedroom 

Bayreuth 

Marienberg Fortress 


35

GERMANY 

IMPERIAL SAXONY 

Treasures of Mediaeval Art & Architecture in the Ottonian Crownland 

Imperial Palace, Goslar 

Saxony’s career within the mediaeval German empire is striking. It took Emperor Charlemagne over 20 years to subjugate 

the rebellious Saxons and make them a loyal member of the Frankish Empire. And only some 100 years later, Saxons 

successfully rule the vast realm as emperors themselves. With the election of the Saxon duke Henry I to the royal throne in 

919, the Ottonian dynasty’s rise to power began. By founding palaces and endowing the church, they distinguished their 

Saxon heartland stretching from the fabled, densely forested Harz Mountains to the sandy plains around Magdeburg on 

the river Elbe. Quedlinburg, one of the region’s many beautifully preserved and sensitively restored towns, became the 

preferred site of imperial visits. Some of Germany’s most spectacular Ottonian architecture is to be found in and around 

this delightful half-timbered town. To enforce their rule, the emperors heavily relied on the learned bishops of their realm. 

Their impressive cathedrals in Hildesheim, Halberstadt, and Magdeburg, replete with sumptuous sculpture in stone, wood, 

stucco and bronze, testify for Saxony’s international artistic connections at the time. The wealth of church treasuries 

in this region, the precious metalworks and textile arts they hoard, are hardly paralleled anywhere else in the country. 

Monumental works of art in bronze – church doors, chandeliers, a throne and an altar – are preserved in pristine conditions 

in Goslar and Hildesheim. When the Ottonian house became extinct in the male line, power shifted from Saxony to the 

Rhine. However, the new Salian emperors remained loyal to Saxony, again testified by artistic treasures created for Saxon 

institutions on imperial commission. And not before long, a Saxon duke, Henry the Lion, will challenge imperial power by 

marking his claim to the throne with yet another palace and church building, this time in his residence at Braunschweig. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Berlin. Transfer by private 

coach to Magdeburg. Its cathedral – a miraculous survival of the 

vagaries of the city’s troubled history – is among Germany’s most 

impressive. It was begun in 1207 after the original building, erected 

at the instigation of emperor Otto the Great, had burnt down. The 

rebuilding’s architectural styles and rich decorations include the 

remains of an Ottonian crypt and spectacular early Gothic sculptures, 

incunabula’s of the new style in Germany. Continue to Quedlinburg to 

our cosy four-star hotel, our base for the first three nights. 

Day 2 

Leave the hotel on foot for an exploration of Quedlinburg. Perched 

upon a hilltop above town, the collegiate church of St Servatius offers 

an abundance of 10th to 12th-Century art and architecture including 

exceptional fragments of a knitted carpet and an awe-inspiring crypt 

with the tombs of the first Ottonian king, Henry, and his wife. After 

visiting the archaic Wiperti crypt we take a short coach ride to Gernrode 

for a visit of the collegiate church of St Cyriakus, a rare, almost complete 

survivor of Ottonian church architecture. 

Day 3 

Full-day coach excursion. En route to near-by Halberstadt we visit 

the outstanding Romanesque collegiate church of St Pankratius at 

Hamersleben. With its freshly restored architecture it evokes the severity 

of Cluniac monasticism. Halberstadt’s cathedral is a perfect example of 

French Gothic transferred onto Saxon soil. Fine sculpture and stainedglass 

windows embellish the interior, while in the adjacent cloister three 

large 12th-Century tapestries and precious Byzantine reliquaries are the 

main attraction. Across the cathedral square, the Romanesque former 

Augustinian collegiate church has a rare choir screen adorned with 

polychrome stucco relief figures. 

Day 4 

A scenic coach ride takes us right through the Harz Mountains, past 

the legendary Broken, and to Goslar. The town gained importance 

when silver mines were discovered in the vicinity and an imperial 

palace was first erected in the 11th-Century. Although its grand hall 

has been lavishly decorated with a 19th-Century cycle of historicising 

wall paintings, the architecture is a rare survivor of secular architecture 

of the Ottonian-Salian period. Two major works of bronze art, an 

altar and a throne, document the throne controversies between the 

excommunicated emperor Henry IV and his rival, the counter-king 

Rudolf. Continue by coach to Hildesheim. First of three nights in 

Hildesheim. 

Day 5 

A day on foot to explore Hildesheim. In the morning we visit St 

Michael’s church. This magnificent building represents the epitome 

of grand Ottonian architecture with its double choirs and transepts, 

monumental crossing towers and the newly invented cushion capital. 

The recent, exquisite refurbishment of the cathedral has created a 

most tasteful surrounding for the outstanding works of art it houses. A 

plethora of goldsmith works is on display in the treasury situated in the 

cloister with its fabled 1000-year old rose. The church of St Godehard 

offers well-preserved 12th architecture with elaborately carved capitals. 

Day 6 

Half-day coach excursion to Höxter. The abbey of Corvey lies idyllically 

just outside Höxter. Founded in the 9th-Century, the imposing westwork 

of the abbey church is among the most important architectural remains 

of the Carolingian era. Return to Hildesheim for a free afternoon. 

Day 7 

By coach to Braunschweig (Brunswik), once the residence of the Saxon 

Duke Henry the Lion and his English wife, Matilda. To underline his 

claim to the imperial throne, Henry rebuilt the ducal castle in a grand 

style modelled on the imperial palace in Goslar. Today’s cathedral of 

Braunschweig was built as Henry’s and Matilda’s burial church and 

lavishly decorated. After free time and an early dinner together, we set 

off for Berlin airport and the flight back to London Heathrow. 


TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Three nights’ bed and breadfast at the four-star Romantik 

Hotel am Brühl, Quedlinburg 

• Three nights’ at the four-star Van der Valk Hotel, Hildesheim 

• Four dinners and one lunch 


the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Romantik Hotel am Brühl, Quedlinburg 

Opened in 1992, the Romantik is spread across a number 

of lovingly restored, listed buildings. A timbered barn that 

was previously home to a seed-growing company, a palace 

from the Gründerzeit period formerly owned by the Harzer 

Likörfabrik distillery and a barn with a Prussian vaulted 

ceiling and cast iron columns surround the hotel’s beautifully 

green garden. Room facilities include, Wi-Fi, a TV, radio, 

telephone, minibar & hairdryer. 

Van der Valk Hotel Hildesheim 

Located directly on the historical market square. Behind the 

landmarked half-timbered and Rococo façade, the four-star 

hotel offers a stylish Restaurant Gildehaus and the modern 

Stadtschenke Bar. The hotel has a swimming pool, sauna and 

fitness room and the Valentina Cosmetic Salon. The cultural 

highlights in the city include the 1000-year-old rosebush, 

the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Cathedral and St. 

Michael’s Church and one of the most renowned collections 

of Egyptian art and culture in Europe. Room facilities include, 

air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a TV, radio, telephone, tea & coffee 

making facilities & hairdryer. 


37

GERMANY 

DRESDEN 

Architecture, Painting & Treasures 

In association with 

the V&A 

Frauenkirche Dome 

There is every reason to visit Dresden. Although a small city, it is packed with architectural and artistic treasures, from 

the Renaissance stable wing of the Royal Castle and Green Vaults to the magnificently rebuilt Frauenkirche of Dresden’s 

glorious 18th-Century era. Even more outstanding are Dresden’s collections, enthusiastically amassed by the Electors of 

Saxony, culminating in their acquisitive passions for porcelain and paintings, mainly by Augustus the Strong and his son, 

Friedrich Augustus, in the late 17th and 18th centuries. 

Probably inspired by the example of Louis XIV of France, Augustus the Strong began a systematic founding and 

accumulation of his specialist collections. These were to become known throughout Europe and were a focus for study 

by artists and all kinds of visitors. Augustus' Treasury, the Kunstkammer and the Silberkammer, the Grunes Gewolbe or 

Green Vaults came to be the first treasure museum opened to the public. Augustus the Strong purchased Roman antique 

sculptures which now form the basis of the Skulptursammlung in the Albertinum. He had a passion for Oriental porcelain 

and devised the Japanese palace across the River Elbe to house his collection. Clocks and instruments were separated from 

the Kunstkammer and turned into a separate museum, the Mathematische-Physikalische Sammlung. Again, drawings 

and prints were catalogued and also put together to form the Kupferstich Kabinett. Augustus' enthusiasm was boundless 

and there was scarcely a field of knowledge with which he was not involved. He sent the first zoological expedition 

to Africa and commissioned a publication on Saxon folk costumes. An anatomy collection, a zoological museum and 

collection of minerals were founded. Augustus the Strong was succeeded by his son, Friedrich Augustus II, who was 

primarily interested in the visual arts and added significantly to the collection of paintings. It was during his reign that a 

hundred paintings came from the Duke of Modena's collection and Raphael's Sistine Madonna was also acquired. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Fly from London to Berlin. Transfer by private coach to our hotel in 

Dresden. Take an introductory walk of the local area before enjoying a 

group dinner in the hotel. 

Day 2 

Our first day in Dresden focuses on a tour of the Royal Palace, with the 

New Green Vault, the Armoury and the vast ornate tents and armour 

of the Turkish Chamber. In the afternoon, continue the tour with a 

visit to legendary Green Vault, displaying a dazzling collection of gold 

and silverwork, and the recently renovated royal State Apartments. 

Our final visit this afternoon is to the Frauenkirche, resplendent with 

its characteristic dome. The church suffered heavy bombing during 

World War II but was eventually, and painstakingly, reconstructed and 

restored to its original 18th-Century glory following the fall of the Iron 

Curtain. Today it stands as a symbol of reunified Germany. The evening 

is free for an independent dinner. 

Day 3 

The Royal Palace, residence of the electors of Saxony, and the later 

Baroque Zwinger, originally designed as an orangery and a setting 

for court festivities, constitute the city’s princely centre. Visit the 

Zwinger’s Old Masters Picture Gallery, filled with masterpieces by 

renowned painters including Raphael, Giorgione, Botticelli, Vermeer 

and many others. In the afternoon, a visit to the New Masters Gallery 

in the Albertinum will take in examples of German Romantic painting 

(Caspar David Friedrich) and works by the artists of the Expressionist 

Brücke group. Continue to the Hofkirche, Dresden Cathedral. The final 

resting place of royalty, including Augustus the Strong, this Catholic 

church is an anomaly in an otherwise staunchly Protestant province. 

The evening is free for an independent dinner. 

Day 4 

Excursion to Meissen, where we will visit the world-renowned porcelain 

factory to discover how ‘white gold’ is produced in the workshop 

and museum. After an included lunch in the museum we head for 

Albrechtsburg Castle, one of the first palaces built for splendour 

rather than defence in Germany. The original late Gothic architecture 

is complemented by neo-Gothic 19th-Century historical murals 

decorating the palace walls. Stroll through the picturesque old town to 

the Gothic Meissen Cathedral before some free time to further explore 

the Meissen’s charming historic centre. Return to Dresden, where our 

final evening concludes with a farewell dinner together. 

Day 5 

After breakfast we return to the Zwinger to explore the two other 

museums housed there. The Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon is a 

fine collection of historic clocks and other beautiful and technologically 

fascinating scientific instruments, such as globes and telescopes. The 

Porzellansammlung displays the very finest works from the enormous 

porcelain collection amassed by Augustus the Strong – so passionate 

was he about this collection, he swapped 600 of his soldiers with 

Frederick William I of Prussia, in exchange for 151 pieces of blue-andwhite 

Chinese porcelain. After some free time for an independent 

lunch, we travel on to the airport for our return flight back to London. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Clare Ford-Wille 

TOUR DATES 


5 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Two day V&A course: 6 – 7 June 2022 

• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star 

Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe, Dresden 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe, Dresden 

Located right next to the famous Frauenkirche, Steigenberger 

Hotel de Saxe in Dresden boasts an extremely convenient 

central position. Landmarks such as Semper Opera House, 

Zwinger and Royal Palace are within easy walking distance, 

each no more than seven to 10 minutes away. Room facilities 

include, tea and coffee making facilities, a TV, safe, radio, 

telephone, minibar & hairdryer. 

Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon Terrace Bedroom 


39

GERMANY 

SWABIA 

Art & history between Augsburg and Stuttgart 

Blaubeuren Abbey 

Present-day ‘Schwaben’ encompasses parts of the German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. To 

many Germans, Swabia is the land of the thrifty, of wheeler-dealers and inventors: the Fuggers of Augsburg were once 

the world’s mightiest bankers, while today the Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall is Germany’s biggest building society; 

Mercedes and Porsche are both based in Stuttgart, and Albert Einstein hailed from Ulm. Yet, in terms of cultural tourism 

— apart from the odd stopping point on the renowned Romantic Road — the region between Augsburg and Stuttgart 

has quite unjustly been left off the international itinerary. A paleolithic lion man, carved from a mammoth tusk, ‘roars’ 

in Ulm, while wonderful 15th-Century wood and stone carvings await in the picture-perfect towns of Nördlingen and 

Blaubeuren. Augsburg, home of the Holbein family of painters, will present itself as a proud Renaissance metropolis 

with outstanding museums, while James Stirling’s postmodernist Staatsgalerie at Stuttgart and the Sammlung Würth 

in Schwäbisch Hall harbour first-class collections of 20th-Century art. Mediaeval churches dominate the centres of 

Ulm and Schwäbisch Gmünd, while Baroque abbeys and Rococo pilgrimage churches at Wiblingen, Günzburg and 

Neresheim adorn the lovely countryside of rolling hills and dramatic rock formations of the Swabian Jura. This Art 

Pursuits Abroad Study Tour will introduce you to an underrated part of Germany and enhance your knowledge of 

German art and culture from pre-history to the present. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Munich. By coach to 

Augsburg – Roman Augusta Vindelicorum. Augsburg’s trade in metals 

gave the city the cutting edge in finance, from which rose the Fugger 

dynasty of bankers. Our first visit will include the cathedral with stained 

glass dating to c. 1100, and the Fugger family chapel with marble reliefs 

designed by Dürer. Continue to Ulm. 

Day 2 

Ulm rose as an important trade centre at the point where the Danube 

becomes navigable. Its main landmarks are the minster, begun in 

1377, and town hall of c.1400, both featuring works by the early 

Renaissance sculptor Hans Multscher. The minster’s 161m high spire 

is the world’s tallest, while its 1470s choir stalls by Jörg Syrlin feature 

a marvellous ‘portrait gallery’ of pagan and biblical sages. After lunch, 

visit nearby Blaubeuren in the Swabian Jura. Its former Benedictine 

abbey preserves one of the great Late Gothic altarpieces by the Ulm 

woodcarver Michel Erhard. 

Day 3 

Full-day coach excursion to Stuttgart, capital of the counts, dukes and 

kings of Württemberg. The Altes Schloss houses a museum of arts 

and crafts presenting precious objects. The Neue Staatsgalerie gained 

world fame through James Stirling’s postmodernist building of 1984 

and houses an exquisite collection of German art of the 20th-Century. 

The Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart maintains an extensive collection of 

paintings. 

Day 4 

Coach excursion to the picturesque town of Schwäbisch-Gmünd, home 

of Peter Parler, head of one of the largest masons’ shops of the late 

mediaeval German Empire. Prague cathedral may be Parler’s most 

famous work, but his Minster of the Holy Cross is an exquisite example 

of German Sondergotik. Its interior is particularly rich in statuary, while 

its treasury comprises over 300 objects from the 15th-Century onwards. 

Day 5 

A second morning in Ulm will take us to the former Benedictine abbey 

of Wiblingen, just south of the city. Rebuilt from 1714 its architectural 

styles range from Late Baroque to Neoclassicism. Back in town, the 

municipal museum illustrates the history of the city. Highlights include 

the famous 40,000-year-old ‘Lion Man’ carved from mammoth ivory 

and Hans Multscher’s town hall statues. The rest of the day is free for 

independent visits. 

Day 6 

Full-day coach excursion to Schwäbisch Hall, made prosperous by 

salt springs. This handsome town was brought into the limelight 

of Germany’s cultural scene in 2001, when the business magnate 

Reinhold Würth opened the Kunsthalle Würth, presenting temporary 

exhibitions of masterpieces from his collection. This was joined in 2008 

by a permanent display of ‘Old Masters’, including Riemenschneider 

sculptures and – since 2012 – Hans Holbein the Younger’s famous 

Darmstadt Madonna. The Benedictine abbey of Grosscomburg features 

a rare Romanesque chandelier of c. 1130 and a gilded enamelled altar 

frontal of the same period. 

Day 7 

Nördlingen on the Romantic Road retains its 14th- and 15th-Century 

townscape. Raised to the rank of an Imperial Free City by Emperor 

Frederick II in 1215 it developed into a powerful and wealthy local 

trading hotspot, surrounded by perfectly preserved town walls of 1327. 

Return towards Ulm via Neresheim, a magnificent former Benedictine 

abbey church designed in the 1740s by Balthasar Neumann 

Day 8 

Return to Augsburg to visit, the Maximilian museum, occupying a 

splendid Renaissance palace. In the afternoon, continue to Munich 

airport for a flight to London Heathrow. 


TOUR DATES 

25 September – 2 October 2022 

8 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Munich 


• Seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Hotel 

Goldenes Rad, Ulm 

• Four dinners and one lunch 




• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Goldenes Rad, Ulm 

With a history dating back to 1499 the Hotel Goldenes 

Rad offer space and comfort in modern, well equipped 

rooms. Located directly on Münsterplatz in Ulm, next to the 

impressive Ulm Cathedral and the townhouse built by New 

York star architect Richard Meier. 

Bedroom 

Stuttgart 

Hotel Goldenes Rad 


41

GERMANY 

BODENSEE 

One Lake, Three Countries, Countless Treasures 

Bodensee lighthouse 

With shores in three Countries – Germany, Switzerland and Austria – Lake Constance (in German 'Bodensee') occupies an 

enchanted spot in the heart of Western Europe with charming mediaeval towns such as Lindau, Überlingen and Meeresburg. 

Beyond the southern shore, the Swiss Alps rise to glacial heights, while gentle slopes with rich vineyards and luscious orchards 

fringe the German northern side. The combination of outstanding natural beauty and fertile agricultural lands have given 

this area, inhabited since the Bronze Age, the epithet 'God's Garden'. Moreover, the lake's gateway position has led to the 

development of august abbeys and flourishing towns along 

the shoreline, which offer a fascinating heritage ranging 

from pre-historic times to the present. This Art Pursuits 

Abroad Study Tour invites you to discover the region 

by coach and boat, from the millennium-old monastery 

island of Reichenau, one of the leading cultural centres of 

the Carolingian Empire, to the dazzling Rococo pilgrimage 

church of the Birnau, from Bronze Age lake dwellings to the 

busy merchant towns of Konstanz, Lindau and Bregenz. 

St. Martin Church, Arbon 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Zurich. Transfer by private 

coach to Stein am Rhein. Right by the riverbank lies the Monastery 

of St George with beautiful interiors from the eve of the Reformation, 

while the town's alleys and waterfront are picture-perfect. Continue to 

your five-star hotel in Konstanz. 

Day 2 

During the High Middle Ages Konstanz was the capital of a princebishopric 

whose rulers were frequently at loggerheads with a 

burgeoning town council. In the wake of the Counter-Reformation it 

was annexed to Habsburg Austria, before being allocated to Baden 

in 1806. The eponymous council (1414-18) resolved the Great 

Schism, replacing three competing popes with one. Visit the minster 

whose construction continued for 600 years, the Rosgartenmuseum 

occupying the town’s former guildhall, and the Church of the Trinity, 

an ensemble of Gothic mendicant order architecture, late mediaeval 

frescoes and Baroque stucco decoration. Across the lake, Meersburg 

replaced Konstanz as bishop’s seat after the religious conflicts of the 

mid-16th Century, with two castles dominating the skyline. 

Day 3 

Überlingen’s prosperity during the late Middle Ages was founded 

on the town's role as southern Germany's largest grain market. The 

huge minster (1512-63) manifests Überlingen's might. Its single most 

remarkable feature is the massive limewood high altar, carved in 

intricate detail. Our walk through the town includes the municipal 

museum and the simple Chapel of St Jodok (James) with primitive but 

moving wall paintings. After lunch, continue to the pilgrimage church 

of the Birnau, one of the last and most glittering manifestations of 

Rococo art. 

Day 4 

Excursion by Catamaran to the island of Reichenau. Three monasteries 

were in place by the end of the 9th-Century, but monastic life reached 

its zenith one hundred years later, when 700 monks contributed to 

the island's fame for its scholarship, literature and painting. The walls 

of St Georg are covered with a wonderful set of Ottonian frescoes – 

monumental versions of the famed Reichenau miniatures. The church 

of Sts Peter and Paul presents itself today in Baroque disguise, but an 

apse fresco of the Last Judgement betrays the building’s mediaeval 

origins. At St Maria und Markus, the treasury includes a 5th-Century 

ivory goblet and some priceless 1000-year-old stained glass. We return 

from Friedrichshafen to Meersburg by private boat with a light lunch 

included before a free afternoon. 

Day 5 

Located on a major north-south trading route, Lindau has many 

handsome merchant mansions, most notably the Haus zum Cavazzen, 

now an attractive local history museum. The ancient church of St Peter 

is decorated with a Christological mural cycle, possibly the work of the 

young Hans Holbein the Elder. In the afternoon, return to Konstanz 

by coach and car ferry via the church at Eriskirch, embellished with 

paintings, sculptures and stained-glass of the early 15th-Century. 

Day 6 

By coach to Austrian Bregenz, famous for its large floating stage 

behind the concert hall, used for spectacular operas. Roman 

Brigantium gave the lake its Latin name: Lacus Brigantinus. The 

capital of Voralberg has a wide range of attractions. 


TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Zurich 


• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star 

Steigenberger Inselhotel, Konstanz 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Steigenberger Inselhotel, Konstanz 

This five-star hotel is situated in a former Dominican 

monastery, located directly by the lake on a small private 

island of Constance and within easy walking distance of 

Konstanz city centre. Room Facilities and amenities include: 

en suite bathroom, safe, TV, minibar (additional charges may 

apply), Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. 

Steigenberger Inselhotel 

Day 7 

A coach excursion along the Swiss shore will take you to Landschlacht 

and Arbon, both with churches that house rare 14th-Century wall 

paintings. A few kilometres south of Arbon, the monastery town of St 

Gallen is best known for the richly decorated library, a UNESCO World 

Heritage Site. From there continue to Zurich airport for our flight to 

London Heathrow. 

Bedroom 

Steigenberger Inselhotel 


43

GERMANY 

NUREMBERG 

Treasures of Franconia, Renaissance to Rococo 

Veit Stoss Gothic Alterpiece 

For centuries Nuremberg was one of the greatest cities of the German Empire, situated at the crossroads between Hamburg 

and Venice, Paris and Prague, famous for its arts and crafts, and birthplace of Albrecht Dürer, Germany’s most famous 

artist. Luther claimed that “Nuremberg shines throughout Germany, like a sun among the moon and stars”. Sadly, the city’s 

WWII history – Nazi rallies and the trials of 1945-49 – has overshadowed much of its glorious past; indeed, it was the 

Nazi exploitation of Nuremberg’s patriotic significance which led to its destruction by Allied bombers. Notwithstanding 

great losses, Nuremberg features a wonderfully restored 

mediaeval old town overlooked by a grand castle, two 

magnificent parish churches brimming with late mediaeval 

and Renaissance works of art, and the Germanisches 

Nationalmuseum, an unparalleled collection of German 

art and culture. Moreover, the city’s 400 year old Christmas 

Market continues to retain its charm and traditional 

atmosphere with the air filled with aromas from scrumptious 

gingerbread, bratwurst and mulled wine. 

Nuremberg 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Munich. Transfer by private 

coach to Nuremberg, stopping en route at the handsome market town 

of Schwabach. Highlight of its parish church is the magnificent carved 

and painted polyptych – one of the largest of its kind – by Veit Stoss 

and Dürer’s master, the painter Michael Wolgemut. Upon arrival in 

Nuremberg, an introductory walk will be followed by dinner in the 

hotel. 

Day 2 

Explore Nuremberg on foot, starting from the Imperial Castle, 

dramatically sited on a red sandstone rock above the northern edge 

of the old town. Nearby, the Fembohaus, a rich Renaissance patrician 

mansion, is now a museum dedicated to the town history. Over 

the lunch break there will be time to stroll across to the Christmas 

Market. St Sebaldus, Nuremberg’s oldest parish church, houses Peter 

Vischer’s masterpiece, the brass shrine of the church’s titular saint, 

and a wealth of Gothic and Renaissance wood and stone sculpture. A 

private organ recital will complete the day. 

Day 3 

Full day coach excursion to Heilsbronn and Ansbach. Ansbach was 

the former residence of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach. 

Once the Hohenzollern had lost their Nuremberg possessions, 

they settled in Ansbach – and continually waged war against their 

former homeland. Their palace, substantially refurbished in the 

18th-Century, preserves its delightful Rococo interiors in a unique 

and pristine condition. En route we stop at the Cistercian abbey of 

Heilsbronn, a little-known treasure trove, replete with magnificent 

Hohenzollern funerary monuments and carved and gilded 

altarpieces. 

Day 4 

A second day in Nuremberg will take us to the city’s second great 

parish church of St Lawrence, with a superb range of stained glass 

windows, a large tabernacle by Adam Kraft who allegedly was able 

to “bend stone” and a great wooden Annunciation group by Veit 

Stoss suspended in the choir. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum 

is the most comprehensive collection of German cultural history. Its 

stunning galleries make this a world-class experience, with objects 

including gorgeous Ostrogothic jewellery, a priceless Ottonian gold 

and ivory book cover, and of course, works by Dürer, Cranach, and 

Riemenschneider. 

Day 5 

In the morning we visit the Tucher Mansion, built between 1533 and 

1544. Its exhibits, including fine crafts work, furniture, tapestries and 

paintings, vividly recreate the world of Nuremberg's 16th-Century 

merchant families. Afterwards we return to the Germanisches 

Nationalmuseum for a private view of late Gothic and Renaissance 

prints. This afternoon is free before we enjoy a final dinner in a 

gourmet restaurant. 

Day 6 

In the morning, the coach takes us to Eichstätt, a charming little 

town, home to a cathedral boasting artworks from contemporaries of 

Albrecht Dürer and assimilating models by the leading Nuremberg 

artist. After a communal lunch in a traditional Eichstätt restaurant we 

continue to Munich airport for an early evening flight to London. 


TOUR DATES 

1 – 6 December 2022 

6 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel 

Victoria, Nuremberg 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Victoria, Nuremberg 

The independently owned, four-star Hotel Victoria was 

established in 1896 and offers excellent service. Located in 

Nüremberg’s Old Town, the hotel’s modern interior has a 

lobby bar and outdoor terrace. All rooms are en suite and 

include the following amenities: safe, TV, hairdryer, minibar 

(additional charges may apply) and Wi-Fi. 

Nuremberg 

Hotel Victoria 

Bedroom 


45

AUSTRIA 

INN VALLEY 

In the Realm of the Last Knight 

Innsbruck 

Maximilian I was one of the most charismatic and colourful rulers of the House of Habsburg. Emperor from 1493 until 

his death in 1519, he was a protagonist at the waning of the Middle Ages, standing on the threshold of the Renaissance, 

a circumstance that earned him the epithet ‘the last of the knights’. Northern Tyrol, comprising Kufstein, the Inn Valley 

and the mountains rising towards the Brenner Pass, was particularly dear to Maximilian: rich in natural resources, 

above all in silver ore and salt, it provided much of the wealth necessary to finance the campaigns of an emperor 

notoriously and constantly strapped for cash. Maximilian’s favourite residence and capital of all Tyrol — then stretching 

as far south as the prince-bishopric of Trento — was the town of Innsbruck, important crossing point of the River Inn 

and postal station between Augsburg and Verona. Innsbruck blossomed under Habsburg patronage and developed into 

a treasure chest of art and architecture from the Late Middle Ages to the Age of Absolutism. Flanked by the Karwendel 

Mountains in the north and the Tuxer and Stubaier Alps in the south, the valley of the Inn is shaped by awe-inspiring 

mountains and deep glacial valleys. Well-preserved towns, villages and richly endowed monastic foundations and 

pilgrimage churches are lined up along the river’s banks. Summer solstice bonfires, parish festivals, the clanging of cow 

bells and yodelling are part and parcel of the region’s heritage. At the same time, bold contemporary designs, such as 

Zaha Hadid’s ski jump demonstrates that Tyrol successfully blends past and present. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight with Lufthansa from London Heathrow to Munich. 

Transfer by coach to Innsbruck with stop en route at Kufstein. 

On arrival in Innsbruck, an afternoon walk will introduce you to 

Maximilian’s favourite city. Among numerous palatial town houses, 

the residence of Emperor Maximilian I stands out for its ‘Goldenes 

Dachl’ — the three-storied balcony, covered with 3,000 fire-gilt copper 

tiles, from where the ruler could see and be seen. 

Day 2 

A day in Innsbruck on foot. The Court Church is home to a monument 

that is hard to beat: Maximilian’s humongous cenotaph, flanked by 

28 colossal bronze sculptures designed and cast by the leading artists 

of the day, most notably Albrecht Dürer and Peter Vischer the Elder. 

In the afternoon, we will explore sumptuous Baroque Habsburg State 

Apartments in the Hofburg and the Cathedral of St James, exquisitely 

frescoed and stuccoed by the Asam brothers and featuring another 

impressive Habsburg monument in bronze. The Tyrolean Parliament 

building with its chapel, open to us by appointment, has magnificent 

stucco and fresco decoration. 

Day 3 

Located in the hills above Innsbruck, Ambras Castle ranks amongst 

Tyrol’s most impressive Renaissance buildings. Its creator, Archduke 

Ferdinand II of Habsburg, a true Renaissance Man, was an 

enthusiastic patron of the arts and founder of a vast and fascinating 

collection of art, armour and curiosities. The exceptional Habsburg 

portrait gallery with over 200 paintings includes masterpieces by 

Cranach, Titian and Velázquez. Return to Innsbruck via Hall. This 

attractive small town, which owed much of its wealth to mining for 

salt, has an almost perfectly preserved Late mediaeval look and a 

beautifully displayed Mint Museum focusing on the history of money. 

Day 4 

In the morning walk to the Ferdinandeum, the Tyrolean National 

Museum, where we will focus on the fine collection of northern Late 

Gothic art and the portraiture in the Age of Maximilian. From the 

centre of Innsbruck we take the Hungerburg funicular, designed 

by Zaha Hadid, to the Nordkette mountain range with spectacular 

views of the Inn valley. After we enjoyed lunch together in the hill top 

restaurant we return to Innsbruck centre for some more free time. 

Day 5 

By coach to the Cistercian abbey of Stams, one of the region’s most 

powerful monasteries. Founded as a burial place for the Tyrolean 

rulers in the Middle Ages, it was rebuilt after a fire in the 17th- 

Century. Its striking appearance with distinctive onion-shaped domes, 

sumptuous stuccowork and rich pictorial decoration, is typical of 

Austrian Baroque, though this opulence may seem somewhat at odds 

with the Cistercian tenet of austerity. Special appointment to see 

some of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts from the abbey’s 

library. Return to Innsbruck for some free time. 


TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Maximillan 

Stradthaus, Penz 






and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Maximillan Stradthaus, Penz 

The four-star Hotel Maximillan is a family run hotel set in 

the heart of the Alps in the centre of Innsbruck. The Golden 

Roof, the Imperial Palace, the Cathedral of St. James, Maria- 

Theresien Straße Shopping Street, the Congresshaus, the 

University, and the hospital are just a few minutes' walk 

away. The rooms and suite are all comfortably and stylishly 

furnished, have minibar, safe and air-conditioning. 

Day 6 

By coach to Schloss Tratzberg, after Ambras the most important 

palace in Tyrol, preserving its splendidly painted courtyard, exquisite 

mediaeval and Renaissance parlours and a 46-metre-long mural 

representing the oldest painted family tree of the Habsburg clan. 

Nearby Schwaz is known as the ‘Mother of all Mines’ because of its 

silver mines, exploited by the Fugger bankers from Augsburg and the 

Habsburgs alike. In 1500, some 12,000 men were employed in the 

industry. Schwaz’s huge Late Gothic parish church reflects the town’s 

wealth. Nearby, the walls of the secluded cloister of the Franciscan 

friary are covered with murals based on designs by artists such as 

Martin Schongauer and Dürer. 

Day 7 

In the morning coach transfer to Munich airport for a flight with 

Lufthansa to London Heathrow. 

Bedroom 

Innsbruck 

Hotel Maximillan Stradthaus 


47

AUSTRIA 

VIENNA 

From the Emperor’s Clothes to Klimt’s Kiss 

Belvedere Palace 

Vienna is the capital city of central Europe, with all the political, cultural, and strategic significance this implies. For a 

century and a half it endured an Ottoman siege, withstanding and finally turning back the armies of the Sublime Porte. 

It was the seat of Maria Theresia and Joseph II as Habsburg policy came to dominate the cabinet rooms of Europe, while 

Austrian music reigned supreme in its concert halls: Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and many others made Vienna the most 

important city in the history of western music. Later, in its imperial twilight, Vienna came to embody Mitteleuropa, that 

cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic realm of avant-garde aesthetics and intellectual pluralism, of Klimt, Schiele, Kraus and Freud, 

that was bloodily extinguished by the twin catastrophes of totalitarianism and war. And yet Vienna, like Austria as a 

whole, has handled its transition to modernity remarkably well. Todays city, overlaid with a confident self-possession and 

an enduring civic pride, is a gleaming patchwork of mediaeval alleys and Renaissance squares, of Baroque palaces and 

Secession cafés. This tour will visit a number of the irresistible delights that have attracted so many thinkers, artists, and 

musicians over the centuries, including St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the option to visit the 

Staatsoper for an opera, or a private organ concert in one of the historic churches. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Fly to Vienna from Heathrow, transferring by coach to the MAK, 

Museum of Applied Arts. After some refreshments in the restaurant, 

Our focus will be artefacts of the Vienna Biedermeier, the brief but 

distinctive period during the early 19th-Century in which arts and 

culture where led by comfortable notions of the domestic idyll, and 

the Vienna Workshop, which, inspired by the likes of William Morris, 

sought to renew handcraftsmanship and the applied arts at the turn 

of the 20th century. Afterwards, we continue to our hotel for check-in, 

where there will be some time to relax before a group dinner. 

Day 2 

Leisurely morning walk to explore some of Vienna’s most stunning 

18th-Century palaces, including the Palais Daun Kinsky, built by the 

leading Baroque architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, and the 

exteriors of the Palais Schonborn-Batthyany and the Palais Ferstel. 

Our walk will lead us to the famous patisserie Zuckerbäckerei 

Demel—former purveyor of chocolates and pastries to the royal 

and imperial court—where we will enjoy ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’ in 

the patisserie’s elegant surroundings. In the afternoon, passing the 

exteriors of the Bibliothek Prunskaal and Augustiner Church, we 

continue on to visit the Cathedral of St Stephen, focusing on the red 

marble tomb of Emperor Frederick III. Our return to the hotel takes 

us past the Winter Palais of the glorious military commander Prince 

Eugene of Savoy. 

Day 3 

Leave the hotel on foot to visit the Belvedere, Prince Eugene’s grand 

ensemble of two stately summer palaces linked by terraced gardens, 

now the home to Austrian art from the 17th to the 20th-Centuries, 

including Jugendstil works by Gustav Klimt. We briefly stop at 

Karlskirche, widely considered the most outstanding baroque church 

in Vienna, as well as one of the city's greatest buildings. Continuing 

to the Secession building by Joseph Maria Olbrich, an icon of the 

Vienna Secessionists, a group of rebel artists who broke away from 

the long-established fine arts tradition. One such institution was the 

neighbouring Academy of Fine Arts whose small but outstanding 

collection of Old Masters is an unretrieved treasure trove. The rest of 

the afternoon is free. 

Day 4 

Today is dedicated to an in-depth exploration of the palatial galleries 

of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a superb line-up of masterpieces 

from Dürer to Velázquez, commissioned and collected by the 

Habsburg princely connoisseurs over centuries. Our time here will 

be split into three sessions and we will consider the art of Northern 

Europe first; highlights include a fabulous collection of works by 

Pieter Bruegel the Elder such as ‘Hunters in the Snow’ and ‘The Tower 

of Babel’ and works by Vermeer and Rembrandt, among others. 

Our session on the art of Southern Europe will reveal masterpieces 

by the likes of Bellini, Titian and Raphael, as well as some of the 

extraordinary composite portraits of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Finally, 

an exploration of the Kunstkammer—literally ‘chamber of art 

and wonders’—is a delightful conclusion to our visit. Amassed by 

successive Habsburg emperors, the more than 2,100 objects, from 

16th-Century automatons to the famed Saliera, make this the most 

important collection of its kind in the world. Afterwards, there is time 

for a festive gluhwein at a Christmas market. 

Day 5 

Our final visit will take us to the lavishly decorated Palais 

Liechtenstein. Apart from a stunning trompe-loeil ceiling by Andrea 

Pozzo the palace presents a spectacular private art collection, 

including the pietradura Badminton Cabinet, the world’s most 

expensive piece of furniture, acquired by Prince Liechtenstein in 2004 

for a mere 19 million pounds. After a final group lunch, the coach 

transfers us to the airport for our return flight to London. 


TOUR DATES 

11 – 15 December 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Vienna 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Hotel 

Bristol, Vienna 






and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel Bristol, Vienna 

The Hotel Bristol Vienna, A Luxury Collection Hotel, located 

in the heart of the city adjacent to the Vienna State Opera 

and proximity to all major sights. The Bristol – an art deco 

gem – has been one of Vienna’s prime addresses ever since 

1892 and serves as a living example of Viennese charm and 

personalised service. 150 exclusive rooms and 24 unique 

suites feel like turn-of-the-century apartments and offer 

spectacular views of the city. The restaurant Bristol Lounge 

offers all-day dining. 

Vienna 

Hotel Bristol 

Bedroom 


49

FRANCE 

TOULOUSE 

Pilgrims & Heretics 

Sainte-Foy, Conques 

The region of the Midi-Pyrénées in the heart of south-western France is one of the country’s most beautiful and unspoilt 

areas. The diversity of the landscape is matched by the wealth of its heritage, from singing troubadours to pious pilgrims 

and rebellious heretics. During the 11th-Century two of the four principle French pilgrimage routes to Santiago de 

Compostela traversed the area: religious tourism brought about inner peace, economic stability and wealth, leading to a 

golden age of art and architecture. This manifests itself in richly decorated Romanesque churches: at Moissac, with its 

magnificent tympanum and perfectly preserved cloisters abundantly adorned with sculptural capitals; at Conques, built 

to accommodate the large numbers of pilgrims and lead them to contemplate the unparalleled shrine of Sainte-Foy; and 

at Toulouse, which displays a collection of exceptional marble reliefs and a wealth of reliquaries in its cavernous crypt. 

Alongside this manifestation of Catholic faith, however, rose the anti-sacerdotal Cathar movement, provoking political 

and religious turmoil. Culminating in rebellion, suppression, massacre and annihilation, the impact of Albigensian heresy 

of the 12th and 13th centuries can be seen in the stunning defensive building, such as the great fortress-like cathedral of 

Albi. More recently, the lively town of Albi was the home of Toulouse-Lautrec, and today holds the best collection of his 

work – a Bohemian antidote of the Belle Époque to mediaeval spirituality. Brick-built Toulouse, or ‘la ville rose’, also has 

a spirited history – it was once the brilliant centre of troubadour poetry – and is our picturesque base for this tour. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Fly from London Heathrow to Toulouse. Transfer by coach to our fourstar 

hotel, located in the heart of the Vieux Quartier – old quarter. 

An independent lunch and introductory walk through the delightful 

streets surrounding our hotel takes us to the Church of the Jacobins, 

most famous for housing the relics of Thomas Aquinas. An early 

example of the Southern Gothic style, the somewhat austere exterior 

conceals a luminous and soaring interior. In the evening, enjoy a 

welcome dinner together. 

Day 2 

After breakfast, travel by coach to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a 

charming mediaeval town on the banks of the River Aveyron. The 

focus of our visit here will be the 12th-Century town hall, one of the 

oldest civil buildings in France, with fine exterior carvings depicting 

Adam and Eve under the tree of knowledge, and the Emperor 

Justinian as law-giver. Continue to Conques, spectacularly positioned 

on either side of the gorge of the River Dourdou, where we shall enjoy 

an included lunch. Its relative inaccessibility has left the mediaeval 

core remarkably intact, so that modern visitors approach the historic 

centre on foot. Visit the pilgrimage church of Sainte-Foy, with a 

west front dominated by an elaborate tympanum relief of the Last 

Judgement and an interior with many historiated capitals. Thanks 

to its possession of the relics of a virgin martyr, the abbey received 

gifts from pilgrims and kings, the most precious of which are kept in 

the museum that now exhibits the amazing jewel-encrusted shrine 

of St-Foy, the greatest surviving example of mediaeval statuary 

reliquaries. Return to Toulouse for an independent evening. Please 

note that this day involves several hours of coach travel but stops will 

be programmed. 

Day 3 

A day to explore Toulouse. Walk past wealthy merchant mansions 

to the enormous rosy-red Romanesque basilica of Saint-Sernin, 

crowned with its spectacular octagonal bell tower – the city’s focal 

point ever since pilgrim hordes on their way to Santiago started to 

stop in the city. Some time for an independent lunch is followed by 

a visit to the Musée des Augustins, which incorporates two surviving 

cloisters of an Augustinian priory and contains an outstanding 

collection of Romanesque sculpture, much of it saved from the nowvanished 

churches of Toulouse’s golden age. The evening is yours for 

independent activity. 

Day 4 

All-day excursion to Albi, rising steeply from the banks of the River 

Tarn. At the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Episcopal City is the 

enormous cathedral of Sainte-Cécile. The present church was built as 

a statement of Catholic triumph after the successful suppression of 

the Cathar rebellion. Continue to the collegiate church of Saint-Salvi. 

A gem of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, it also features a 

tranquil cloister garden – a cool haven of peace in the centre of town. 

In the afternoon, visit the impressive 13th-Century Palais de la Berbie, 

former seat of the Albigensian archbishops but now accommodating 

the world’s largest collection of the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, the 

city’s most famous son. Return to Toulouse where our final night 

together is marked with a farewell dinner. 


TOUR DATES 

9 – 13 March 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star 

Grand Hôtel de l’Opéra, Toulouse 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Grand Hôtel de l’Opéra, Toulouse 

Stay in a unique venue that combines a rich history with all 

modern comforts. A former 17th-Century convent, The Grand 

Hôtel de l'Opéra is a four-star hotel located in the centre of 

Toulouse on the Place du Capitole. A refined ambiance with 

attentive service providing a calm, comfortable space with a 

cosy atmosphere. Room facilities include, air-conditioning, 

Wi-Fi, a TV, telephone & safe. 

Day 5 

By coach to Moissac, where we will focus on the Cluniac abbey of 

Saint-Pierre. The richly carved south porch of the church with its 

remarkable tympanum and the extensive series of sculptures in the 

cloisters, which have one of the most complete sets of Romanesque 

capitals in existence, have earned the complex its place in the history 

of mediaeval art. After an independent lunch, coach transfer to 

Toulouse airport for our flight home. 

Hotel 

Bar 

Albi 


51

FRANCE 

PROVENCE 

School of the South 

Bastide du Jas de Bouffan 

“When you’re born there, it’s hopeless, nothing else is good enough.” So beguiled was Cézanne by his home region of 

Provence, he is reputed to have spoken these words, and certainly he never tired of painting the area in his lifetime. 

Cézanne was not alone. It’s no wonder that the area became such a source of inspiration to generations of painters who 

flocked here to discover and celebrate the artistic qualities of the land, this part of the country somehow distils the very 

essence of France. Rolling vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields, ancient history and vibrant local markets are united 

under a warm Mediterranean sky. Our base for this tour is gorgeous Aix-en-Provence. Often described as ‘the little Paris’ 

owing to a profusion of elegant buildings and fountains, it was the lifelong home of Cézanne, and we will trace the 

artist’s footsteps here and in the surrounding area. We will also follow the trail of Van Gogh, who created some of his 

best-loved works during the tempestuous period he spent in Provence. Countless others have been creatively stirred by 

the beauty of the region and will be encountered on this new Art Pursuits Abroad tour, which combines idyllic scenery 

with gastronomic pleasures and a broad variety of art and architecture. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Early afternoon flight from London Heathrow to Marseille. Transfer by 

private coach to Aix-en-Provence, and our four-star hotel. Enjoy a short 

introductory walk before a group dinner in the hotel restaurant. 

Day 2 

Spend the morning exploring Aix on foot. The spectacular Cathedrale 

Saint-Sauveur is a fascinating patchwork of architectural styles 

incorporating Roman, Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements. 

Nearby, the Église de la Madeleine contains a portion of the Aix 

Annunciation attributed to Barthélemy d'Eyck, an Early Netherlandish 

artist and illuminator who worked in France. The Musée Granet is our 

last stop of the morning, with a fabulous array of works by artists such 

as Ingres, Granet, Picasso and of course Cézanne. In the afternoon, a visit 

to the Fondation Vasarely offers some serious visual contrast. The highly 

unusual building was designed by Victor Vasarely himself. Our final visit 

of the day will be a special private tour of the Atelier Cézanne, the artist’s 

final home and studio, where an extra treat will be a drinks reception in 

the artist’s former garden. 

Day 3 

All-day coach excursion to Marseille, the oldest city in France. Our first 

destination is the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the handsome, colonnaded 

Palais de Longchamp. Artworks span the 16th to 19th centuries and 

treasures from the French school include works by David, Courbet, Millet 

and Daumier. Afterwards, enjoy some free time in the vibrant Old Port 

area of the city for an independent lunch. In the afternoon, a visit to the 

Musée Cantini brings our visual journey through French art history into 

the 20th-Century, from Derain’s vibrant Fauvist landscapes to Signac’s 

Pointillist visions of Marseille. Return to Aix via the coastal village of 

L’Estaque. 

Day 4 

Today our explorations are based around the craggy Montagne Sainte- 

Victoire, a major landmark of the Aix region and one of Cézanne’s 

favourite subjects. The strangely sculptural rocks of the majestic 

Bibémus Quarries also feature in the artist’s work and will be our first 

stop of the day. We travel on to a local vineyard for a leisurely group lunch 

before enjoying a tour of the vineyard and a wine tasting session. In the 

afternoon, Les Jardin de Romégas await. Designed around a typical Aix 

country house, the lush gardens have been cultivated since the 16th- 

Century and contain ornamental pools and fountains, a labyrinth and 

elegant parterres. Return to Aix for an evening at leisure. 

Day 5 

After breakfast we travel by coach to Arles. A walking tour will take in 

some of the city’s most interesting sites. Beginning at Les Alyscamps, 

we head towards les Arènes d'Arles, an impressive two-tiered Roman 

amphitheatre and on to the Eglise Saint-Trophime, an outstanding 

example of the Provençal Romesque style. Van Gogh enjoyed a period 

of great productivity whilst living in Arles between 1888-89 and our 

meanderings will also take in some of the locations frequented by the 

artist. After cutting off his left earlobe, Van Gogh was committed to Arles 

Hospital, today the Espace Van Gogh. Garden of the Hospital in Arles was 

painted during his stay here and the real garden remains as it was during 

the artist’s convalescence. The Musée Réattu is our final stop of the 

morning. Named after the Arles-born painter Jacques Réattu, it contains 

works by Réattu, as well as drawings by Picasso. In the afternoon we 

drive to the Saint Paul de Mausole Monastry at Saint Rémy. We return to 

Aix where we will enjoy a farewell dinner together in a local restaurant. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr Kathy McLauchlan 

TOUR DATES 


6 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Grand 

Hôtel Roi Rene, Aix-en-Provence 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Grand Hôtel Roi Rene, Aix-en-Provence 

The four-star Grand Hôtel Roi René is a five minute walk from 

the Cours Mirabeau and the centre of Aix-en-Provence. You 

can relax on the terrace, by the heated swimming pool or take 

advantage of the hotel's fitness room. The guest rooms are 

bright and cosy. Room facilities include, tea an coffee making 

facilities, Wi-Fi, a TV & hairdryer. 

Grand Hôtel Roi Rene 

Bedroom 

Day 6 

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and head for the market for 

some time at leisure. A final visit will be to the Hôtel de Caumont, a 

beautiful 18th-Century mansion which now houses a lovely arts centre. 

After an independent lunch, we transfer to Marseille airport for our 

return flight to London Heathrow. 

Arles 

Cezanne's studio 


53

FRANCE 

FLOWERS OF LORRAINE 

The Genius of Art Nouveau in Nancy 


the V&A 

Crédit Lyonnais verriere © Regine Datin 

The historic capital of the ancient Duchy of Lorraine, Nancy has been a centre of trade, commerce and craftsmanship since 

the 11th century. But it was an artist and glassworker, Emile Gallé, who, around the turn of the 20th century, made his 

native city internationally famous as the vanguard of the Art Nouveau style. As the founder and first president of the École 

de Nancy, Gallé unified a group of artists from Lorraine who would electrify the world with their spectacular creations 

– energetic, elegant and deeply rooted in a close and passionate observation of local flowers, fruits and creatures. This 

was apparent no more so than at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, which presented to the world the climactic 

achievement of the style commonly known as Art Nouveau. Here, the work of the Ecole de Nancy in particular, drew such 

admiration that by the time the Exposition closed, ‘Style Nancy’ had become an accepted way of referring to the movement 

as a whole. Among the visitors enthralled by the Ecole’s achievements was George Donaldson, representative of the South 

Kensington Museum (shortly to be renamed the V&A). Thanks to his vision and enthusiasm (not entirely appreciated by his 

more conservative colleagues at the time) the V&A has an extensive collection of some of the best Style Nancy productions. 

We are therefore pleased to announce a very special collaboration between the V&A and Art Pursuits Abroad in 2020. Led 

by Dr Justine Hopkins, art historian and long-time aficionado of all things Art Nouveau and Nancy, the collaboration will 

combine a 2-day introductory course at the V&A with our popular APA Nancy study tour. Emile Gallé believed passionately 

in a world where there could be art in everything, for everyone. This unique course and tour combination will explore the 

many and varied ways in which he and his colleagues set about making that vision come true, and the unique qualities of 

glorious Nancy itself which made their success possible. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Today we begin our introductory course at the V&A starting with a 

broad overview of the dynamic, diverse, defiantly and self-consciously 

modern style known as Art Nouveau. We will then explore the 

particular circumstances of Nancy itself which made it such a 

fruitful breeding ground for this new artistic style. Our second lecture 

considers how science, nature, history and craftmanship came 

together to create the distinctive form of Art Nouveau which became 

internationally known and admired as Style Nancy before finishing 

with a session dedicated to the V&A’s extensive glass collection, 

including some of the finest examples of Emile Gallé’s work. 

Day 2 

We begin our final day at the V&A with two lectures exploring in 

more depth the lives and achievements of the two greatest masters 

of Art Nouveau in Nancy; Emile Gallé and Louis Majorelle. Thanks 

largely to the efforts of George Donaldson the V&A has a particularly 

rich collection of Ecole de Nancy furniture. Much of this is usually 

in storage but our next session allows a chance to enjoy some of 

the masterpieces of the workshops of Gallé and Majorelle at close 

quarters. We finish with a final lecture looking at the Paris Exposition 

Universelle of 1900, exploring the particular offerings of Nancy’s 

artists and reveals how the V&A acquired such a brilliant share of 

those works – and the controversies surrounding the Donaldson gift. 

Day 3 

Take the train from London St Pancras via Paris to Nancy. Transfer to 

our hotel by private coach. Introductory stroll around the magnificent 

Place Stanislas. 

Day 4 

The morning is spent in Place Stanislas, Europe’s most beautiful 

royal square, viewing and visiting two of Nancy’s finest buildings: 

the majestic Hôtel de Ville occupies the square’s entire south side 

(viewing from the outside), while the Musée des Beaux-Arts, as sleekly 

modern inside as it is classically elegant outside, displays works 

by Caravaggio and Delacroix, as well as the Daum Collection of Art 

Nouveau glassware. In the afternoon, a walking tour around Nancy’s 

finest Art Nouveau exteriors, including the blue ceramic façade of the 

Point-Central pharmacy. 

Day 5 

After a stroll along Rue Félix Faure to see the house façades, visit 

the museum devoted to the Nancy School of artists and craftsmen 

associated with Emile Gallé, featuring work by all its major 

representatives, including Gallé himself, Antonin Daum and Eugène 

Vallin. In the afternoon, tour the Quartier Saurupt (Art Nouveau 

Garden Estate) and visit the Maison Bergeret, designed by Lucien 

Weissenburger, decorated with stained-glass windows by Gruber and 

Janin. 

Day 6 

Stroll through the atmospheric Old Town past the elegant, arcaded 

Place Saint-Epvre and its eponymous Neo-Gothic basilica and finish 

at the Porte de la Craffe. In the afternoon, visit the Villa Majorelle, the 

crowning example of Nancy’s Art Nouveau architecture, with features 

in ceramics, iron, glass and wood. Walk to the nearby Parc Sainte- 

Marie, the site of the 1909 International Exhibition of Eastern France, 

held partly in honour of Gallé. Return by coach via the Avenue Foch. 

Share a farewell dinner at the refined Brasserie Excelsior, which has 

been welcoming clients for over 100 years, a great café of the ‘Belle 

Epoque’. 

Day 7 

A leisurely stroll through the Parc de la Pépinière to see Rodin’s 

sculpture of Claude Lorrain with some free time before returning by 

trains from Nancy via Paris to London St Pancras. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Justine Hopkins 

TOUR DATES 

6 – 10 July 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 



‘No trains’ price £1,530 per person 



• 2 day course at the V&A: 4-5 July 2022 

• Return travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Grand Hotel 

de la Reine, Nancy 






and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Grand Hotel de la Reine, Nancy 

A masterpiece of 18th-Century French architecture, the 

building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage monument. 

The elegant restaurant has a terrace on Place Stanislas and the 

hotel also has a bar and reading room. Room facilities include 

a telephone, television, hairdryer, en suite, internet access and 

tea and coffee making facilities 

Grand Hotel de la Reine 

Villa Bergeret ©NT 

Bedroom 


55

FRANCE 

ROYAL MEDIAEVAL PARIS 

From Merovingian to Valois 

Abbey Saint-Germain-des-Prés 

During the Middle Ages, Paris underwent a seismic change that saw it transform from a small cathedral city of little 

economic or political consequence, to the largest city in Christendom and a leading cultural and intellectual hub. Its rise 

to prominence owed much to the Capetian dynasty, whose growing power mirrored that of the city’s. It was under early 

Capetian rule that Paris evolved into a city of three parts, the Île de la Cité, the metropolitan heart, site of the royal palace 

and the imposing new cathedral of Notre-Dame, begun in 1163; the mercantile Right Bank, a prospering centre of business 

and trade; and the Left Bank with its important monasteries, such as the Abbey Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The University of 

Paris, an amalgamation of the cathedral schools of Notre-Dame, was officially chartered in 1200 by King Philip II of France. 

It quickly emerged as one of the great centres of scholarship in Europe, bringing further importance to the Left Bank. Indeed, 

by the 13th-Century, the number of students living on the Left Bank had swelled so significantly that the area came to be 

known as the Latin Quarter, Latin being the language assumed by so many of its scholarly inhabitants. This boom period in 

Parisian history would be brought to a standstill with the arrival of the Bubonic plague in 1348, which killed a quarter of the 

city’s population during the first outbreak, and the Hundred Years’ War. Nevertheless, this remarkable chapter in the city’s 

history is preserved in the form of some of its most astounding structures and treasures. Join Dr Sally Dormer in a thrilling 

exploration of royal mediaeval Paris and discover the era that truly gave form to this most beloved European metropolis. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris. 

Transfer by private coach to our four-star hotel on the Ile St Louis, 

where there will be some time for an independent lunch. In the 

afternoon, travel by coach to St Germain des Prés, the oldest church 

in Paris, where our explorations of Paris will begin with a focus on 

Romanesque buildings. Founded originally as part of a monastery by 

the 6th-Century Frankish king Childebert I, the church that occupies 

the site today comprises a mid 11th-Century nave, much restored, 

and an early Gothic east end. Continue to the Musée de Cluny, which 

houses an unparalleled collection of mediaeval artefacts housed in 

the remains of a Gallo-Roman bath complex and the 15th-Century 

town house of the abbots of the Burgundian monastery of Cluny. 

During our visit we will focus on Romanesque sculpture, including 

capitals from St Germain des Prés and heads of the kings from the 

Royal Gallery of Notre Dame, small-scale precious arts, and we will 

consider the Basle Golden Altar Frontal, commissioned by an 11th- 

Century Holy Roman Emperor. Return to the hotel on foot, where 

there will be some time before we reconvene for a group dinner. 

Day 2 

Today’s focus will be Royal Gothic Paris. After breakfast, travel by 

coach to the Louvre for a day-long visit focusing on important French 

Gothic patrons and their commissions, including Louis IX, Queen 

Jeanne d’Evreux, Charles V and Jean, duc de Berry. We will begin the 

morning session by walking through the foundations of Charles V’s 

late 14th-Century, Louvre palace-fortress and then continue to the 

Mediaeval Objets d’Art gallery in the Richelieu Wing. In the afternoon 

we will move to the Mediaeval French Painting Gallery to study 

works such as the panel portrait of Jean le Bon and the Parement 

de Narbonne, commissioned by Charles V and his wife Jeanne de 

Bourbon. The rest of the day is free. 

Day 3 

A day devoted to the consideration of French Gothic Architecture. Our 

morning begins at the Royal Abbey of St Denis, where Denis, the first 

bishop of Paris was buried in the 1st-Century AD and where Gothic 

architecture was born in the 1140s, under the patronage of Abbot 

Suger. We will look at the reconstructed portals and bronze doors that 

Suger commissioned for the new West end, as well as the architectural 

design and stained-glass windows of his choir. After an independent 

lunch, walk to Notre Dame to visit the cathedral of Paris, begun in 

1163 by Maurice de Sully, bishop of Paris and remodelled extensively 

during the 13th-Century. It provides a fascinating example of the 

experimental approach to the Early Gothic style. Continue to Sainte 

Chapelle, the royal palace chapel commissioned by Louis IX in 1238 

to house the relic of the Crown of Thorns that he had procured from 

his cousin in Constantinople. It constitutes the finest example of the 

Rayonnant style of Gothic architecture that developed in Paris during 

the 1230s. The magnificent stained-glass windows carry evidence of 

Louis’ theory of kingship in their choice of subject matter. An elegant 

dinner cruise is a magical way to pass our final evening in Paris. 


TOUR DATES 


4 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris 



du Jeu de Paume, Paris 

• Two dinners 


the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel du Jeu de Paume, Paris 

The Hotel du Jeu de Paume is located on the only street which 

runs along practically the entire length of the Ile St Louis. 

The street has an almost country village feel, where time has 

stood still, providing tourists and visitors with a pleasant and 

cultured haven amid the bustle of Paris. 

Day 4 

The focus of our final day in Paris will be French Gothic Decorative 

Arts, our first visit returning us to the Musée de Cluny, where we will 

concentrate this time on the rich Gothic collections, including such 

treasures as the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries, the Sainte Chapelle 

reliquary, a fine collection of mediaeval jewels, Calendars from two 

Books of Hours and the Thornham Parva altar frontal. We will also 

look at the abbot of Cluny’s exquisite Flamboyant chapel. After 

some free time for lunch, our concluding visit will be to St Severin. 

This rarely visited Parisian church has a broad double ambulatory 

that provides a majestic example of the Flamboyant style of Gothic 

architecture, which emerged during the 15th-Century. Afterwards, we 

return to the hotel and transfer by coach to Gare du Nord for a late 

afternoon train back to London St Pancras. 

Hotel Jeu de Paume 

Sainte Chapelle 

Hotel Jeu de Paume 


57

BELGIUM 

BELGIUM 

From Ensor to Magritte 

Fin-de-Siècle gallery 

The founding of the modern state of Belgium in 1830 brought swift change within the new country. Rapid and impressive 

industrialisation swept through the land – Belgium became Europe’s second most important industrial power after 

Britain – and the country gained a reputation as one of the most liberal in Europe. In this burst of change, the arts 

flourished, and the international mood of the fin-de-siècle, a climate of broad and varied artistic sophistication, 

bourgeois excess and fashionably apocalyptic despair, was adopted in Belgium with vigour. Beginning in 1868 with the 

founding of the Société libre des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, which rejected the dominant academic approach to painting, 

a number of daring young artists emerged who helped to establish Belgium as a thriving artistic capital. Visual artists 

such as James Ensor, Constantin Meunier and Félicien Rops explored the theatrical, satirical and macabre realities of 

the time, while architect-designers such as Victor Horta and Henry van de Velde worked at the fore of the Art Nouveau 

movement. This moment came to an end in 1914 with the onset of war but such artists laid the way for subsequent 

innovators, such as Paul Delvaux and René Magritte, the great Belgian surrealist. 

This remarkable moment in Belgian history, tracing the work of some of its greatest creative protagonists from gallery to 

source, capital to coast, and travelling beyond the well-beaten tourist trails. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

In the morning, by Eurostar from London to Brussels. Transfer by 

private coach to our hotel, located in the heart of Brussels. Time 

permitting, an introductory walk will be followed by some free time 

for lunch. In the afternoon, walk to the Magritte Museum, where the 

250 works on display chart the evolution of René Magritte. A welcome 

dinner tonight is included. First of three nights in Brussels. 

Day 2 

After breakfast we set out for the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts. 

After some time to discover the museum’s wider collection – 

treasures include works by Bruegel, Bosch and Rubens – we head for 

the Fin-de-Siècle galleries to explore the many styles and artists that 

contributed to this broad international movement. Our time here will 

provide a good introduction to the sites of our afternoon walk, which 

will take in some of Brussels’ architectural Art Nouveau treasures, 

including a tour of Hôtel Solvay, Horta’s radiant UNESCO-listed 

masterpiece, and a special private guided visit to the Horta Museum. 

The evening is free for independent activities. 

Day 3 

By coach to the Musée Constantin Meunier, stopping en route to view 

Meunier’s Monument to Labour. In the afternoon, visit the Horta- 

Lambeaux Pavillon, the structure designed by a young Horta to house 

Jef Lambeaux's sculpture ‘The Human Passions’. Our final visit of the 

day is to the Wiertz Museum where we encounter some of the most 

dramatic and enormous works of the romantic painter and sculptor, 

Antoine Wiertz. Final night in Brussels. 

Day 4 

This morning we bid farewell to Brussels and travel to the coastal city 

of Ostend, lifelong home of the painter James Ensor. After a coffee 

break in our new hotel, we walk to the James Ensor House, preserved 

as he left it. Ensor was an important influence on the development 

of both expressionism and surrealism and his home offers a unique 

and intimate insight into the artist’s mind. Most of the artworks now 

on display here are replicas but a visit to the nearby Mu.ZEE, which 

specialises in Belgian art from 1830 onwards, will bring us face to 

face with many originals. We walk back to the hotel via the Kursaal 

Casino, a striking modernist building designed by Leon Stynen (1953), 

with interior murals by the surrealist painter Paul Delvaux. In the 

evening, we enjoy dinner together. First of two nights in Ostend. 

Day 5 

By coach to Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Duinenkerk, known locally as the 

Ensor Kerk (Ensor Church) because its small cemetery is now Ensor’s 

final resting place. On to St Idesbald-Koksijde, where we can examine 

the dream-like works of Paul Delvaux at the Paul Delvaux Museum 

– the largest collection of the artist’s work anywhere in the world. 

Close by, the elegant historic town of Veurne will offer us the chance 

for some independent exploration and lunch before we return to 

Ostend, where we will visit the Spilliaert House. Opened in 2016, the 

charming seafront museum is dedicated to the painter and graphic 

artist Léon Spilliaert (1881-1946). Free evening for independent 

activities. 

Day 6 

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and depart Ostend for 

Sint-Martens-Latem, where the stylish Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens 

holds a fabulous private collection of (mostly) Flemish modern and 

contemporary art. A special lunch together is the perfect way to round 

off our tour and afterwards there is time to make one final stop, to 

the home and museum of Gustave De Smet (1880-1943), another 

important figure in the European expressionist movement. Continue 

to Lille or Brussels for a late afternoon Eurostar to London. 


TOUR DATES 

4 – 9 April 2022 

6 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return Eurostar to Brussels, returning from Lille 


• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Radisson 

Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel 

Cocoon, Oostende 



programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Radisson Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels 

At the confluence of Belgian cultural wonders and European 

contemporary influences, step into a hotel that reflects Brussels’ 

cosmopolitan spirit. Famed for its glass-crowned, 7-story 

atrium and post-modernist architecture, this distinctive hotel 

was designed by Michel Jaspers back in 1989. Now, elegantly 

updated with remodelled interiors, the Radisson Collection 

Hotel, Grand Place Brussels seamlessly blends the best of 

international living with a powerful sense of place in one iconic 

Brussels landmark. Enjoy an enviable location: the Grand Place 

UNESCO World Heritage site, the best chocolate makers, designer 

boutiques, and not-to-miss cultural venues are just a stone’s 

throw away. Discover 282 elegant rooms and suites where 

refinement meets comfort, with sleek contemporary decor, 

considered furniture and lighting, plush bedding, and enlivening 

bathrooms. Find fresh dining inspiration at the Stoke Grand 

Place or enjoy the theatre of the stylish Shanghai Kitchen. 

Hotel Cocoon, Oostende 

The four-star Cocoon hotel has just been entirely refurbished 

and sits in an ideal location close to the expansive beach and the 

vibrant Ostend city centre. Room facilities include, tea an coffee 

making facilities, Wi-Fi, a TV, minifridge & safe. 


59

CZECH REP 

THE AGE OF SPLENDOUR 

Great Houses & Gardens of Moravia 

Buchlovice 

Moravia in the Czech Republic is still a largely undiscovered part of Central Europe, and yet it abounds in wonderful buildings, 

rich in historical associations and scenic beauty. For a long part of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Moravia’s proximity to the 

heart of the monarchy in Vienna meant it became a favourite area for the wealthy aristocracy to build their magnificent 

summer palaces and the 18th and 19th centuries saw a huge building boom after the Ottoman defeat at Vienna in 1683. 

However, the Renaissance was also a period of rich cultural activity, resulting in some of the finest 16th-Century buildings 

of Central Europe. The great Mies van der Rohe, one of the 

pioneers of modernist architecture, has also contributed to 

the diverse architectural treasures of the region. His iconic 

Vila Tugendhat in Brno was completed in 1930 and remains 

an exemplar of minimalist chic. This new Art Pursuits Abroad 

tour encompasses great houses of all periods, some with 

important gardens or designed landscapes and often set in 

countryside of great natural beauty, offering a fascinating 

introduction to this overlooked corner of the world. 

Telč 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Mid-morning flight from London Heathrow to Prague and transfer by 

coach to our four-star hotel in the enchanting little Renaissance town 

of Telč, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we will spend the first 

two nights of our tour. 

Day 2 

A morning devoted to exploring Telč, one of the finest small towns 

of Central Europe with its beautiful unspoilt square of gabled 

Renaissance and Baroque houses. The Renaissance castle is 

particularly fine and has outstanding carved and painted Renaissance 

interiors. An afternoon excursion will take us to Ždár nad Sázavou, 

one of the finest monastic complexes in Europe. The former abbey 

buildings are the home of the eminent Kinský family, whose property 

was resituated after the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Santini-Aichel, one 

of the most exciting and original architects of the period, remodelled 

the mediaeval monastery church in the early 18th-Century and 

built the amazing hilltop pilgrimage chapel of Zelená Hora (Green 

Hill) designed symbolically in the form of a five-pointed star and a 

UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Day 3 

After checking out of our hotel, we travel out of the town, Vranov 

château, spectacularly sited on a cliff above the river Dyje, the 

masterpiece of the great Austrian architect, Fischer von Erlach and 

an UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch, we travel to Uherčice, 

a majestic Renaissance-Baroque house, and the subject of one of 

the most significant restoration projects in the country. We continue 

to Lednice to check in to our four-star hotel for the remaining four 

nights. 

Day 4 

This morning we visit Castle Lednice, the Romantic Gothic Revival 

summer palace of the Liechtensteins, containing splendid original 

furnishings, and enjoy the great landscape park with its many 18th 

and 19th-Century follies. The entire Valtice-Lednice complex is now 

a UNESCO World Heritage site, and forms one of the finest designed 

landscapes in Europe. A relaxing boat ride will take us to the Oriental 

minaret and there will also be time to explore the garden. In the 

afternoon we see 18th-Century Milotice, with its theatrics exterior and 

magnificent painted Ancestor’s Hall. A special group dinner will be in 

one of the enchanting garden pavilions with views over the park. 

Day 5 

After breakfast we set out to visit Buchlovice, a charming Italianate 

villa and externally one of the most beautiful houses of Moravia, set 

in outstanding gardens. We continue to Bučovice, a late Renaissance 

château containing some of the finest Renaissance interiors in Central 

Europe. 

Day 6 

After breakfast drive to Brno to see the iconic Vila Tugendhat, a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site and the masterpiece of Mies van der 

Rohe. Recently superbly restored, it is the most important example of 

1930s Modernism in the Czech Republic. In the afternoon we see the 

monumental palace of Slavkov, with superb plasterwork by Italian 

artists. Here the peace treaty between France and Austria was signed 

after the battle of Austerlitz which was fought in the surrounding 

fields. The evening will be spent enjoying a wine-tasting in a South 

Moravian vineyard before our last night in Lednice. 

Day 7 

After breakfast, check out of our hotel and transfer to Vienna airport 

for our flight to London Heathrow. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Barbara Peacock 

TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Prague and 

Vienna to London 


• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel U 

Hraběnky, Telč 


Galant, Lednice 

• Five dinners and four lunches 





and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel U Hraběnky, Telč 

Hotel U Hraběnky is the only four-star hotel in Telč. Offering a 

high standard of accommodation and services, it is a popular 

and sought-after place among many well-known personalities 

who pay their visit to the “fairy-tale” town of Telč. Hotel U 

Hraběnky was established on the premises of an original 

Baroque house. Thanks to the careful reconstruction of the 

building, even the subtlest of the original details have been 

preserved, adding atmosphere to the unique character of the 

building, to its spirit of an aristocratic residence. The hotel is 

situated in a close vicinity of the centre. The historical square 

can be reached by a pleasant stroll around the lake or along 

the paths of the chateau park. 

Hotel Galant, Lednice 

Experience an exceptional stay in an exceptional location! 

The Lednice-Valtice area has been part of the UNESCO World 

and Cultural Heritage since 1996. No wonder this region is 

called "The Garden of Europe". The hotel is located 100m from 

Lednice Castle. All these beauties are literally within reach. 

Moreover, you will not be bored at the hotel. Private wellness, 

outdoor pool, renowned cuisine, quiet rooms and lots of 

cultural events - all your stay in this magical landscape will 

only be enhanced! 


61

PORTUGAL 

LISBON BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE 

Mediaeval Treasures & Renaissance Splendour 

As one of the world’s oldest cities, Lisbon has seen it all. First inhabited by pre-Celtic tribes who settled in the region during the 

Neolithic period, it was the Phoenicians who truly laid the foundations for the city as it exists today, establishing a trading 

port that they named Alis Ubbo (“safe port”) in the sheltered Targus estuary. The Romans arrived in 205BC, drawn to the 

city’s strategic location, further swelling its status to one of the most important cities on the Iberian Peninsula. A succession of 

conquerors followed, most notably a prosperous period of Moorish rule from AD711 until the city was eventually reconquered 

by Christian crusaders at the behest of Alfonso Henriques I, the first king of Portugal. The city was nominated Portuguese 

capital in 1256 by Afonso III, relegating Coimbra and allowing Lisbon to reach its zenith in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. 

During this period, Portuguese explorers dominated the world’s oceans, establishing an empire that stretched from Brazil to 

India. The steady rise of this seemingly indomitable metropolis was brought to a sudden halt on 1 November 1755, when eight 

minutes of earthquake literally shook the city to its very core. A city-engulfing tsunami followed thereafter, and then a weeklong 

firestorm, reducing most of what was left to embers. Thanks to the wealth and might of the Portuguese empire, the city 

was quickly rebuilt in the Pombaline style, handsome red roofs rising phoenix-like from the ashes to create the elegant city as 

it stands today. Perhaps most remarkable is the fact that vestiges of pre-earthquake Lisbon did manage to survive the near 

apocalyptic events of 1755. What remains will form the basis of this new study tour; join guest lecturer Isabelle Kent as she 

peels back the layers of this remarkable and invincible city to discover a history as richly diverse as it is long. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London Heathrow to Lisbon. En route to the 

hotel, our private coach will take us to the Museu Nacional Azulejo, 

which is dedicated to the beautiful tin-glazed ceramic tiles that adorn 

so many of Portugal’s fine buildings. The impressive collection is one 

of the largest ceramics collections in the world. After a light lunch, 

we continue to our hotel. Some time to settle in is followed by an 

introductory walk through the Rossi district before returning to the 

hotel for a group meal in the restaurant. 

Day 2 

After breakfast, transfer by coach to the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, 

home to the outstanding private collection of oil magnate, Calouste 

Gulbenkian. Landscaped gardens frame a striking concrete structure, 

which houses an impressive collection of Western and Eastern 

art. Beginning with treasures of Ancient Egypt, the museum is 

chronologically ordered. Continue to the Museu Nacional de Arte 

Antiga, another wildly impressive collection of painting, decorative 

arts, sculpture and furniture. Transfer to Lisbon Cathedral, passing the 

wonderful exterior of the 16th-Century palace, Casa dos Bicos, on the 

way, notable for its tactile spiked façade. The fortress-like cathedral 

was built in 1150 by Portugal’s first king on the site of a former 

mosque and portions of the original Late Romanesque structure 

survive. Our final stop of the day, perched on the city’s highest 

hilltop, is the spectacular Castelo de Sāo Jorge, Lisbon’s Moorish 

pinnacle. Explore snaking ramparts, tranquil gardens and share in the 

expansive seaward views that inspired an empire. 

Day 3 

Leave the city limits this morning to visit the Batalha Monastery, 

commissioned by King Joāo to commemorate victory over 

the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. Particularly 

astonishing is the Royal Cloister, with its lace-like carved limestone 

ornamentation. After a group lunch, visit the Alcobaça Monastery, 

one of Portugal’s most important mediaeval monasteries. Founded 

in 1153 under the reign of Afonso I, the first Portuguese king, the 

monastery formed part of a wider royal strategy to assert power over 

lands recently conquered from the Moors. Afterwards, we return to 

Lisbon. 

Day 4 

Spend the day exploring the Belém district, originally the location 

of the city’s shipyards and docks at the mouth of the Tagas River. 

As befits the scale of Portugal’s maritime success, the area is filled 

with extravagantly handsome buildings and monuments. Continue 

to Jerónimos Monastery, perhaps the most impressive symbol 

of Portugal’s fortune and influence during the Age of Discovery. 

Founded by King Manuel I at the turn of the 16th-Century, the 

Manueline style is once more expressed in the monastery’s daunting 

façade, which extends for some 300 metres. Originally constructed 

to mark the safe return of Vasco da Gama and his men from his 

discovery of the maritime path to India, da Gama is interred here 

alongside other great Portuguese navigators. In the afternoon, walk 

to the Museu Coleçāo Berardo, Belém’s fabulous museum of modern 

and contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Miró, Mondrian and 

more. Afterwards, a Port and Pastéis tasting, offers a delicious way to 

refuel. A group dinner this evening marks our final night in Lisbon. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Isabelle Kent 

TOUR DATES 

1 – 5 November 2022 

5 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to Lisbon 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Altis 

Avenida, Lisbon 






and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Altis Avenida, Lisbon 

The Hotel Altis Avenida is a charming boutique hotel in 

Lisbon, with an extraordinary location in the heart of the city, 

in Praça dos Restauradores. The architecture and decoration 

are inspired by the 40’s and revolve around the urban chic 

concept, where the past and future meet creating a unique 

atmosphere of charm and glamour. Classic rooms are very 

quiet rooms overlooking the hotel's inner courtyard, they 

feature Nespresso coffee machine, free Wi-Fi, safe, minibar 

and air-conditioning. 

Day 5 

Depart the hotel on foot to visit Carmo Convent, the ruined arches of 

which stand in the midst of the rebuilt city as a poignant reminder 

of one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. Continue to the Sāo 

Roque Church, the earliest Jesuit church in the Portuguese world. 

The unassuming exterior conceals a dazzling interior of gold, marble 

and Florentine azulejos. The excessively ornate Chapel of St. John 

the Baptist is a fittingly magnificent flourish to our final visit of this 

tour, often described as the world’s most expensive chapel, it is an 

astonishing sight. After some free time for an independent lunch, we 

return to the hotel. Our coach takes us to the airport, arriving back in 

London in the early evening. 

Altis Avenida 

Altis Avenida 

Altis Avenida 


63

MOROCCO 

MARRAKECH 

City of Palaces, Gardens, Artists & Artisans 

Majorelle gardens 

Founded almost 1,000 years ago by the Almoravids, an imperial Berber Muslim dynasty, Marrakesh is one of the great cities of 

the Maghreb. By the 12th-Century the city was thriving and had become the capital of the Almohad caliphate, a mighty empire 

which stretched up across North Africa and into Spain. Imposing walls, made from the rust-hued earth of the surrounding 

plains, were constructed to protect the city, simultaneously providing it with a moniker – the Red City. Within these walls, 

under the strong architectural influence of the Almohads, construction continued apace. Fine gardens and palaces were laid 

out and mosques, such as the awe-inspiring Koutoubia, rose from the ground. The city was a major centre of trade, religion 

and culture, and although this boom-period eventually met its decline, a second resurgence came in the 16th-Century, under 

the reign of Saadian sultans who further embellished the city with jewels such as the El Badi Palace. 

Despite the fact that, or perhaps because, Europeans were not freely allowed to enter the city until the late 19th-Century, a 

romantic European fascination with Marrakech has always endured. French colonisation during the first half of the 20th- 

Century brought not just the language (still widely used) but also a stream of glamourous Western visitors, some of whom, 

such as artist Jacques Majorelle, left their own indelible mark on the city. The rediscovery and restoration of Majorelle’s garden 

and villa by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent in the 1980s is just another glittering example of the potent allure of 

Marrakesh to the outsider. Stroll labyrinthine alleyways laced with the aroma of spice and perfume, take in architectural 

wonders of heart-stopping beauty and surrender to the timeless romance of this captivating city, where Africa, Europe and 

the Middle East converge. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Fly from London to Marrakech. Transfer by private coach to our 

accommodation, a beautifully converted riyad in the heart of the medina 

(old town). Enjoy a short introductory walk, followed by dinner in our 

hotel. 

Day 2 

After breakfast we head out for a full day of exploration around the city 

on foot. Our first destination is the Marrakesh Museum, housed in a 

19th-Century palace. Passing through the Jemaa el Fna, the city’s main 

market square, we approach the 12th-Century Koutoubia Mosque. The 

interior is closed to non-Muslims but the fabulous exterior, is an uplifting 

sight. Our day concludes at Le Jardin Secret, designed by Tom Stuart- 

Smith, with contrasting Islamic and exotic courtyards. In the evening, we 

enjoy dinner together. 

Day 3 

After breakfast, our explorations of Marrakesh continue. Pausing to 

admire the spectacular 12th-Century Bab Agnaou, one of the city’s 

nineteen gates (babs), we continue to the Sadiaan Tombs. This series of 

sepulchres and mausoleums was built to house the remains of leading 

figures from the Saadi Dynasty, who ruled Morocco between 1549 and 

1659. Just a short walk away is the El Badii Palace. Its name translates as 

‘the incomparable’ and although the site stands largely in ruins, it is not 

hard to image the splendour that once was. The afternoon is yours today 

for independent explorations but we regroup in the evening for a meal 

together. 

Day 4 

All day excursion to Andre Heller’s Anima Garden and the beautiful 

Ourika Valley in the High Atlas. The Anima Garden combines 

imaginative planting and bold sculptural intervention to wonderous 

effect. After an included lunch, we explore the Ourika Valley. The region 

is inhabited by Berber people – an ethnic group indigenous to several 

North and West African nations. Our last stop is an argan oil cooperative, 

to see how this precious oil, prized for centuries by the Berbers for its 

health and beauty benefits, is extracted and processed. 

Day 5 

Enjoy a morning’s Moroccan cookery course, followed by lunch, your 

own cooking of course! Well-nourished, we continue to our afternoon 

destination, the Dar Si Said, home to the National Museum of Weaving 

and Carpets. Housed in a 19th-Century mansion, the collection illustrates 

the history and social significance of carpet-making. Highlights include a 

gloriously decorated wedding chamber and a tranquil courtyard garden. 

The afternoon and evening are yours for independent exploration. 

Day 6 

The morning is dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent, starting with a private 

guided visit of the Villa Oasis, the much-loved family home shared 

with Pierre Bergé. This is followed by a visit to the Majorelle Gardens, 

a rhapsody of intense plantmanship. Originally the vision of French 

landscape painter Jacques Majorelle, the gardens were saved from 

ruin in the 1980s. Majorelle’s former studio is now home to the Berber 

Museum, showcasing the rich culture of Morocco’s indigenous people. 

Before an included lunch at the foundation, we also visit the Yves-Saint 

Laurent Museum. We continue to the Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of 

19th-Century Moroccan architecture. Finally, a walk through the Mellah, 

the old Jewish quarters of the city, offers a fascinating insight into historic 

religious segregation in Marrakesh. The Slat Al Azama synagogue is the 

spiritual heart of the enclave and there will be time to explore this 15th- 

Century masterpiece. In the evening, a farewell dinner together marks 

our final night in the city. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Sue Rollin 

TOUR DATES 

20 – 26 February 2022 

7 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at four-star 

Riyad el Cadi, Marrakech 

• Four dinners and three lunches 


programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Riyad el Cadi, Marrakech 

A tour through courtyards, staircases and corridors of seven 

traditional houses forming the Hotel Riyad El Cadi gives a 

good impression of the ancient and pure forms of traditional 

Moroccan architecture. Riyad El Cadi is situated in the heart of 

the Medina (Old Town), at the end of three cul-de-sacs. Thanks 

to these three entrances and the very central location in a 

secure part of the old town, you can reach all destinations in 

the Medina within a very short time. The El Cadi Riad is not a 

hotel with indistinguishable rooms, but a guesthouse where 

all rooms are individually created. All rooms have private 

bathrooms with bathroom amenities based on argan oil, 

bathrobes, slippers, air-conditioning (not available in ground 

floor rooms) and hairdryers. 

Day 7 

This morning our final visit takes us to the Thiemann Cactus Nursery, the 

largest succulent collection in Africa. Continue to the airport for our flight 

home. 

Roof terrace 

Bedroom 


65

GREECE 

RHODES 

The Mediterranean’s Scepter’d Isle 

Acropolis, Lindos 

Five days with an unexpected variety of intense experiences on the island famed in Antiquity (by no less an authority 

than Cicero) for having the sunniest climate of the whole Aegean area. We explore the dense history of the magical, 

traffic-less streets of Mediaeval Rhodes, created by the Knights of St John and dotted with painted chapels and Ottoman 

mosques; visit the majestic acropolis of Lindos, whose impressive ancient remains rise above the unique architecture 

of the streets below and dominate two perfect natural harbours with their memories of Saint Paul and of Cleobolus, 

the sage of Archaic Greece; and walk among the extensive streets and houses of Ancient Kameiros by the sea. We visit 

little known gems, hidden in the forested hills and villages of the island’s interior; and take a ferry ride to the loveliest 

Neoclassical harbour of the Mediterranean on the neigbouring island of Symi, whose tourqoise waters provided and 

processed the world’s supply of sponges in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We make a private visit, by special 

arrangement, to a rare and tranquil garden within the walls of Rhodes; look at some unusual Art Nouveau architecture; 

and visit the island’s remarkably rich Archaeological Museum, set within the Knights’ historic 15th-Century Infirmary. 

And for sustenance along the way… the freshest seafood and salads that only the Islands of the Dodecanese can offer. 


PROGRAMME 

NEW 

Day 1 

Mid-morning flight from London Heathrow to Rhodes via Athens. 

Transfer by private coach to the Rodos Park and Spa. After some time 

to settle in, we have an evening walk into the maze of squares and 

alleyways of the Old City, entering through the majestic d’Amboise Gate 

and passing by the Grand Master’s Palace, the Mosque of Suleiman, 

the Ahmed Agha Library, the Mehmet Agha Mosque, the Recep Pasha 

Mosque, Mausoleum and Square. We then return to Agios Phanourios 

Street for dinner in the courtyard of an old Rhodian mansion at the 

Marco Polo Hotel. 

Day 2 

In the morning we travel by private coach for our excursion to ancient 

Lindos. En route we will stop to see the Thermal Spas of Kallithea 

designed by Pietro Lombardi in 1927. We then continue to Afandou 

and visit the curious Church of the Panaghia Katholikì close to the 

shore. We head inland for lunch in rural the small town of Psinthos 

followed by a visit to one of the hidden rural Byzantine chapels, 

painted with mediaeval frescoes. We continue to Lindos to visit the 

magnificently painted church of the Panagia, followed by a visit to 

the Sanctuary of Athena on the ancient Acropolis of Lindos. After 

some free time to explore the streets and shops , we will enjoy sunset 

cocktails and dinner in Mavrikos Restaurant, one of Lindos’ oldest and 

most stylish restaurants. 

Day 3 

We walk into the walled city along the Street of the Knights to the 

Knights’ Infirmary and visit the Archaeological Museum. We then 

continue to a private visit of the exquisite garden of the Marc de 

Montalembert Foundation, which has not been restored by the owners 

in memory of their son. This tranquil ‘white’ garden is bounded by the 

impressive walls of the city and lies, almost unseen, in the shadow of 

the Grand Master’s Palace. The visit includes a private view of the fine 

14th-Century monastery church of St. George and an adjacent, recently 

restored, Ottoman mansion. After a group lunch we visit the area of 

the ‘New City’ designed by the architects of the island’s Italian colonial 

masters in the 1920s and 30s, finishing at the Rhodes Aquarium to 

visit the ancient seal burial. 

Day 4 

Today our excursion is to the island of Symi, we board a catamaran 

and sail to one of the most unusual islands of the Dodecanese, 

with an architecture quite different from Rhodes. Entering the great 

amphitheatre of Neoclassical mansions which form its harbour is 

a thrilling experience. An orientation walk through Gialós to the 

principal points of interest, to explain about great wealth derived from 

the sponge farming and trading of the island which gave rise to the 

very impressive, yet functional, architecture. After lunch we will drive 

across the island’s rocky interior to the Monastery of the Archangel 

Michael Panormitis. 


TOUR DATES 


6 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Rodos Park 

Suites Hotel, Rhodes town 

• Three dinners and four lunches 





and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Rodos Park Suites Hotel, Rhodes Town 

The Rodos Park Suites and Spa is a luxury boutique hotel, 

located just a few steps away from the historic d’Amboise 

gate to the Mediaeval city. Set in an oasis of greenery and 

tranquillity, the hotel offers services of the highest quality, 

with elegant and modern rooms, as well as top facilities 

including a swimming pool, a wellness spa, and a restaurant 

of gastronomic excellence. 

Day 5 

In the morning we leave by coach to go down the west coast of the 

island to the fascinating and little-visited site of Ancient Kameiros, 

a well-preserved ancient city which remained buried and was 

consequently never built over in post-classical times. We then continue 

to Salakos and into the orchard-clad centre of the island. After lunch 

in Appollona at a rural taverna with its traditional local recipes, we 

continue past the abandoned Italian ‘hill-station’ of Eleousa, and 

the tiny, painted Byzantine church of Ag. Nikolaos Foundoukli. We 

continue to drive through the beautiful, forested interior of the island 

to the Elaphos hotel and a chance to admire the wildflowers in full 

bloom along the way. After enjoying a local coffee at the Elaphos hotel 

we return to Rhodes town for final drinks and dinner. 

Day 6 

In the morning we will leave by coach for the airport for a midmorning 

flight to London Heathrow via Athens. 

Rodos Park Suites 

Bedroom 

Roof bar 

Pool 


67

TURKEY 

ISTANBUL 

The Capital of Empires 

Dolmabahce Palace 

Constantinople and Istanbul, two names for one city, capital 

of the mighty Byzantine and Ottoman empires, a city where 

East meets West, astride two continents, Europe and Asia. 

The shores of Istanbul are lapped by the Sea of Marmara, 

the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, and its monuments 

are ranged over seven hills. Minarets and domes dominate 

the famous skyline and a stroll through the streets reveals 

the city's diverse and magnificent heritage. Hagia Sophia, 

great cathedral of Byzantium, with magnificent marbles 

and mosaics vies with Ottoman mosques clad in beautiful 

Iznik tiles, the Topkapi palace, luxurious residence of 

the sultans, elegant fountains, bathhouses and bustling 

covered markets. Every visit to Istanbul is a pleasure, for it 

is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. 

Istanbul 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Fly from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer by private coach to 

our five-star hotel. Time permitting before a group dinner, we take 

a short stroll around the Hippodrome, once Constantinople's great 

arena for chariot races and other public entertainment. 

Day 2 

A day spent exploring the Byzantine monuments, beginning with 

the majestic 6th-Century cathedral of Hagia Sophia, a remarkable 

testament to Byzantine architectural geometry. Continue to the 

Yerebetan Sarayi, an extraordinary underground cistern with a forest 

of over 300 columns. In the afternoon, we visit the Mosaic Museum 

which houses original ornamental pavements from the Great Palace 

of the Byzantine emperors, then visit the little church of St. Saviour in 

Chora, a jewel of a house with late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. 

Day 3 

We begin our exploration of the Ottoman city with a morning visit 

to the Topkapi Palace, opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans 

and political centre of the empire. We see the magnificent collection 

of Chinese porcelain and Ottoman textiles, as well as the Imperial 

Treasury with its wealth of gold and jewels. Afternoon visit to the 

Süleymaniye mosque complex, masterpiece of the great Ottoman 

architect Sinan, followed by a walk through the Covered Bazaar. 

Afterwards there will be some free time for independent exploration 

of Istanbul. 

Day 4 

A special treat this morning will be a private boat trip along the 

Bosphorus, the straits separating Europe and Asia, past castles 

and ornate Ottoman mansions and palaces. We visit the Sadberk 

Hanim museum, which displays both a fine archaeological collection 

spanning the Anatolian Neolithic to Byzantium and a magnificent 

range of Ottoman textiles, ceramics, calligraphy and metalwork. 

After lunch by the Bosphorus we return to the Golden Horn and see 

the mosque of Rüstem Pasha, Süleyman the Magnificent's grand 

vizier. The interior of the building is covered from floor to ceiling in 

high-quality Iznik tiles. Finally, we walk through the colourful Spice 

Market, with some time to stroll around the bustling market area. 

Day 5 

Morning visit to the Dolmabahce Palace to see the opulent state 

rooms and ostentatious ceremonial hall. The palace’s extravagant 

4.5-ton chandelier was a present from Queen Victoria to the sultan. 

Return to the Hippodrome area to see the mosque of Sultanahmet, 

also known as the 'Blue Mosque', unique in Turkey with its six elegant 

minarets. Visit the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, another grand vizier of 

Süleyman the Magnificent, which now houses the excellent Museum 

of Turkish and Islamic Art. The rest of the afternoon is yours for 

further exploration or relaxation. In the evening, we enjoy a farewell 

dinner together. 


TOUR DATES 


6 days 

TOUR PRICES 








• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the locally rated five-star 

Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet, Istanbul 



the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet, Istanbul 

The five-star Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet is located near the 

main sites in Istanbul, including the Haghia Sophia and 

Topkapi Palace and is close to the Sea of Marmara. The hotel 

displays many historic artefacts from mosaics to ceramics and 

sections of ancient column decorate the bar area. There is a 

restaurant and rooftop terrace with city views. Tea and coffee 

making facilities, safe, TV, hairdryer, minibar, air-conditioning. 

Day 6 

Drive beside the majestic Land Walls of Constantinople to Yedikule, 

the 'Fortress of the Seven Towers', built by Mehmet the Conqueror and 

used as a notorious prison. The Ottoman fortress contains a section 

of the Byzantine walls, which includes the famous Golden Gate. 

Drive across the Golden Horn and walk from Taksim Square to the 

Pera Palas hotel along the former Grande Rue de Pera, the height of 

fashion among 19th-Century European residents and still lined with 

the imposing façades of their former embassies. Our final visit will be 

to the Pera Museum, a private museum which houses an interesting 

collection of Orientalist painting. In the afternoon we transfer to the 

airport for our late afternoon return flight to London Heathrow. 

Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet 

Lobby 

Bedroom 

Restaurant 


69

ARMENIA 

ARMENIA 

The Hidden Land 

Yerevan Zvartnots 

The sheer span of Armenian history is difficult to comprehend. The land called Armenia appears next to Colchis and Parthia in 

ancient maps, was a Hellenistic vassal state, and later a province of Rome. It was fought over by Byzantines, Arabs, Mamelukes, 

and the Mongol Golden Horde. It suffered conquest and periodic slaughter by the empires of Persians, Russians, and, most 

notoriously, Ottomans. Yet, despite its precarious position surrounded by powerful and hostile neighbours, or perhaps because 

of it, Armenian culture has been uniquely independent: the 

Armenian language has its own script and their national 

religion for over 1700 years, The Armenian Apostolic Church. 

This Art Pursuits Abroad study tour will explore this land’s 

distinctiveness, as expressed in its extraordinary monastic 

architecture, which both complements and competes with the 

stony beauty of the natural landscape. Apart from Yerevan, 

the thirteenth Armenian capital and a city founded before 

Rome, we will also visit the turquoise Lake Sevan in the east 

and the foothills of Turkish occupied Ararat in the west. 

Sevanavank Monastery 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Morning flight from London via Paris to Yerevan. Transfer by private 

coach to our four-star hotel in Yerevan. 

Day 2 

Start with a coach tour of Armenia’s capital Yerevan, with a panoramic 

view from the monument to Mother Armenia. Continue to the huge 

Cathedral of St Gregory the Illuminator (d.331), a fascinating complex 

consecrated in 2001 and dedicated to the first official head of the 

Armenian Apostolic Church. At the giant stairway of the Cascade, begun 

under Soviet rule in the 1970s and still under construction, visit the 

Cafesjian Centre for the Arts with stunning modern glass and sculpture. 

In the afternoon, visit the Manuscript Museum, one of the world’s biggest 

depositories of ancient writings. 

Day 3 

Coach excursion south of Yerevan through fertile fields to the plains at 

the foot of biblical Mount Ararat. According to tradition, it was here that 

Noah planted a vine after leaving the Ark. The monastery of Khor Virap 

is a major pilgrimage site, as St Gregory the Illuminator was held captive 

here for thirteen years before miraculously converting and baptising 

his tormentor, King Tiridates III. Continue to the remote monastery at 

Noravank, set in a narrow gorge of breath-taking natural beauty. The 

complex comprises two churches characterised by fine 14th-Century 

carvings. Overnight in Yerevan. 

Day 4 

We visit Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. 

Sevanavank Monastery, originally situated on an island – turned into a 

peninsula following the partial draining of the lake in the Stalin era—is a 

royal foundation of 9th-Century origins. After lunch, through the forests 

of Dilijan National Park framed by the Lesser Caucasus mountains, 

continue to Goshavank Monastery with some of the most intricate, lacy 

‘khachkars’ — Armenian cross-stones — in the country. We spend the 

first of two nights in Dzogaret. 

Day 5 

Explore Armenia’s north. The monastery at Haghpat in Debed canyon 

— a UNESCO World Heritage Site – represents the highest flowering of 

Armenian religious architecture. Rare mediaeval frescoes can be found 

here as well as in the nearby Sanahin Monastery. Continue to Odzun 

whose umbrella-domed church dates from the fifth to seventh centuries. 

Overnight in Dzogaret. 

Day 6 

In the morning, visit Amberd fortress, a rare instance of Armenian 

mediaeval defence architecture, perched on a cliff surrounded by deep 

river gorges 2,300 metres above sea level. From there, return to Yerevan 

for some free time. Overnight in Yerevan. 

Day 7 

A short distance from Yerevan lies Echmiadzin, Armenia’s religious 

heart. Visit the ruins of Zvartnots Temple, a masterpiece of Armenian 

architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main cathedral of 

Echmiadzin was the first official church built in Armenia in 303. Today it 

is the Holy See of Echmiadzin where the Catholicos of Armenia resides. 

The local museum exhibits the Holy Lance and a fragment of Noah’s Ark. 

Day 8 

In the morning, drive east of Yerevan to the UNESCO World Heritage Site 

of Geghard, a mediaeval monastery partially carved out of the rocks. 

Experience the exceptional acoustics of this intensely spiritual site in a 

specially arranged choir recital of sacred music. Continue to Garni village 

for lunch, followed by a visit of a pagan temple dating back to the 1st- 

Century AD — the only remaining monument of pre-Christian times in 

Armenia. Final night in Yerevan. 

Expert Guest Lecturer, Dr William Taylor 

TOUR DATES 

25 April – 3 May 2022 

9 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London, via Paris, 

to Yerevan 


• Six nights' bed and breakfast at four-star Armenia Marriott 

Hotel, Yerevan 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Avan 

Dzoraget Hotel, Dzoraget 

• Six dinners and five lunches 


the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan 

Surround yourself with style at Armenia Marriott Hotel 

Yerevan, perfectly placed within steps from Republic 

Square in the city centre. Relax and recharge in beautifully 

appointed rooms and suites, featuring deluxe bedding, highspeed 

Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service. Savour distinctive 

Italian cuisine and innovative cocktails at our inviting 

restaurants and bar. 

Avan Dzoraget Hotel, Dzoraget 

Beautifully located beside the Debed River, this four-star 

hotel has wonderful scenic views, which can be enjoyed 

from the restaurant, terrace and lounge bar. The fitness 

centre has a swimming pool and sauna. Rooms feature tea, 

coffee making facilities, TV, hairdryer and air-conditioning. 

Avan Dzoraget Hotel is a modern building designed in local 

style and constructed from basalt stone, typical of the area. 

and near the Caucasus mountains, the hotel has scenic 

views. Armenian and Georgian specialities are served from 

the restaurant, which has a terrace and a lounge bar. The 

fitness centre has a swimming pool and sauna. 

Day 9 

Morning flight from Yerevan to London Heathrow via Paris. 


71

UZBEKISTAN 

THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND 

Art & Architecture of Central Asia 

Tales of the Silk Road have enticed and beguiled the west for centuries, and images of the ‘mysterious east’, lingered on in 

the western imagination long after the overland trade route had disintegrated. Even today, the six central Asian ‘-stans’ 

are a poorly-understood region well off the European radar, and Uzbekistan is the ‘-stan’ nonpareil, being bordered by 

the other five. But Uzbekistan’s geographical and political isolation, has slowed the inroads of modernity, and here 

the glories of the Silk Road have withstood the sands of time. After flying to Tashkent, the tour properly begins in the 

walled city of Khiva, a figurative and literal oasis of majolica and glazed brick that owed its wealth to the vast slave 

market at its spectacular East Gate. From Khiva we continue to ‘the Dome of Islam’, Bukhara, to wonder at its 150-foothigh 

Kalyan minaret and the Lyab-i Hauz architectural complex of Sufi boarding-houses and madrassahs. Our third 

major stop is Samarkand, Tamerlane’s capital, which he endowed with many spectacular buildings, including the vast 

Bibi-Khanym mosque and his own solemn mauseoleum, where visitors may find themselves recalling the words of the 

English poet James Elroy Flecker: “Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells / When shadows pass gigantic on the 

sand / And softly through the silence beat the bells / Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.” 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Late morning flight from London Heathrow to Tashkent via Istanbul. 

Day 2 

We arrive in Tashkent in the early hours of the morning and transfer 

to our four-star hotel LOTTE City Hotel Tashkent Palace. After an early 

lunch and a short orientation tour we take an early afternoon flight to 

Urgench, then a short drive to Khiva for the first of two nights at the 

four-star Zarafshan Boutique. 

Day 3 

Spend the day exploring the old walled city of Khiva. One of the most 

remote of the Silk Road cities, Khiva enjoyed an artistic renaissance 

in the 19th-Century. In the afternoon we focus on the eastern district 

of town, where we find the old slave market, domed bazaar and huge 

caravanserai, and the beautifully decorated Tash Hauli (stone palace). 

Day 4 

Today we travel to Bukhara where we arrive late afternoon and check 

in to the four-star Omar Khayyam for the first of four nights stay. 

Day 5 

Today we begin our exploration of Bukhara, the foremost centre 

of Islamic art and scholarship in Transoxiana until the time of 

Tamerlaine. Our morning visits include an exquisite brick mausoleum 

of the Persian Samanid dynasty. In the afternoon we stroll through 

the city streets and see the Kalon (great) mosque and its adjacent 

minaret and several madrassahs. Another site of interest is the lovely 

architectural ensemble around the Lyab i-Hauz pool, fed by the waters 

of the ‘Royal Canal’ which still runs through the city. 

Day 6 

In the morning we continue our tour of Bukhara with visits to the 

Chor Minar, a curious gatehouse with four towers on the outskirts 

of the old city. This is followed by a visit to the traditional Bukharan 

mansion of Faizullah Khodjaev, and the Emir’s Summer palace, built 

in 1911. The afternoon is free for independent exploration. 

Day 7 

After breakfast we drive to Shahr-i-Sabz, birthplace of Tamerlaine, 

where the conqueror built an enormous palace of which only part of 

the imposing and beautifully decorated audience chamber remains. 

After our visits we drive alongside the Zerafshan mountains towards 

Samarkand where we will spend the next three nights. 

Day 8 

A full day exploring Samarkand. In the morning we visit the huge Bibi 

Khanum Mosque, followed by an afternoon drive to the outskirts of 

the city where Ulug Beg built an observatory without equal in east or 

west. Close to our hotel is the Gur Emir mausoleum, commissioned by 

Tamerlaine for his favourite grandson Mohammad Sultan. 


TOUR DATES 

22 May – 1 June 2022 

11 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London Heathrow 

to Tashkent via Istanbul and flights from Tashkent to 

Urgench 


• Ten nights’ bed and breakfast in locally rated 

four-star hotels 

• All dinners and lunches 


programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

LOTTE City Hotel Tashkent Palace 

Zarafshan Boutique, Khiva 

Omar Khayyam, Bukhara 

Dilimah Premium Luxury, Samarkand 

For extended itinerary and full hotel details visit our 

website or speak to our Holiday Advisors. 

Day 9 

Our first visit this morning is to the ancient, deserted site of Afrosiab 

on the outskirts of Samarkan. On the southern slope of the ancient 

site is the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, an extraordinary collection of 

mausolea. Within the cemetery is the holy shrine of Qussum ibn 

Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Mohammad, who came to Transoxiana 

to convert the people to Islam. The afternoon is free for further 

exploration. 

Day 10 

This morning we drive from Samarkand back to Tashkent for our final 

night. After lunch in Tashkent we visit the State Fine Arts Museum 

and take a short walk through the old town. In the evening, we enjoy 

a farewell dinner together in a local restaurant. 

Day 11 

An early transfer by private coach to Tashkent airport for a flight back 

to London Heathrow via Istanbul. 

Omar Khayyam 

Dilimah Premium Luxury 

Zarafshan Boutique 

Hotel Tashkent Palace 


73

USA 

NEW YORK 

Capital of Modern Art 


the V&A 

New York Skyline 

By the late 19th-Century New York was one of the world's wealthiest and most dynamic cities. It was also emerging as a leading 

centre for the arts, with fabulously wealthy entrepreneurs rivalling each other as much in the splendour of their collections as 

the lavish extravagance of their lifestyles. The legacy of their patronage can still be experienced at institutions like the Frick 

Collection, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and MOMA, while their tastes and enthusiasms shaped the development 

of modern art in Europe and America, from Impressionism 

to Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Focussing on the 

19th and early 20th centuries, this Art Pursuits Study Tour 

will introduce you to some of the highlights of a spectacular 

city - its buildings, parks, monuments and art collections. We 

will encounter outstanding works of art by painters from both 

sides of the Atlantic: Homer and Millet, Manet and Cassatt, 

Hopper and De Chirico. In the process, we will trace the 

shifting relationship between artistic trends in Europe and 

America, achieving an entirely fresh perspective on the story 

Rockefeller Centre 

of modern art. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Fly from London to New York. On arrival, transfer by private coach to 

our hotel. Time to settle in, followed by a welcome dinner together. 

Day 2 

After breakfast we set out on foot for the Empire State Building. 

Completed in 1931, the famously spectacular views offered by this 

icon of the New York skyline. Coach transfer to Pier 83, where a 

relaxing river cruise will give us unparalleled views of some of Lower 

Manhattan’s most famous architectural sites. Some time for an 

independent lunch is followed by a visit to the Frick Collection, the 

collection of Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). 

Highlights of the collection include works by Bellini, Rembrandt, 

Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya, and Whistler. Stroll back to our hotel 

through Central Park before a free evening. 

Day 3 

By coach to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd 

Wright’s UNESCO-listed masterpiece. Conceived by the architect 

as a ‘temple of the spirit’. The museum houses a permanent and 

ever-expanding collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early 

Modern, and contemporary art. Walk to the Neue Gallery, where, by 

contrast, a collection of early 20th-Century German and Austrian art 

is housed in a Louis XIII-style townhouse of the same period. Next 

we visit the New York Historical Society Museum for a private visit 

of its exhibits, which explore the rich cultural and social history of 

New York and the USA. Afterwards, enjoy dinner in the museum’s 

restaurant before returning by coach to our hotel. 

Day 4 

A day devoted to exploring the glorious treasures of The Metropolitan 

Museum of Art, spend the morning in The Met Cloisters, the Northern 

Manhattan branch of the museum devoted to the art and architecture 

of mediaeval Europe with more than 2,000 artworks and artefacts. 

Transfer by coach to The Met Fifth Avenue, the museum’s main 

site. A trove of more than 2 million works, some of the best-loved 

masterpieces here include impressionist and post-impressionist 

works by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. 

Return by coach to our hotel in the late afternoon. 

Day 5 

Coach transfer to Brooklyn Heights where we will walk the famous 

bridge, stopping for coffee along the way. Afterwards, a coach tour 

of Lower Manhattan, will reveal the major sites of the area that were 

not visible on our cruise; Wall Street, Battery Park, the site of the 

World Trade Centre, the Woolworth Building and Washington Square 

included. After an independent lunch in Greenwich Square, we walk 

to the Whitney Museum, where the focus of this large collection is 

20th and 21st-Century American art. We stroll the length of High Line, 

picking up our coach on the far side and returning to our hotel. 


TOUR DATES 


7 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Return economy class flights from London to New York City 


• Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Knickerbocker 

Hotel, New York City 






and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

The Knickerbocker Hotel, New York City 

The Knickerbocker is a haven of refined elegance in the 

heart of Times Square. While historic details like the hotel’s 

gorgeous Beaux-Arts facade remain unchanged, a soothing 

new luxury aesthetic is offered within. Guestrooms boast 

incredible views and bespoke furnishings. 

Day 6 

After breakfast, walk to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where 

the morning is ours to explore this fabulous and influential collection. 

The museum holds more than 150,000 treasures, with numerous 

iconic highlights, from Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ to 

Warhol’s ‘Campbell’s Soup Cans’ and Monet’s moving ‘Water Lillies’ 

triptych. In the afternoon, we walk on to the Rockefeller Centre, where 

some free time for lunch is followed by a journey up to the ‘Top of the 

Rock’, the observation deck with sweeping views across Central Park. 

The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish but we will 

reconvene in the evening for a special farewell dinner in the charming 

Grand Central Oyster Bar. 

Day 7 

After breakfast, enjoy some free time. Coach transfer to the airport for 

our return overnight flight. 

The Knickerbocker Hotel 

The Met, Fifth Avenue 

Bedroom 


75

UK 

GEORGIAN ARCADIA 

Great Country Houses & Landscape Parks of North Yorkshire 1700 – 1800 

Castle Howard 

Yorkshire is architecturally the richest of England’s counties with magnificent estates, country houses and landscape 

parks. In our tour we shall enjoy private access to some of the finest country houses of their period which illustrate the 

change in style from the excitement and drama of the Baroque in Castle Howard to the exquisite late Georgian neoclassical 

interiors of Farnley Hall and Robert Adam’s Newby Hall. All the country houses in our programme are still 

privately owned by the descendants of the original builders and have superb furnishings and works of art. Yorkshire 

was also in the forefront of landscape design and Studley 

Royal is one of the most perfect surviving Early Georgian 

landscape gardens. Our tour is based in York, a fashionable 

provincial capital in the 18th-Century and possesses 

elegant terraces and splendid Georgian public buildings in 

the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House, the Assize Courts and 

the Assembly Rooms, whilst Fairfax House is the finest 

Georgian town house in Britain, with richly decorated 

interiors and fine furniture. 

Newby Hall Library 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Independent arrival in York where we settle into our four-star hotel 

in the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from the Minster. 

A welcome walk will introduce us to the sights of Georgian York, 

followed by a private evening tour of Fairfax House, the magnificent 

former winter town house of Lord Fairfax with outstanding 

plasterwork and fine furniture. We will enjoy a glass of wine before 

returning to our hotel for dinner. 

Day 2 

In the morning, we have a private visit to Castle Howard led by the 

curator. Castle Howard is one of the most important and dramatic 

Baroque country houses in England, the result of a collaboration 

between the great architects, Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor, and 

has splendid contents. After coffee, we explore one of the earliest 

landscape parks in Britain, designed by Vanbrugh, with views to 

Hawksmoor’s powerfully evocative mausoleum to the Carlisle family. 

In the afternoon we visit Palladian Hovingham Hall, a fascinating 

house designed by the owner Sir Thomas Worsley c.1750. Worsley, a 

friend of George III, he had a passion for architecture and horses, and 

Hovingham, with its magnificently vaulted Riding School is a fusion 

of these two interests. The house also has a fine collection of paintings 

and furniture reflecting many aspects of 18th-Century taste. 

Day 3 

We visit Studley Royal, possibly the most perfect of all surviving 

Georgian landscape gardens. Here John Aisalbie and his son William 

created between 1716 and 1781 a beautiful water garden of still 

canals, cascades, woods, and artfully positioned temples. The 

contrived view to the ruins of Fountains Abbey, framed by trees and 

seen across water, is one of the supreme expressions of 18th-Century 

landscape art. A private afternoon visit to Farnley Hall; built for 

Walter Fawkes 1786-90, the house is the masterpiece of the Yorkshire 

architect, John Carr, and decorated in exquisite Neo-classical taste. 

Walter Fawkes’s son, Walter II, was a friend and patron of Turner, who 

was a frequent visitor, and the house is still owned by the Horton- 

Fawkes family. 

Day 4 

Private visit to Newby Hall, created 1767-1776 for William Weddell, 

one of the most important 18th-Century patrons. The house has 

spectacular interiors by Robert Adam, which illustrate the harmony 

Adam sought between interior decoration and furnishings. Much 

of the original furniture designed for the house by Adam and 

Chippendale survives and forms the largest collection of Chippendale 

furniture in private ownership anywhere. The sculpture gallery is one 

of the finest surviving examples in the country of the ideal beauty 

sought after by the classical enthusiast. We shall have time to explore 

the outstanding gardens before returning to York for lunch in the 

elegant 18th-Century Assembly Rooms. The tour will conclude at 

approximately 3.00 pm. 


TOUR DATES 

11 – 14 April 2022 

4 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star 

DoubleTree by Hilton, York 


• Guided visits to sites as listed in the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

DoubleTree by Hilton, York 

Enjoy a relaxing stay in the heart of the city at the four-star 

DoubleTree by Hilton York. This prime location overlooks 

the historic City Walls and is within walking distance to 

York Minster and other famous attractions. Rooms are fully 

equipped and feature air-conditioning, a flat screen TV, safe 

and free Wi-Fi. Enjoy a delicious meal in the hotel’s restaurant 

and relax with an after dinner drink in the bar. 

DoubleTree by Hilton 

Bedroom 

Castle Howard 

York Minster 


77

UK 

DORSET 

Hidden Country Houses & Gardens 

Forde Abbey 

Dorset is one of the most unspoilt and most rural of England’s counties, a land of downs, moors, secluded valleys, 

woodlands and beech groves. Not a county of grand mansions but possesses a remarkable concentration of lesserknown 

gentry manor houses, often little changed over the centuries, and sometimes still in possession of the families 

which originally built them. This tour will focus on houses 

in private hands which illustrate the development of the 

country house from early Tudor times to the 20th-Century, 

and almost every house on our itinerary has an important 

historic garden or designed landscape park. Based in 

Hardy’s enchanting village of Evershot, surrounded by 

rolling hills and situated mid-way between Beaminster 

and Cerne Abba. It is the second highest settlement in 

Dorset and the source of the River Frome, which rises from 

a spring at St John’s Well near the church and meanders 

for 35 miles across Dorset to the sea at Poole. 

Corfe Castle 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Choose from independent arrival at the hotel or pick up at Dorchester 

rail station in the early afternoon. Coach to Mapperton for a private 

guided visit. The glorious architecture of Mapperton is predominantly 

Jacobean, although the history of the estate dates back more than 

1000 years, with inclusion in the Doomsday Book of 1086. Today 

home to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, features of particular 

note include elaborate plasterwork ceilings and the graceful Italianate 

gardens which cocoon this elegant house. Return to Evershot for 

dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. 

Day 2 

After breakfast we travel by coach to Forde Abbey. Founded by the 

Cistercians in 1141, the buildings were sumptuously embellished 

by Abbot Chard in the early Tudor period as a residence for himself. 

After the Abbey was dissolved in 1539, it became the residence of 

Cromwell’s attorney-general, Edward Prideaux, who transformed the 

monastic buildings into one of the most impressive houses of the 

Commonwealth period. The interior has outstanding woodwork and 

plasterwork of the period, whilst the beautiful gardens are a special 

feature of the estate. We continue to Wolfeton, a handsome mediaeval 

and Elizabethan house, which rises from the water meadows at the 

confluence of two rivers, just north of Dorchester. Namechecked by 

Thomas Hardy, interior highlights include some marvellously ornate 

Elizabethan and Jacobean woodwork, and a chapel with carved 

panels depicting the signs of the zodiac. Our final visit of the day will 

be to Kingston Maurward, an estate much loved by Thomas Hardy; 

there the Old Manor House is the perfect Elizabethan house. In 1717- 

20 George Pitt, (cousin of William Pitt the Elder), wanting a grander 

house, built the present impressive Baroque mansion, possibly 

designed by Thomas Archer. Return to Evershot. 

Day 3 

This morning, we stop for coffee and view the dramatic ruins of Corfe 

Castle on the way to Creech Grange, a romantic house in a secluded 

valley setting. Built in the Elizabethan period, it was partially 

remodelled by the important Dorchester architect, Francis Cartwright 

c.1740, whilst the East Front (1846-7) is a sensitive early example of 

Elizabethan revival. We have lunch at Minterne, a sophisticated Arts 

and Crafts house, built 1904-6 for Lord Digby, by Leonard Stokes. The 

magnificent woodland garden, particularly beautiful in the spring, 

lies in a valley landscaped in the 18th-Century with chains of lakes, 

cascades and streams, and contains a unique collection of Himalayan 

azaleas and rhododendrons and many fine and rare shrubs and trees. 

Day 4 

Our morning will be spent at St Giles House, Wimborne, one of 

Dorset’s most fascinating country houses. The ancestral home of 

the Ashley-Cooper family (who became the Earls of Shaftesbury) 

for over 600 years, its architectural development is linked to the 

personalities and tastes of the family. After a period of decline in the 

late 20th-Century, the house and park have been brought back life 

by the current 12th Earl, and his restoration of the house has earned 

a number of national accolades. In the park, an exquisite 18th- 

Century Shell Grotto is not to be missed. After lunch, we visit magical 

Cranborne Manor (exterior only), rebuilt 1608-20 as a hunting 

lodge by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, and surrounded by 

beautiful gardens, where features of the 17th-Century layout by John 

Tradescant survive. We return to our hotel where our tour concludes 

in the late afternoon. Drop-off at Dorchester rail station. 

TOUR DATES 


4 days 

TOUR PRICES 






• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Summer 

Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot 


• Guided visits to sites as listed in the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot 

Situated in the picturesque village of Evershot, famous for its 

appearance in Thomas Hardy’s literature, Summer Lodge is 

an award- winning five-star country house hotel surrounded 

by the rolling hills of Dorset. The elegant and individually 

furnished rooms are complemented by fine restaurant serving 

seasonal cuisine, a boutique spa and a beautiful conservatory 

style pool. 

Hotel garden 

Sandford Orcas Manor 


Bedroom 

Lounge 

Pool 


79

UK 

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES 

From Renaissance to Baroque 

Burghley House 

A Study of the evolution of the English Country house offers a fascinating insight into how changing fashions in 

architecture and the decorative arts shaped the homes of some of the land’s most influential families. This tour takes 

in four of Northamptonshire’s finest country houses, including Kirby Hall, and Boughton House, Burghley and Drayton 

House. One of the great Elizabethan houses of England, Kirby Hall was begun in 1570 for Sir Humphrey Stafford, a 

descendent of the Earls of Stafford, although he died before the house was completed, and it was subsequently sold 

to Christopher Hatton, a gifted and ambitious courtier of Queen Elizabeth I. Boughton presents a remarkable blend 

of the intimate and the grand, with its palatial Versailles style frontage added by Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu in the 

1690s. Burghley, one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. Built and mostly designed by 

William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587. The core of Drayton House, built by 

Simon de Drayton c.1300, still survives, but the house is especially important for its transformation in the 17th and 18th 

centuries. In 1770 the house passed to the Sackville family, when the 1st Viscount Sackville, who served as Secretary of 

State for America in Lord North’s cabinet during the American War of Independence, took ownership. It remains in his 

descendants’ hands to this day. 


PROGRAMME 

Day 1 

Choose from independent arrival at the hotel or pick up at Kettering 

rail station in the late morning. After lunch, by coach to Drayton 

House, where highlights of the incredible interior include the 

largest wooden spiral staircase in the country (c. 1680), and a 

unique embroidered State Bed dating from 1700 which survives in 

breathtakingly good, original and unrestored, condition. Outside, the 

full flowering of Baroque can be seen in William Talman’s splendid 

façade, as we enjoy a stroll through the gardens, which are of an 

interesting layout conforming to the Baroque style. We return to our 

hotel where we enjoy a pre-dinner talk followed by private dining in 

Rushton Hall’s historic library. 

Day 2 

After breakfast we travel by coach to Kirby Hall, a highly important 

early flowering of true Classical architecture, and the first house in 

to use the ‘giant order’ in 1570. We will also explore the gardens, 

with the restored parterre featuring a special treat. After, we travel 

to Stamford for lunch and a visit to Burghley House with breathtaking 

staterooms, mainly due to two great collecting Earls. From the 

evocative Tudor interior of The Old Kitchen and the chapel that leaps 

into the 18th and 19th centuries, gives some idea of the lavish and 

extravagant scale of the country house entertaining. 

Day 3 

By coach to Boughton House, where we have the opportunity to 

study especially fine furnishings including, Mortlake tapestries, 

marquetry tables, 16th-Century carpets, in addition to the 1st Duke of 

Montagu’s architectural façade. The Duke rose to prominence when 

he succeeded his brother, Edward, as Master of the Horse to Queen 

Catherine, wife of Charles II, after Edward was dismissed for ‘showing 

attention to the queen of too ardent a nature’. After lunch, our tour 

concludes at your chosen point, Rushton Hall Hotel or Kettering rail 

stop. 


TOUR DATES 


3 days 

TOUR PRICES 



Deposit £350 



• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Rushton Hall 

Hotel and Spa, Northamptonshire 


• Guided visits to monuments and museums listed 

in the programme 




and waiters 

ACCOMMODATION 

Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa, Northamptonshire 

A magnificent Grade I Listed Country House Hotel in Kettering, 

Rushton Hall is nestled in 25 acres of immaculate grounds and 

splendid 16th-Century surroundings. Located in the county that 

boasts the largest number of stately homes in the UK, Rushton 

Hall offers guests the best of a luxury hotel and historic venue 

in Northamptonshire. All rooms are en suite and feature a TV, 

Wi-Fi, hairdryer, Penhaligon toiletries, tea and coffee making 

facilities and bathrobes and slippers. 

Burghley House Kitchens 

Hotel 

Pool 

Kirby Hall 

Great Hall 

Bedroom 


81

HOW TO BOOK 

For further advice, information and to book 

Simply call us on 01280 736 115 

Monday - Friday 9am to 5.30pm 

or visit www.artpursuits.com 

or write to us at 

Art Pursuits, 1 West Street, Buckingham, MK18 1HL 

BOOKING PROCEDURE 

PROVISIONAL BOOKING 

When holding a provisional booking, we understand 

you may need time to think, so once we have confirmed 

availability, we are happy to hold your reservation 

for one week. A provisional booking can be made by 

speaking to one of our team. 

TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING 

To make a booking, please phone the team or visit our 

website. You may confirm your booking by phone 

PAYMENT 

We value your financial protection and know how 

important it is to feel confident when paying for 

your tour - therefore we offer more than one method 

of payment. Your tour can be paid for using a bank 

transfer or debit card (Maestro and Visa Debit cards), 

credit card (Visa and Mastercard) or cheque. There will 

be no charge applicable using any card, whether it be 

credit or debit. 

BOOKING CONFIRMATION 

Upon receiving your deposit, a contract will exist 

between you; the passenger, and us; Art Pursuits. You 

will receive a booking confirmation which we kindly 

ask you to check carefully. If you notice any mistakes, 

or likewise have any queries, please contact us at your 

earliest convenience. 

Balance payments are due 90 days prior to departure, 

so if you are booking 90 days before your tour departs, 

full payment will be required. We will send you a 

balance reminder along with a suggested reading list in 

advance of your payment date. 

FINANCIAL PROTECTION 

As members of ABTA we are a fully bonded and 

licensed tour operator, with air holidays protected by 

ATOL. So you can enjoy complete peace of mind when 

booking with us. 

82 


ABOUT OUR FOUNDER 

DR JOACHIM STRUPP 

Dr Joachim Strupp, the founder of Art Pursuits, sadly passed away on 3 April 2017. 

He was an extraordinary and gifted person with many wonderful qualities. 

He was an Art Historian with a specialisation in Italian and German art of Renaissance 

and Baroque periods. A true academic, after ten years as a lecturer at the universities of 

St Andrews and Buckingham, he lectured independently for organisations such as the V&A 

Museum, the John Hall Pre-University Course in Venice, Martin Randall Travel and for a number of European based 

American academic programmes. 

In 2001, he co-founded Art Pursuits and the business continues to follow the same qualities and standards that 

Joachim was passionate about: academic excellence well designed programmes, comfortable and stylish hotels, 

meals in superior restaurants and friendly, personal service. We all miss him but his legacy remains. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 

Travel insurance is a vital aspect to booking a holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances. It is 

important that you purchase travel insurance that properly covers your participation in whatever activities you may 

undertake at the time that you make your booking. We have arranged a special insurance scheme with travel 

insurance specialists P J Hayman & Company Limited to cover clients booking through us. The policy is underwritten 

by URV, Branch Office of Union Reiseversicherung AG for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. 

SCHEDULE OF COVER 

SECTION PREMIER EXCESS 

Cancellation charges 

or curtailment 

Emergency medical repatriation 

and associated expenses abroad 

Up to £3,000 £50 

Up to £5,000,000 £50 

Hospital benefit £400 (£25 per day) - 

Personal accident Up to £15,000 - 

Delayed departure £100 (£25 each 10 hours) - 

Personal effects Up to £1,200 £50 

Personal liability Up to £2,000,000 £250 

Legal expenses Up to £15,000 - 

INSURANCE PREMIUM per person 

2022 

PERIOD 

(DAYS) 

AGE 

18-50 51-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 

4 – 5 £16.00 £22.00 £40.00 £56.00 £67.00 

6 – 9 £18.00 £25.00 £46.00 £63.00 £79.00 

10 – 17 £22.00 £32.00 £57.00 £79.00 £95.00 

If you are aged 80 and over, please call to discuss an individual quote. 

Prices quoted are subject to change 

The main features, limits and excesses are listed above – for full details please call. 

PRE EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS 

Your policy may not provide cover for re-occurring or 

pre-existing medical conditions. If you have ever had a 

heart related problem, circulatory condition, a stroke, 

cancer, any breathing problems, diabetes or had any 

other medical condition which has been treated in 

hospital or has been referred to a specialist in the 

last 2 years, you should phone Travel Administration 

Facilities on 02392 419068, quoting Arena Travel 

(Coach Plus) to see if cover is available. 

THE POLICY DOCUMENT 

This will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. 

CANCELLATION RIGHTS 

When you receive your policy, please take the time 

to read it carefully to ensure you understand what 

is and what is not covered. If it does not meet your 

requirements, please return the policy, proof of 

premium and any other relevant documents to us 

within 14 days of receipt and we will refund the 

premium in full, provided you have not travelled or 

made a claim. 


Exclusive Garden Tours 

Exclusive garden tours that offer you a chance to visit some of the most exclusive and beautiful 

gardens around the world. With opportunities to meet with garden owners and head gardeners, 

making the tour memorable and unforgettable. 

• Tailormade holidays and itineraries, uniquely crafted with you in mind 

• Guidance and services of expert Tour Hosts and skilled Tour Leaders 

• Visits to exclusive gardens, featuring meetings with garden owners and head gardeners wherever possible 

• Small group sizes to enhance your experience 


Gardens of Marrakech & Taroudant 

Indulge in a unique selection of 21st-Century gardens 

10 March 2022 – 6 days from £3,898 

This special Moroccan garden tour offers a unique 

selection of 21st-Century, mostly private gardens, created 

by some of our best-known designers. 

• Visit a series of remarkable gardens designed by Eric Ossart 

and Arnaud Maurières 

• Visit the new YSL museum 

• Visit to The Thiemann Cactus Nursery 

Gardens of Snowdonia 

Rivers, Mountains, Woodland & Sea 

16 May 2022 – 5 days from £2,595 

Set in uniquely wild, rugged and picturesque Snowdonia. 

We have a special selection of visits arranged to delight and 

inspire in this stunning area of outstanding natural beauty. 

• Wander through the magnificent terraces of Bodnant Gardens 

• Visit and enjoy lunch at the remarkably restored Plas Cadnant 

• Spend a full day on the Llŷn Peninsula, with visits to three 

contrasting gardens 

The Italian Rose 

Gardens of Umbria & Lazio 

25 April 2022 – 5 days from £3,995 

This tour is timed to coincide with the magical weeks of 

early Italian summer when roses bloom. We explore some 

of the most famous Rose gardens including Ninfa and a 

private garden owned by a former President of the World 

Federation of Rose Societies. 

• Visit the spectacular garden of Ninfa, where scrambling Roses 

drape over mediaeval ruins 

• See beautiful displays at the Quando Fiorianno Rose Garden 

• Special invitation to the gardens of Palazzo Parisi 

The French Rose 

Paris to the Loire 

Hortus Goes to Cornwall 

A Magnolia Spectacle 

21 March 2022 – 4 days from £2,399 

The Cornish peninsula is famous for sheltered woodland 

gardens harbouring important collections of magnolias, as 

well as many other plant groups accompanied by carpets 

of wild flowers. Head south for the Cornish magnolia 

spectacle in an early spring. 

• Visit to Caerhays Castle with head gardener Jaimie Parsons 

• A special invitation to lunch at Glendurgan House 

• Visit to Trewithen with head gardener Gary Long 

Gardens of Corfu 

Contemporary Gardens of the Ionian Sea 


Venture across the channel to investigate the story of the 

French Rose and to enjoy some truly wonderful gardens 

and rose collections from Paris to the Loire. 

• Tour of the roses at Roseraie Val-de-Marne in L’Haÿ-les-Roses 

• Fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of Les Roses Anciennes 

André Eve 

• Private visit to the Loubert Rose Collection at Château Rivau 

• Visit the gardens of Château de Villandry 

For our full collection of garden tours visit www.arenatravel.com 


Explore the gardens of Corfu that have lush vegetation, 

wildflowers and silver olive groves, punctuated by 

cypresses and stunning views of the Ionian Sea, it is 

sometimes known as ‘the Garden Isle’. 

• Visit author Rachel Weaving's private terraced garden at 

Villa Zetouna 

• Explore Corfu Town with a walking tour 

• Enjoy wine tasting at the Theotoky Estate Vineyard 

• Special invitation to the Rothschild Estate 


Small Ship Cruising 

Arena Voyages offer a collection of cruises, aboard small ships and represent some of the best exploration and 

coastal cruising available. Smaller ships are the perfect way to navigate and anchor in some of the world’s most 

unique, unspoilt, and inspiring destinations around the world. 

We’ve partnered with some of the best cruise lines in the business, boasting the ultimate in style, luxury, value 

and adventure. With high-end, four-star plus ships and unparalleled itineraries provided by Ponant, Variety 

Cruises, CroisiEurope, Katarina Line, Hurtigruten and Sea Cloud you can leave it in the hands of our dedicated 

team of experts to book you onto a dream voyage you’ll never forget. 

• Access to exclusive deals and the best prices 

• We can take care of all your travel arrangements 

• Choose from some of the best small ship cruise lines 

• Offer a broad range of cruise types 


EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE CRUISES 

The adventure of a lifetime starts right here, on one 

of our unforgettable adventure or expedition cruises! 

Ideal for visiting off the beaten track locations, you 

will see the rarest wildlife and reach far corners of the 

world on board our luxurious small ships. 

The Best of Japan 

9 days departing April 2022 

Icelandic Wonders 

8 days departing August 2022 

Emblematic Antarctica 

12 days departing February 2023 

Galapagos Inner Loop Cruise 

11 days departing November 2022 

ISLAND & COASTAL CRUISES 

Whether it is rustic vistas, white sandy beaches, or a 

wildlife wonder, whatever you are looking to enjoy 

on your small-ship island cruise, we are sure we 

have the voyage for you! 

Croatian Coastal Cruise 

8 days departing April – October 2022 

Mediterranean Mini Cruise 

5 days departing May 2022 

Legends of the French Polynesia 

11 days departing June – December 2022 

Highlights of Greece & Turkey 

8 days departing April – October 2022 

Society Islands & the Tuamotus 

11 days departing July 2022 

Discover Sicily 

8 days departing October 2022 

CRUISE & RAIL ADVENTURES 

Our rail and cruise itineraries offer a truly unique 

way to see the world and enjoy a holiday experience 

unlike any other. Join us as we journey on prestigious 

trains, Spain’s answer to the Oriental Express, the Al- 

Andalus and Matchu Pitchu’s luxury, Hiram Bingham. 

On these two centred tours, you will also set sail for a 

cruise aboard a luxurious ship. 

Costa Rica & Luxury Machu Picchu 

16 days departing January 2023 

The Al-Andalus Rail Adventure & 

Morocco & Grand Canarias Cruise 

21 days departing October 2022 

For our full collection of small ship cruises visit www.arenatravel.com 

or call our Cruise Consultants on 01858 438456 

87

ARENA TOURS LIMITED BOOKING 

CONDITIONS SUMMARY 

FOR FULL BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE 

Our full Booking Conditions, together with our privacy 

policy and any other written information we brought to 

your attention before we confirmed your booking, form 

the basis of your contract with Art Pursuits Abroad, 

a trading name of Arena Tours Limited (company 

registered number 02431120) with registered office 2 

Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RH 

(“we”, “us”, “our”). Please read them carefully as they 

set out our respective rights and obligations. In these 

Booking Conditions references to “you” and “your” 

include the first named person on the booking and all 

persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other 

person to whom a booking is added or transferred. 

By making a booking, the first named person on the 

booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the 

booking that: 

a. he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has 

the authority to and does agree to be bound by them; 

b. he/she consents to our use of personal data in 

accordance with our Privacy Policy and is authorised on 

behalf of all persons named on the booking to disclose 

their personal details to us, including where applicable 

special categories of data (such as information on health 

conditions or disabilities and dietary requirements); 

c. he/she is over 18 years of age and resident in the 

United Kingdom and where placing an order for 

services with age restrictions declares that he/she and 

all members of the party are of the appropriate age to 

purchase those services; 

d. he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment 

of the booking on behalf of all persons detailed on the 

booking. 

Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements 

A booking is made with us when you pay us a deposit 

(or full payment if you are booking within 90 days 

of departure (42 days where you are booking a UK 

based trip), or such other number of days as you are 

informed at the time of booking,) and we issue you 

with a booking confirmation. We reserve the right 

to return your deposit and decline to issue a booking 

confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding 

contract will come into existence between you and us as 

soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation 

that will confirm the details of your booking and will be 

sent to you (or your travel agent). If your confirmed 

arrangements include a flight, we (or if you booked 

via an authorised agent of ours, that agent) will also 

issue you with an ATOL Certificate. Upon receipt, if 

you believe that any details on the ATOL Certificate 

or booking confirmation or any other document are 

wrong you must advise us immediately as changes can 

not be made later and it may harm your rights if we are 

not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within 

ten days of our sending it out (five days for tickets). 

The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including 

any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 90 days 

(42 days where you have booked a UK based trip), or 

such other number of days as you are informed at the 

time of booking, prior to scheduled departure. If we do 

not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve 

the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in 

which case cancellation charges will become payable. 

Any money paid to an authorised agent of ours in respect 

of a booking covered by our ATOL is held by that agent 

on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the 

Air Travel Trust at all times, but subject to the agent’s 

obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail 

financially. If we do fail financially, any money held at 

that time by the agent or subsequently accepted from 

the consumer by the agent, is and continues to be held 

by that agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the 

Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation 

to pay that money to us. 

Pricing 

The price of your travel arrangements has been calculated 

using the exchange rates relevant to the countries visited 

in your package. We use prevailing rates published at 

the time of production of our brochure or ahead of 

our promotions. This includes the major currencies 

of the Eurozone along with other major international 

currencies depending on where your holiday is based. 

We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold 

holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of 

confirmed holidays. We also reserve the right to increase 

the price of confirmed holidays solely to allow for 

increases which are a direct consequence of changes in: 

(i) the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from 

the cost of fuel or other power sources; 

(ii) the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services 

applicable to the holiday imposed by third parties not 

directly involved in the performance of the holiday, 

including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or 

disembarkation fees at ports and airports; and 

(iii) the exchange rates relevant to the package. 

Such variations could include but are not limited to 

airline cost changes which are part of our contracts with 

airlines (and their agents), cruise ship operators and any 

other transport providers. We will absorb and you will 

not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of 

the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes 

insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/ 

or additional services or travel arrangements. You will be 

charged for the amount over and above that. However, if 

this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 

8% of the price of your confirmed holiday (excluding 

any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/ 

or additional services or travel arrangements), you 

will have the option of accepting a change to another 

holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent 

or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it 

is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference 

in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all 

monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums 

and any amendment charges and/or additional services 

or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel 

for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so 

within 7 days from the issue date printed on your final 

invoice. We will consider an appropriate refund of 

insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are 

unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should the price 

of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned 

above, then any refund due will be paid to you less an 

administrative fee of £10. However, please note that 

travel arrangements are not always purchased in local 

currency and some apparent changes have no impact 

on the price of your travel due to contractual and other 

protection in place. There will be no change made to the 

price of your confirmed holiday within 20 days of your 

departure nor will refunds be paid during this period. 

If You Change Your Booking & Transfers of Bookings 

If you wish to change any part of your booking after our 

confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform 

us in writing as soon as possible. This should be done by 

the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will 

do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will 

be able to meet your requested change. Where we can 

meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment 

of an administration fee of £50 per person per change 

(subject to a maximum of £150 per booking reference 

number), as well as any costs and charges incurred by 

us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers 

in making this change. You should be aware that these 

costs could increase the closer to the departure date that 

changes are made and you should contact us as soon 

as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you 

do not wish to proceed with the original booking we 

will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation 

fee may be payable in accordance with the table below. 

Transfer of Booking: 

If you or any member of your party is prevented from 

travelling, that person(s) may transfer their place to 

someone else, subject to the following conditions: 

a. that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the 

conditions applicable to the holiday; 

b. we are notified not less than 7 days before departure; 

c. you pay any outstanding balance payment, an 

amendment fee of £50 per person transferring, as well 

as any additional fees, charges or other costs arising 

from the transfer; and 

d. the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and 

all other terms of the contract between us. 

You and the transferee remain jointly and severally 

liable for payment of all sums. If you are unable to find 

a replacement, cancellation charges as set out below will 

apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, 

no refunds will be given for passengers not travelling or 

for unused services. 

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be 

amended or transferred after they have been confirmed 

and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of 

up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. 

If You Cancel Your Booking Before Departure 

If you or any other member of your party decides to 

cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us in 

writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect 

when it is received in writing by us at our offices and 

will be effective from the date on which we receive 

88 


it. Should one or more member of a party cancel, it 

may increase the per person holiday price of those still 

travelling and you will be liable to pay this increase. 

Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, 

you will have to pay the cancellation charges as follows 

Period before 

departure in 

which you 

notify us 

Cancellation charges for all 

holidays EXCEPT River Cruise 

Line and UK based holidays - 

shown as a percentage of total 

price (excluding insurance 

premium) 

90 days or more Deposit only Deposit only 

89 - 42 days 50% of holiday cost or deposit 

(whichever is greater) 





Cancellation charges River 

Cruise Line only - shown 

as a percentage of total 

price (excluding insurance 

premium) 

75% of holiday cost or deposit 






Less than 14 days 100% of holiday cost 100% of holiday cost 

Period before departure 

in which you notify us 

42 days or more Deposit only 

Cancellation charges for UK based holidays - shown 

as a percentage of total price (excluding insurance 

premium) 

41 – 28 days 50% of holiday cost or deposit (whichever is greater) 

27 – 14 days 75% of holiday cost or deposit (whichever is greater) 

Less than 14 days 

100% of holiday cost 

Please note that insurance premiums and amendment 

charges are not refundable in any circumstances. 

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be 

amended after they have been confirmed and any 

alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation 

charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements 

in addition to the charge above. 

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under 

the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to 

reclaim these charges. 

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation 

charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us. 

Cancellation by You due to Unavoidable & 

Extraordinary Circumstances: 

You have the right to cancel your confirmed holiday 

before departure without paying a cancellation 

charge in the event of “unavoidable and extraordinary 

circumstances” occurring at your holiday destination 

or its immediate vicinity and significantly affecting the 

performance of the holiday or significantly affecting 

the transport arrangements to the destination. In these 

circumstances, we shall provide you with a full refund 

of the monies you have paid but we will not be liable 

to pay you any additional compensation. Please note 

that your right to cancel in these circumstances will 

only apply where the Foreign and Commonwealth 

Office advises against travel to your destination or its 

immediate vicinity. For the purposes of this clause, 

“unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” means 

warfare, acts of terrorism, significant risks to human 

health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the 

travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, 

earthquakes or weather conditions which make it 

impossible to travel safely to the travel destination. This 

clause outlines the rights you have if you wish to cancel 

your booking. Please note that there is no automatic 

statutory right of cancellation under the Consumer 

Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional 

Charges) Regulations 2013 (Directive 2011/83/EU). 

If We Change or Cancel 

As we plan your holiday arrangements many months 

in advance we may occasionally have to make changes 

or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do 

so at any time. Changes: If we make a minor change to 

your holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform 

you or your travel agent as soon as reasonably possible 

if there is time before your departure but we will have 

no liability to you. Examples of minor changes include: 

(a) alteration of your outward/return flights 12 hours 

or less; 

(b) changes to aircraft type; 

(c) change of accommodation to another of the same 

or higher standard; 

(d) changes of carriers. Please note that carriers such as 

airlines used in the brochure may be subject to change; 

(e) change of port of departure, where such change does 

not affect your departure point from the UK; 

(f) change of “expert” for an arrangement where an 

alternative expert has been arranged 

Please also note that on occasion we may need to change 

from an overnight cabin on a ferry to a daytime ferry 

and an overnight hotel instead and such change will 

be a minor change. Occasionally we may have to make 

a significant change to your confirmed arrangements. 

Examples of “significant changes” include the following, 

when made before departure: 

(a) A change of accommodation area for the whole or a 

significant part of your time away. 

(b) A change of accommodation to that of a lower 

standard or classification for the whole or a significant 

part of your time away. 

(c) A change of outward departure time or overall 

length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours. 

(d) A change of UK departure airport except between: 

I. The London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, 

Stansted, London City and Southend 

II. The South Coast airports: Southampton, 

Bournemouth and Exeter 

III. The South Western airports: Cardiff and Bristol 

IV. The Midlands airports: Birmingham, East Midlands 

and Doncaster Sheffield 

V. The Northern airports: Liverpool, Manchester and 

Leeds Bradford 

VI. The North Eastern airports: Newcastle and Teesside 

VII. The Scottish airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, 

Prestwick and Aberdeen 

(e) A significant change to your itinerary, missing out 

one or more destination entirely. 

Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel 

arrangements less than 90 days before your departure 

date (42 days where you are booking a UK based trip), 

except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to 

pay the final balance or because the minimum number 

required for the package to go ahead has not been 

reached. We may cancel your holiday before this date 

if, e.g., the minimum number of clients required for a 

particular travel arrangement is not reached. 

Please Note: for all of the holidays that we offer, we 

require a minimum number of 30 travellers to have 

booked on to each holiday, in order for us to be able 

to operate it. Where we do not receive this number 

of bookings in respect of your chosen holiday, we may 

unfortunately be unable to go ahead with providing 

that holiday and may be required to cancel your 

booking as a result. As a result, if we do not receive this 

number of bookings for a particular holiday we reserve 

the right to terminate your booking and provide you 

with a full refund of all payments you have made to us 

at this point. In such circumstances, we will notify you 

not less than 20 days before the start of the package. 

Please note that in such circumstances, we will not be 

liable to pay you any compensation. 

If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we 

will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to 

do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of: 

i (for significant changes) accepting the changed 

arrangements; or 

ii having a refund of all monies paid; or 

iii accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements 

of a comparable or higher standard from us, if available 

(at no extra cost); or 

iv if available, accepting an offer of alternative 

arrangements of a lower standard, with a refund of the 

price difference between the original arrangements and 

the alternative arrangements. 

You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our 

offer. If we do not hear from you within 7 days, we will 

contact you again to request notification of your choice. 

If you fail to respond again, we will assume that you 

have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking 

arrangements. 

Insurance: If we cancel or make a significant change 

and you accept a refund, we will provide a full refund 

of your travel insurance premiums if you paid them to 

us and can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse 

your policy. 

Compensation: In addition to a full refund of all 

monies paid by you, we will pay you compensation as 

detailed below, in the following circumstances: 

(a) If, where we make a significant change, you do 

not accept the changed arrangements and cancel your 

booking; 

(b) If we cancel your booking and no alternative 

arrangements are available. 

The compensation that we offer does not exclude you 

from claiming more if you are entitled to do so. 

Period before departure in 

which we notify you 

More than 90 days 

Amount you will receive from us 

per person* 

90 - 42 days £10 

41 to 28 days £20 

28 – 14 days £30 

Less than 14 days £40 

Compensation for UK based trips 

Period before departure in 

which we notify you 

More than 42 days 

*IMPORTANT NOTE: 

We will not pay you compensation in the following 

circumstances: 

(a) where we make a minor change; 

(b) where we make a significant change or cancel your 

arrangements more than 90 days before departure (42 

days for UK based trips); 

(c) where we cancel your arrangements and notify you 

20 days or more before departure because the minimum 

number required for the package to go ahead has not 

been reached; 

(d) where we make a significant change and you accept 

those changed arrangements or you accept an offer of 

alternative travel arrangements; 

(e) where we have to cancel your arrangements as a 

result of your failure to make full payment on time; 

(f) where the change or cancellation by us arises out of 

alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you; 

(g) where we are forced to cancel or 

change your arrangements due to 

Force Majeure 

If we become unable to provide a significant proportion 

of the arrangements that you have booked with us after 

you have departed, we will, if possible, make alternative 

arrangements for you at no extra charge and where 

those alternative arrangements are of a lower standard, 

provide you with an appropriate price reduction. 

Nil 

Amount you will receive from us 

per person* 

42 – 28 days £10 

27 – 14 days £20 

Less than 14 days £30 

Nil 


90 To book call 01280 736 115 or visit artpursuits.com 

Magdeberg

2022 TOUR CALENDAR 

2022 TOUR LECTURER PAGE 

20 - 26 FEBRUARY MARRAKECH CITY OF PALACES, GARDENS, ARTISTS & ARTISANS SUE ROLLIN 64-65 

9 - 13 MARCH NEW TOULOUSE PILGRIMS AND HERETICS SALLY DORMER 50-51 

21 -26 MARCH 

ROMANESQUE RHINELAND ROMANESQUE ART 

& ARCHITECTURE IN THE RHINELAND 

ULRIKE ZIEGLER 30-31 

4 - 9 APRIL NEW BELGIUM FROM ENSOR TO MAGRITTE KATHY MCLAUCHLAN 58-59 

11 - 14 APRIL 

GEORGIAN ARCADIA GREAT COUNTRY HOUSES & LANDSCAPE PARKS 

OF NORTH YORKSHIRE 1700 - 1800 

BARBARA PEACOCK 76-77 

25 APRIL - 3 MAY ARMENIA THE HIDDEN LAND WILLIAM TAYLOR 70-71 

29 APRIL - 5 MAY REGENSBURG A MEDIAEVAL METROPOLIS ON THE BANKS OF THE BAVARIAN DANUBE ULRIKE ZIEGLER 32-33 

6 - 11 MAY NEW RHODES THE MEDITERRANEAN’S SCEPTER’D ISLE NIGEL MCGILCHRIST 66-67 

8 - 11 MAY DORSET HIDDEN COUNTRY HOUSES & GARDENS BARBARA PEACOCK 78-79 

14 - 18 MAY NEW RAVENNA EARLY CHRISTIAN & BYZANTINE MARBLES & MOSAICS SALLY DORMER 12-13 

17-22 MAY FRANCONIA ARTISTIC & ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES OF NORTHERN BAVARIA TOM ABBOTT 34-35 

22 MAY - 1 JUN THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND ART & ARCHITECTURE OF CENTRAL ASIA SUE ROLLIN 72-73 

23 MAY - 29 MAY 

23 MAY - 29 MAY NEW 

IMPERIAL SAXONY TREASURES OF MEDIAEVAL ART & ARCHITECTURE 

IN THE OTTONIAN CROWNLAND 

ITALIAN COURT CITIES THE RISE OF THE ITALIAN CITY-STATE 

DURING THE RENIASSANCE 

ULRIKE ZIEGLER 36-37 

PAULA NUTTALL 14-15 

6 - 11 JUNE NEW PROVENCE SCHOOL OF THE SOUTH KATHY MCLAUCHLAN 52-53 

14 - 18 JUNE DRESDEN ARCHITECTURE, PAINTINGS & TREASURES CLARE FORD-WILLE 38-39 

19 - 23 JUNE NEW LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA THE MILK OF DREAMS BEN STREET 16-17 

26 JUNE - 2 JULY SOUTH TYROL ART IN THE ITALIAN ALPS ULRIKE ZIEGLER 18-19 

6 - 10 JULY NANCY FLOWERS OF LORRAINE JUSTINE HOPKINS 54-55 

6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEW YORK CAPITAL OF MODERN ART KATHY MCLAUCHLAN 74-75 

7 - 9 SEPTEMBER NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTRY HOMES FROM RENAISSANCE TO BAROQUE BARBARA PEACOCK 80-81 

15 - 18 SEPTEMBER NEW MEDIAEVAL PARIS FROM MEROVINGIAN TO VALOIS SALLY DORMER 56-57 

20 - 27 SEPTEMBER LE MARCHE VENETIAN PAINTERS ABROAD NIGEL MCGILCHRIST 20-21 

24 - 29 SEPTEMBER ISTANBUL THE CAPITAL OF EMPIRES SUE ROLLIN 68-69 

24 - 30 SEPTEMBER THE AGE OF SPLENDOUR GREAT HOUSES & GARDENS OF MORAVIA BARBARA PEACOCK 60-61 

25 SEPTEMBER 

- 2 OCTOBER 

SWABIA ART & HISTORY BETWEEN AUGSBURG & STUTTGART ULRIKE ZIEGLER 40-41 

1 -7 OCTOBER FRIULI & TRIESTE DOMAIN OF VENETIAN LION & HABSBURG EAGLE NIGEL MCGILCHRIST 22-23 

9 - 15 OCTOBER BODENSEE ONE LAKE, THREE COUNTRIES, COUNTLESS TREASURES TOM ABBOTT 42-43 

17 - 22 OCTOBER LUCCA THE GLORIOUS CITIES OF NORTHERN TUSCANY: LUCCA, PISTOIA, PRATO & PISA GEOFF NUTTALL 26-27 

17 - 23 OCTOBER 2022 INN VALLEY IN THE REALM OF THE LAST KNIGHT ULRIKE ZIEGLER 46-47 

24 - 28 OCTOBER NEW 

1 - 5 NOVEMBER NEW 

PARMA & PIACENZA ART, ARCHITECTURE & GASTRONOMY 

IN THE DUCHY OF THE FARNESE FAMILY 

LISBON BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE: MEDIAEVAL 

TREASURES & RENAISSANCE SPLENDOUR 

PAULA AND GEOFF 24-25 

ISABELLE KENT 62-63 

22-27 NOVEMBER RENAISSANCE FLORENCE ART & HISTORY IN THE TIME OF THE MEDICI TO BE CONFIRMED 28-29 

1 - 6 DECEMBER NUREMBURG TREASURES OF FRANCONIA, RENAISSANCE TO ROCOCO ULRIKE ZIEGLER 44-45 

11 - 15 DECEMBER NEW VIENNA FROM THE EMPEROR’S CLOTHES TO KLIMT’S KISS TOM ABBOTT 48-49 


DISCOVER MORE 

FROM THE ARENA TRAVEL GROUP 

BOXWOOD QUALITY GARDEN TOURS 

Visit some of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive gardens. 

Boxwood Tours offer high quality garden holidays with a chance to visit some 

of the most exclusive and beautiful gardens in the UK, Europe and beyond. 

Led by experts, each tour also features meetings with garden owners and 

head gardeners wherever possible. 

Call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk 

REQUEST 

YOUR NEW 

BROCHURE 

TODAY! 

COASTAL AND OCEAN VOYAGES 

A collection of small ship cruises 

Offering some unique, unspoilt and inspiring destination 

cruises around the world. 

Call 01858 438456 or visit arenatravel.com 

RIVER CRUISES 

Explore some of the classic waterways of Europe. 

Discover ever-changing landscapes whilst enjoying superb levels 

of service and excellent company on your floating hotel. 

Call 01858 438318 or visit arenarivercruises.com 

SCENIC JOURNEYS BY RAIL 

Relax and enjoy one of our expertly planned fully escorted 

holidays by rail. 

With travel into the heart of Europe by Eurostar you can choose from short 

breaks, classic tours and lakes and mountains to superb destinations. 

Call 01858 438336 or visit arenarailholidays.co.uk 

FIRST FOR BRIDGE HOLIDAYS 

Club standard bridge holidays with EBU Masterpoints 

awarded and bridge holidays without Masterpoints. 

First for Bridge has over 20 years’ experience of organising bridge holidays 

and cruises in the UK and abroad. Our professional service and attention to 

detail sets us apart from other operators and creates the high standard our 

guests are used to. 

Call 01473 794926 or visit firstforbridge.co.uk 

Art Pursuits, 1 West Street, 

Buckingham, MK18 1HL 

Tel: 01280 736 115 www.artpursuits.com 

Company Registration No. 02431120 

A trading division of Arena Tours Limited

Art Pursuits 2022 brochure

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