Our Tours
Escorted cultural travel has long been synonomous with the eighteenth century ‘Grand Tour’ to Italy when travellers ventured across the Alps to engage with the antiquity of the peninsula, its architecture and decorative and fine arts. Many were led by companiable guides who knew the place backwards, could open doors otherwise closed and reveal the cultural and artistic heritage of the places visited in an appealing and convivial manner.
How in the country do I pass the time? The answer to the question’s brief:
“I lunch and drink, I sing and play, I wash and dine, I rest. Meanwhile I Pheobus quiz, and Muses frisk”
Leon Battista Alberti on villa life. On the Art of Building 1452.
It is in this spirit that we conduct our gently-paced cultural tours with an accent on hand-picked comfortable hotels in desirable city, coastal and rural locations, excellent food and wine and a superlative level of private access to palaces, villas and gardens and diplomatic residences in the countries we visit. Our webinars focus on individual cultural and artistic themes and subjects often relating to and complementing our tours.
FEBRUARY
‘All Roads: Connoisseur’s Rome’ 23 February - 1 March 2025: Tour full - Last two places available!
MARCH
‘Art and Invention: Milan & La Scala’ - 24 - 29 March 2025: Last place available!
APRIL
‘Cultural Fault lines: Discovering Trieste & Istria’ 9 - 15 April 2025: Places available
‘Lakeside Idylls: Lake Como, Maggiore, Lugano & Orta’ 23 - 30 April 2025: Places available
MAY
‘Cardinal Virtues: Villas & Gardens of Lazio’ 6 - 12 May 2025: Places available
‘The Hills are Sparkling! Prosecco, Palladio & Canova in Northern Veneto’ 15 - 21 May 2025: Places available
JUNE
‘A Hidden Europe: Discovering Slovenia’ 3 - 9 June 2025: Limited availability
‘A Middle Land: Exploring Trentino Alto-Adige’ 20 - 26 June 2025: Places available
SEPTEMBER
‘Top Topiaries! The Gardens of the Dordogne’ 7 - 13 September 2025 Places available
‘Adriatic Cross Currents: Norman & Baroque splendours in Puglia’ 20 - 27 September 2025: Places available
OCTOBER
‘Mediterranean Kaleidoscope: Autumn in Sicily’ 8 - 16 October 2025: Limited availability
‘Art and Invention: Milan and La Scala’ 20 - 25 October 2025: Places available
NOVEMBER
‘Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento Florence’ 9 -14 November 2025: Places available
DECEMBER
‘The Grand Idea: Connoisseur’s Paris’ 1 - 6 December 2025: Places available