Brunelleschi’s Dome On 19 August, 1418, the town fathers of Florence announced a competition that would seek to solve a problem that had been plaguing the city for many years. In the roof of the …
Ancient Routes, Fresh Eyes: Nine European Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller The word ‘pilgrimage’ or ‘pilgrim’ comes from the Modern French word pèlerin, which means ‘foreigner, stranger’, highlighting the concept that the faithful is not of …
History of a City: Florence, Italy Florence is one of the most enduring tourist destinations in Europe, if not the world. For many people it is a short stop in a world heritage city. Odyssey …
Responsible Tourism for mature & senior travellers There’s a growing problem in the world’s most popular cities affecting the tourism industry, and this article provides context and commentary on responsible tourism for mature-aged and senior …
Exploring York Like a page out of a history book, the North-Eastern city of York in the United Kingdom is a Gothic wonder. This is a great day tour from London, with its rich history …
Uncovering Caravaggio The following article picks up on, and extends, our general introduction to Caravaggio. Here, we we delve further into the details of Caravaggio’s early life and relationships and use available evidence to piece …
Small Group Literary Tours of England England offers amazing attractions to lovers of literature and art. Many famous figures lived and worked here over the years, and because of the country’s beautifully preserved history, it …
Destination Germany | Small group tours Germany The Moselle River, which runs through Trier, Germany’s oldest city. Once labelled the “sick man of Europe”, Germany is now the continent’s largest economy and the sixth largest …
Southern Italy: from Magna Graecia to Italian Unification When you ask people about Italy, more often than not one of the first places they mention is the capital city, Rome, or the submerged streets of …
Searching for Caravaggio’s Nativity The hunt for Caravaggio’s stolen painting of the nativity scene may just be the most high-profile art crime of the 20th century. One stormy night in October 1969, an altarpiece painted …
Visiting Iran | Small group tours Iran Women visit a carpet store in Shiraz, Iran. Throughout history, Iran’s position in the centre of the famous Silk Road has seen it crisscrossed by travellers, traders and …
Beauty and Artistry in Iran: The Persian Garden and Persian Mosaic Tiles
- 8 mins read
Architecture, Art, Blog, History, Iran, Lists, Middle East
Guide to Persian Mosaics and Gardens | Small group tours Iran Beauty and artistry can be seen everywhere in Iran, and its philosophy and religious beliefs are reflected in the country’s public and private spaces. …
A list of Ten books for people thinking about visiting Iran
- 10 mins read
Blog, Iran, Middle East, Reading lists for Travellers, Travel tips
Ten books to read about Iran | Small group tours Iran Throughout history, Iran’s position in the centre of the famous Silk Road has seen it crisscrossed by travellers, traders and armies. In more recent …
The Roman Empire The Roman Empire at its peak covered an area of five million square kilometres (1.9 million square miles) and included territories in Asia, Africa, and the Western European nations around the Mediterranean …
Who was Caravaggio? Caravaggio became the greatest painter of religious works of the early 17th century. His dramatic but naturalistic style of painting emphasised the common humanity of his subjects, the apostles and martyrs of …
Ten books to read about Berlin
- 9 mins read
Blog, Europe, Germany, Reading lists for Travellers, Travel tips
Ten books to read about Berlin | Small group tours Germany There are few cities in which history is as palpable as it is in Berlin. From its medieval origins, to grand Baroque capital of …
England’s Liverpool: Port City, Architecture Marvel The Beatles and the Merseybeat era, football, and the waterfront. Liverpool’s vibrant culture and rich history has more to offer than what you may already know. In 1207, King …
Explore the ancient city of Persepolis | Small group tours Iran In its heyday Persepolis was the capital of an empire that reached from Egypt to India, one of the wonders of the ancient world. …
Tehran Through Time | Small Group Tours Iran Tehran, Iran at the foot of the snow-capped Alborz Mountains. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled its monarchy and paved the way for an Islamic Republic …
Ten Books to Read about Turkey | Small Group History Tours Turkey One of the world’s few trans-continental nations, Turkey is where east meets west, Europe meets Asia, and religion meets modernity. The capital city, …