Tours & Study Days WithTom Duncan
Tom Duncan was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied, successively, Music and then History of Art with Ancient History and Archaeology. He moved to the United States in 1980 to research Late Antiquity and the Early Church. This formative experience brought him to Cambridge, England in 1984 to complete a Ph D on the influence of Early Christian Art on Baroque Painting in Rome. A period as a university lecturer followed, together with many invitations to lecture to organisations such as The Art Fund and The Arts Society (formerly NADFAS). Consequently, he began to lead tours over twenty years ago and in 1999, together with Stephen Brook, founded CICERONI Travel, now one of the UK's most respected independent cultural travel companies. When not lecturing or travelling, he devotes most of his time to gardening, music and opera, the other great interests in his life.
Image above: Dublin, The Old Library, Trinity College
dresden at christmas
Through Bellotto’s Eye
Germany
Saturday 23 - Thursday 28 December 2023 (6 Days)
Were Bellotto (known in Germany as the other 'Canaletto', who was his uncle and teacher) to return to Dresden this Christmas, he would recognise much of what he captured in his remarkable paintings. We too can compare past with present when we spend the 2023 Christmas holiday exploring this delightful city and its amazing artistic and musical heritage via the museums, operas, ballets and concerts on offer.
Exploring madrid
The habsburgs as collectors
Spain
Sunday 14 - Friday 19 January 2024 (6 Days)
This unique tour to Madrid focuses on one of the greatest collections of paintings ever formed with Titian, Rubens & Velazquez featured. We shall have three private early morning visits to the Prado to see the Habsburg and Bourbon Royal collection of paintings.
Art & Music in Vienna
The Habsburgs
Austria
Sunday 21 - Friday 26 January 2024 (6 Days)
Vienna is one of Europe’s most important cities, for centuries capital of the Habsburg Empire. This will be the ideal introduction to its history and the many great museums it contains, including the famed Kunsthistorisches and Lichtenstein Museums. It will also be the perfect opportunity to attend performances at the Vienna State Opera.
connoisseurs' rome
behind closed doors
Italy
Tuesday 6 - Monday 12 February 2024 (7 Days)
This is a remarkable opportunity to explore a Rome normally concealed behind closed doors. From our hotel located directly next to the Pantheon. you will be taken to visit the city's most important palaces and art collections. There will be an evening private visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and many lesser-known jewels in the city. There is no other visit to Rome of this quality.
connoisseurs' rome
behind closed doors
Italy
Tuesday 20 - Monday 26 February 2024 (7 Days)
This is a remarkable opportunity to explore a Rome normally concealed behind closed doors. From our hotel located directly next to the Pantheon. you will be taken to visit the city's most important palaces and art collections. There will be an evening private visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and many lesser-known jewels in the city. There is no other visit to Rome of this quality.
Connoisseurs’ venice
Patricians & Painters
Italy
Wednesday 6 - Monday 11 March 2024 (6 Days)
Be you a novice or seasoned visitor to Venice, we offer a privileged introduction to this magical city: palaces that are not open to the public; St Mark’s and its mosaics, seen privately at night; magical Torcello, “a positive ecstasy of melancholia” as Jan Morris described it; art galleries for the connoisseur – all seen at a time when the city is at its most quiet and serene.
petra, jerash & the treasures of jordan
arabia felix
Jordan
Tuesday 19 - Thursday 28 March 2024 (10 Days)
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were highly prized in ancient times traded by the Nabateans of Arabia. Their wealth was expended on that most remarkable of cities, Petra, the centrepiece of this visit to Jordan. Equally impressive are the Roman remains at Jerash, the traces of Ummayad Arab rule and the sites associated with the Old and New Testaments, close by and at the River Jordan.
Sicily Ancient & Modern
Complex Crossroads
Italy
Wednesday 10 - Friday 19 April 2024 (10 Days)
Sicily has been a strategic prize fought over for millennia by competing cultures, all attracted by its location and natural resources. Their marks have been left via amazing Greek temples, Roman villas, Norman churches and mosaics and baroque palaces - all complemented by the excellent cuisine and wines.
Revealing frans hals
Golden age portraiture
Netherlands
Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 April 2024 (5 Days)
Explore one of the ‘must see’ exhibitions of our times devoted to Frans Hals with his largest group of paintings ever assembled to be displayed in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum for a limited period. Our visit will place them in their historic context with time spent in Haarlem, The Hague’s Mauritshuis and in Amsterdam.
An irish spring
Exploring ‘THE PALE’
Ireland
Sunday 5 - Friday 10 May 2024 (6 Days)
Dublin was the second city of the emerging British Empire for much of the Georgian period, its handsome architecture a testament to its prosperity. The surrounding counties hosted a series of extravagant country houses such as Castletown and Russborough. We shall also include some exciting spring gardens.
Houses & Gardens of Cork
Ballymaloe
Ireland
Sunday 12 - Friday 17 May 2024 (6 Days)
Co Cork has some of the most beautiful houses and gardens of south-west Ireland, many not open to the public. However, this visit will concern itself not just with food for the eye, mind and soul but with food for the body as we shall stay at the renowned Ballymaloe House Hotel.
Giotto, Veronese & Palladio
An Invitation to the Veneto
Italy
Thursday 30 May - Wednesday 5 June 2024 (7 Days)
The Veneto was the rich agricultural hinterland of the newly land-focused Venetian Republic. Ambitious noble families used patronage of the arts to create a glittering patchwork of palaces, villas and collections: Palladio and Veronese were just two of the great names much employed who will be the focus of our visit.
Turin & the House of Savoy
Elegance Personified
Italy
Tuesday 11 - Sunday 16 June 2024 (6 Days)
The House of Savoy was one of the most celebrated and well-connected dynasties in Europe. Turin, its capital, was upgraded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to reflect its new status as a kingdom and power broker in the diplomatic affairs of Europe. Turin just before Christmas is a most handsome city. Masterpieces of fine art and architecture in both the urban palaces and country hunting villas of the Savoy family we will visit will be complemented by superb food and wine during our stay.
Houses & Gardens of Cork
Ballymaloe
Ireland
Sunday 23 - Friday 28 June 2024 (6 Days)
Co Cork has some of the most beautiful houses and gardens of south-west Ireland, many not open to the public. However, this visit will concern itself not just with food for the eye, mind and soul but with food for the body as we shall stay at the renowned Ballymaloe House Hotel.
Treasure Houses of the Tweed Valley
A Scottish Surprise
UK
Sunday 14 - Saturday 20 July 2024 (7 Days)
The handsome castles and houses, art collections and wonderful gardens of Scotland's 'Border' country are not widely known. Our visit will be an unrivalled introduction to magnificent treasures, many of which are not often seen by the public and where we shall be entertained privately in some style!
Houses of East & North Yorkshire
Hidden Treasures
UK
Sunday 28 July - Saturday 3 August 2024 (7 Days)
Yorkshire is not only England’s largest county, but it has more remarkable houses than almost any other part of England. We continue our series of visits to Yorkshire, returning to explore the hidden riches of the Northern Dales and the Eastern Wolds.
The Glyndebourne Festival
Opera in the Country
UK
Monday 5 - Friday 9 August 2024 (5 Days)
Glyndebourne is synonymous with all that represents excellence in the musical traditions of Great Britain. Thus, it is with great pleasure that we offer members of our own list the opportunity to enjoy this unique Festival.
Houses & Gardens of Cork
Ballymaloe
Ireland
Sunday 1 - Friday 6 September 2024 (6 Days)
Co Cork has some of the most beautiful houses and gardens of south-west Ireland, many not open to the public. However, this visit will concern itself not just with food for the eye, mind and soul but with food for the body as we shall stay at the renowned Ballymaloe House Hotel.
Exploring ulster
Quis separabit
UK
Sunday 8 - Sunday 15 September 2024 (8 Days)
Quis Separabit - ‘who shall separate’ is a motto much connected with Irish history, drawing attention to the many links between Britain and Ireland over the centuries. Discover how these links have shaped Ulster, ancient and modern, as we explore its remarkable history, its wonderful scenery and above all its private and hidden treasures in city and country.
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Tours & Study Days