Great Cathedrals of the Southwest

Romanesque to Gothic

3 Days From $845pp Departing Sep ‘21, Mar & Sep ‘22 Activity Level

This tour in the heart of south-western England offers an architectural journey through a collection of some of our most glorious cathedrals. From the Norman Conquest to the 16th century Reformation, we will tour the breadth of the Middle Ages, with behind-the-scenes access to these magnificent edifices.

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the art and architectural of magnificent national treasures • In Salisbury, we see the best-preserved of only four surviving copies of the

Magna Carta in the Chapter House of the cathedral • Embark on expert guided tours of three extraordinary cathedrals to explore their unique artifacts and histories

Day One | Salisbury Today we meet in Salisbury in the afternoon and after settling into our hotel we will have an evening lecture about the extraordinary cathedrals and treasures we will be seeing on this tour. Day Two | Salisbury & Winchester This morning, we will embark on an expert led tour of Salisbury Cathedral, built in the 13th century and made extraordinary because of its enormous spire, as well as its treasures. In addition to the cathedral, we will explore the cloisters and chapter house, where we will see the best-preserved copy of the Magna Carta. We will also climb a spiral staircase to the triforium, the highest balcony, to get a unique glimpse into the cathedral’s past. Following this, we will have the option of either doing a tour of the tower, where the ancient scaffolding can be seen, or the stone masons’ yard. After lunch, we will explore the extraordinary Winchester Cathedral, first built in the 11th century and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Its royal connections date even further back than Alfred, who made Winchester his seat of power; it is where Henry the Young was crowned, Mary I was married and where the funeral was held for William II. After visiting its treasures, we will have some free time to explore the exhibit on the Winchester Bible. Day Three | Wells The last of the cathedrals beckons us today when we explore the Wells Cathedral, considered the first wholly Gothic cathedral in Europe. Our expert Guide Lecturer will show us aspects of the cathedral not normally viewed, including a special interest tour of the Gothic architecture, stained glass and carvings. After lunch, we will embark on a behind-the-scenes ‘High Parts’ tour, where we will climb the spiral staircase to walk in the footsteps of cathedral masons. Alternatively, choose to take a tour of the Chained Library for a behindthe-scenes look at a special space which is not generally open to the public. Our tour ends back in Salisbury.

Guided by Dr Emma J. Wells

A historian of architectural history at the University of York, Emma is also the author of many publications.

Price includes

• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager • Entries to all sites as per the itinerary • All taxes & gratuities Included travel

• All local transport Accommodation

• Accommodation at the Red Lion Hotel, Salisbury Culinary inclusions

• 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners • Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner

Dates & prices per person

Date Twin/Dbl Share SS 2nd - 4th Sep ‘21 $845 $170 24th - 26th Mar ‘22 $905 $160

1st - 3rd Sep ‘22 $930 $175