Andante Travels - Britain’s ancient treasures and unmissable festive escapes In 2019

BRITAIN’S ANCIENT TREASURES +

UNMISSABLE FESTIVE ESCAPES in 2019

FOUR BRAND NEW TOURS

Fascinating journeys that will take you from Cornwall to Scotland

EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPES OF ANCIENT WESSEX Revisiting a destination that was featured on our first-ever itinerary 35 years ago

Explore the UK with the people who know its history best With a world of wonders to explore, it is sometimes easy to forget the treasures on our own doorstep.. We are celebrating its history, heritage, culture, and traditions with a range of tours led by archaeologists who know it inside and out. Discover something new among the familiar with us in 2019.

St. Andrews Cathedral

Contents NEW FOR 2019 The Story of Wessex...............................pg 4

Christmas 2019.......................................................................pg 10

NEW FOR 2019 Discovering the Picts | Warriors, Kings and Artists.....................................................................pg 5

Ravenna at Christmas.........................................................pg 12

NEW FOR 2019 Cornwall - Ancient Kernow................pg 6 Medieval England....................................................................pg 6 NEW FOR 2019 Highlights of Hadrian’s Wall...............pg 7 Walking Hadrian’s Wall.........................................................pg 7 Scottish Highlands and Islands.........................................pg 8 Orkney & Shetland.................................................................pg 8 Study Days..................................................................................pg 9 2

Vienna at Christmas............................................................pg 12 Rome at Christmas...............................................................pg 13 Palermo.....................................................................................pg 13 Egypt at New Year.................................................................pg 14 Relaxed Split............................................................................pg 14 Pompeii & Naples at New Year........................................pg 15 Festive Food in Bologna.....................................................pg 15

www.andantetravels.co.uk

Westbury White Horse, Salisbury

UK Breaks and festive escapes

The coming year will be a momentous one for us here at Andante as we move towards our 35th anniversary. To mark this amazing achievement and milestone, we have created a range of brand new UK-based itineraries that will showcase our glorious country’s wealth of history, heritage and culture.

The first tour we ever ran as a company centred around the ancient kingdom of Wessex and also visited the cathedral city of Salisbury, the glorious city that we call home. With this in mind, we are delighted to announce the return of our threeday Story of Wessex tour, which will take you from the world wonder that is Stonehenge to Europe’s largest man-made mound at Silbury Hill, and from our aforementioned hometown to the Wiltshire Museum in nearby Devizes. Elsewhere, you can explore the highlights of Hadrian’s Wall, delve into Cornwall’s 2000-year-old past, and lose yourself in the rugged beauty of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. From the Picts to the Romans, and from Neolithic sites to artefacts from the Medieval period – our British Isles have something to intrigue every kind of curious traveller.

We also have a range of tours on offer over the festive period, taking place across both Christmas and New Year. Embark upon an indulgent culinary adventure through Bologna’s gastronomy, taking in its history and archaeology along the way.

Sample the flavours of Palermo and see how they have been shaped by Sicily’s vibrant and varied past. Take a tour of Egypt by land and water, exploring both iconic temples and rarely-visited sites in the company of an expert Egyptologist.

Our festive tours offer you the chance to experience new traditions in bucket list destinations alongside like-minded people – the perfect way to ring in the holiday season!

You’ll also find some information in this pack about Brightwater Holidays, our sister company and the market leader in scenic tours of beautiful Scotland. We are delighted to introduce them to you as they offer an unrivalled programme of Scottish trips as well as garden tours around the UK. From an all-encompassing journey around the Outer Hebrides to an archaeologist’s view of Orkney and Shetland, and from Chelsea Flower Show to some of Gertrude Jekyll’s finest creations, they can take you to historic homes, stunning gardens and memorable sites that tell all kinds of tales. If you’re a keen gardener you might be interested to know that Brightwater can also open the gates to a number of private gardens...

So, without further ado, we invite you to pour yourself a glass of wine or make a cup of tea, and find inspiration for your next holiday among the following pages. We hope to see you on tour soon!

Brodgar, near Stenness

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

Bodmin Moor

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W NE R FO 19 20 Avebury Stone Circle

The Story of Wessex

Explore the ancient kingdom of Wessex and its fascinating sites 3 Days

From £745pp

23rd - 25th August 2019

Activity Level

The chalk downs of the ancient kingdom of Wessex have been home to monumental building and funerary ritual for over five millennia. Henges, burial mounds, causeway camps, and early field systems form a landscape of mystery and intrigue.

Tour Highlights

Explore the most important archaeological remains of the Wessex area on this three-day tour in the company of expert Mark Corney, a former contributor to Channel 4’s popular show, Time Team.

• Wander around the stone circle at Avebury

Day One

We meet in our Salisbury hotel this afternoon, where we will enjoy an introductory lecture by our expert guide before dinner. This will set the scene for our visits over the next two days.

Day Two

We start this morning with a visit to the world famous site of Stonehenge, which is also UNESCO-listed. The visitors’ centre really has transformed the setting of the monument. Here, we will see artefacts discovered during archaeological field work in the local area. We take a walk through the landscape, viewing the Greater Cursus, which is a Neolithic structure thought to have been used in ceremonial processions, and also wander along the ancient Avenue. After lunch, we take a tour of Salisbury Museum to view the Wessex Gallery, which showcases a collection of great archaeological treasures. On display are finds from the earliest evidence of human occupation in the area up to the Medieval period.

One of the highlights is the so-called Amesbury Archer – one of the earliest bell beaker graves in the country.

4

• Visit the iconic UNESCO-listed site of Stonehenge • Marvel at Silbury Hill, which is known as being the largest man-made mound in Europe

Day Three

This morning, we head to Avebury, a UNESCO World Heritage site so extensive that part of a modern village lies within it. Having retained both intact ditch and bank fortifications, Avebury is one of the most well-preserved and biggest henges in all of Europe. We also visit the nearby West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic chambered tomb that was constructed around 4,000 BC - the final resting place of almost 50 people. From here, we head over to the intriguing mound at Silbury Hill, the largest man-made structure of its kind in Europe, which rises imposingly from the fields. Comparable in size to the great Pyramids of Giza, no evidence of burials has been uncovered here. As a result, Silbury’s purpose remains mysteriously unknown. After lunch, we drive to Devizes to pay a visit to the Wiltshire Museum. It is home to an award-winning collection that features gold work retrieved from the Stonehenge area.

Stonehenge

Date

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

23rd Aug

£745

£130

Price Includes 2 B, 2 L & 2 D Accommodation in Salisbury Local transport

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Mark Corney has spent more than 20 years working in the field archaeology of Wessex.

See website for more details

www.andantetravels.co.uk

W NE R FO 19 20 Elgin Cathedral

Discovering the Picts | Warriors, Kings and Artists Insight into the most recent developments in Pictish Archaeology 6 Days

From £1,995pp

14th - 20th July

Activity Level

Long considered to be a mysterious lost people from a dark age, the Picts were subject to erroneous origin myths that were created for them in recent centuries. This tour will explore how – even though they left behind no surviving documents – they helped lay the foundations of modern Scotland.

Day One

We meet at our hotel in Edinburgh and have a welcome lecture before dinner.

Day Two

Our day begins at the National Museum of Scotland, where we get a closer look at the Picts’ love of silver and jewellery. We also see the Hilton of Cadboll cross slab, which is almost 8ft tall and originally stood in the sacred land of the northern Picts near to their Columban monastery at Portmahomack.

After lunch, we inspect an 8th century sarcophagus in St. Andrews. Later, we head onwards to Dundee.

Day Three

This morning is spent at McManus Gallery, where we view its Pictish collection. We confront facial reconstructions of excavated Picts, including a man who had been decapitated and then afforded a highstatus burial. We drive on to the Eassie Cross slab and then we explore the Meffan Museum in Forfar.

Day Four

Today we journey to Angus to visit St. Vigeans Sculptured Stones and Museum.

We return to Dundee, where we discover the new V&A design museum.

Day Five

Leaving Dundee, we drive to Perth to visit the Perth Museum & Art Gallery.

Next, we visit the town of Dunning to see its free-standing Dupplin Cross, erected in memory of the mighty Pictish king Constantine who died in 820. We drive through Aviemore Cairngorm National Park towards the Inverness area and, in the afternoon, we visit Craig Phadrig, an important royal fort where St. Columba was honoured by the pagan King Bridei.

Tour Highlights • View the Pictish collection at the National Museum of Scotland • Explore masterpieces of Pictish carving • Witness some of the finest monumental Christian sculptures produced by the Picts

Day Six

A visit to the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery awaits and then it’s on to Sueno’s Stone, the tallest early medieval sculpture in Scotland with a narrative depiction of a battle. Later, we explore a Pictish promontory at Burghead. Then, we drive on to Elgin and in its local museum we can observe archaeological finds from the area as well as a significant assemblage of carved stones.

Day Seven

On our last morning, we travel to Portmahomack to the Tarbat Discovery Centre. The great Pictish monastery was dedicated to Columba and was also the subject of a devastating Viking raid in around 800. Here, we view the spectacular decorated cross slabs that mark the boundaries of this rich, ecclesiastical estate – including the Hilton of Cadboll cross that we saw at the beginning of our tour. After lunch, it’s time to board our train back to Edinburgh. Sit back and enjoy a scenic ride through the Scottish landscape.

Aberlemno Pictish Stone

Date

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

14th Jul

£1,995

£375

Price Includes 6 B, 6 L & 6 D Accommodation in Edinburgh, Dundee & Elgin All local transport

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Peter Yeoman is an expert on Scotland and has written many Scottish guidebooks.

See website for more details

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

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Cornwall - Ancient Kernow

Tour Highlights

Evocative landscapes and ancient history await

• Enjoy a walk around Bodmin Moor • Separate myth from reality at Tintagel Castle, supposed seat of King Arthur

NE W

• Explore over 2,000 years of archaeology

R FO 20

Date

Activity Level

19

14th - 20th Sep

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,145

£495

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Pete Herring has spent over 30 years studying Cornwall’s rich and historic landscape.

Megalithic tomb of Lanyon Quoit

See website for more details

Not only does this county boast spectacular coastal scenery, but it also has more nationally protected sites and historic landscapes than anywhere else in England. Explore amazing hillforts, stone circles and the medieval castle of Tintagel – the mythical home of King Arthur.

Day One

Visit West Penwith’s prehistoric landscape and the megalithic tomb of Lanyon Quoit. Walk through Zennor to Geevor for an underground tour of the UK’s largest preserved tin mine.

Day Five

Venture both over and underground, discovering the industrial archaeology of tin-mining, which has a history dating back to the Roman times and beyond. This tour is an insider’s guide to the landscape, led by an archaeologist of the area.

Day Three

Day Six

Tour the Great Flat Lode mining area, with its preserved engine houses, and the Neolithic Tor Enclosure. We finish at Roundwood Hillfort.

We visit the Neolithic Tor Enclosure at Trencom, Chysauster Courtyard House Village and the iconic St. Michael’s Mount.

Day Four

Day Seven

We meet at our hotel for a welcome lecture.

Day Two

Walk over the Iron Age hillfort at Castle an Dinas and along the coast to the Rumps Cliff

Medieval England

Castle. Later, we explore the pre-Norman kingdom of Cornwall and the myth of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle.

Explore the archaeology of Bodmin Moor in the village of Minions. Later, visit Trethevy Quoit, King Doniert’s Stone and other sites.

Free time to explore Falmouth awaits before we make our return journeys back home.

Tour Highlights • Explore the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey

with Historical Trips

• Visit one of England’s most beautiful churches, Beverley Minster • Tour Wharram Percy’s Medieval village

Date

Activity Level

17th - 23rd Jun

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,005

£395

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Ailsa Mainman is an archaeologist who specialises in the Early Medieval period.

Whitby Abbey

From castles and great abbeys to peasant villages, the Medieval period has left a lasting mark on the English landscape.

Discover a world where displays of extravagance and power dominated the English countryside, and where a strong focus on religion led to the creation of spectacular places of worship.

Walk among magnificent monasteries and ragged ruins as you are transported back to the Middle Ages. This unique tour offers a fascinating exploration of life in all echelons of society.

6

See website for more details

Day One

Day Four

We meet in York and after an independent lunch, we check in to our hotel. A welcome lecture by our guide and a group dinner follows.

Today we visit Fountains Abbey. After lunch, we visit Ripon Cathedral and its monastic ruins. We also tour the childhood home of Richard III.

Day Two

Day Five

Visit the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Pickering’s church and castle, and Whitby Abbey. We drive through the North York Moors en route to Scarborough Castle, which we explore before returning to York..

Day Three

A walking tour of York takes us to York Minster.

After lunch, explore the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy.

www.andantetravels.co.uk

View the site of the Battle of Fulford Gate, tour Beverley Minster parish church and explore the exhibits at the Hull & East Riding Museum.

Day Six

The spectacular Rievaulx Abbey awaits today, which was once home to 650 monks before it was demolished under the rule of Henry VIII.

Day Seven

After breakfast, we check out and travel home.

Highlights of Hadrian’s Wall

Tour Highlights

Privileged access to Senhouse Roman Museum

• Privileged access to the fascinating Senhouse Roman Museum • Visit the bath house at Ravenglass

NE W

• Tour Vindolanda with its Roman remains

R FO 20

Date

Activity Level

19

8th - 13th Sep

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£1,695

£170

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Tony Wilmott is a former Archaeologist of the Year and specialist in Roman military frontiers.

Housesteads Fort at Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall and the history of the Romans in Britain is as fascinating as ever. For those who wish to explore the former Roman frontier, but with less walking involved, we are delighted to offer an alternative tour.

Join our expert guide Tony Wilmott, former Archaeologist of the Year winner, on this captivating trip from coast to coast. He has personally excavated at several sites included in the tour’s itinerary, and will offer enlightening firsthand insights throughout the week.

See website for more details

Day Four

Day One

We meet this afternoon for an introductory lecture at our hotel before dinner.

Day Two

En route to Maryport, we pause at Swarthy Hill. Upon arrival, we visit the Roman Fort and the Senhouse Roman Museum, where we have special access. Later, we visit Ravenglass and its Roman bath house.

Day Three

Drive along Hadrian’s Wall, stopping at a few sites along the way, and then we travel on foot to Birdoswald Roman Fort. Later, we visit the Tullie House Museum.

Walking Hadrian’s Wall

Visit the central section of Hadrian’s Wall, walking three miles to the Housesteads Roman Fort and Museum. We also visit the temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh and Chesters’ fort.

Day Five

Our entire morning is spent at Vindolanda, famous for its collection of Roman ink writing tablets. In the afternoon, we visit the Roman site of Corbridge with its superb museum.

Day Six

We begin at the Great North Museum in Newcastle and end at Segedunum, the most completely excavated Roman fort on the line.

Tour Highlights • Visit Carrawburgh Mithraeum

Follow in the footsteps of ancient Romans

• See the largest unbroken section of Hadrian’s Wall • Discover the fortification with an expert

Date

Activity Level

17th - 5th Jun

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£1,999

£330

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Mark Corney has spent more than 20 years working in the field archaeology of Wessex.

Hadrian’s Wall

See website for more details

The Hadrian’s Wall footpath crosses wild and beautiful terrain, its route covering the shortest distance coast to coast across the country, following Hadrian’s frontier. This is a walking holiday of up to 13 miles per day – a wonderful opportunity to chart the entire length of the frontier, as Romans would have done.

Day One

from Steel Rigg to Housesteads Roman Fort.

Day Two

Visit the fort and mithraeum at Carrawburgh, and walk to the Roman cavalry fort – Cilurnum.

Start along the shore of the Solway Firth and end at the reconstructed bath house at Segedunum. Crossing the Northumbrian and Cumbrian fells, you can imagine Roman soldiers patrolling here.

Day Four

Meet at our Grethe hotel for a welcome talk.

Our walk begins at Bowness-on-Solway and we end at Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.

Day Three

Starting at Lanercost Priory, we walk to Birdoswald, stopping at some sites en route.

Walk along the wall’s largest unbroken section to Thirlwell and visit the Roman Army Museum.

Day Five

Explore the site of Vindolanda and then walk

Day Six

Day Seven

Trek to Port Gate this morning and then visit Corbridge with its artefact-rich museum.

Day Eight

Start at Heddon-on-the-Wall and see Benwell’s temple. Tonight is our farewell group dinner.

Day Nine

Walk to Newcastle’s Roman fort and visit the Great North Museum along with the site of Segedunum. Later, we make our way home.

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

7

Scottish Highlands and Islands

Discover the stories of these dramatic landscapes Iona Abbey

Tour Highlights • Visit the Callanish Standing Stones • Tour Scotland’s National Museum • Discover exceptional prehistory at Kilmartin Museum

Date

Activity Level

7th - 15th Aug

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,499

£500

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Peter Yeoman is an expert on Scotland and has written many Scottish guidebooks.

See website for more details

Follow Scotland’s story, from the Prehistoric era to the arrival of the Romans and their ambition to take all of Britain. This is an adventurous journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Highlands and Islands.

Day One

The challenging environment was the stimulus for all manner of ingenious responses by the early population: ‘crannogs’, dwellings built on small islands or on stilts in the lochs’; ‘brochs’ and fortified towers with walls so thick that people could walk inside of them.

Day Three

Meet in Edinburgh for a welcome lecture at our hotel before a group dinner.

Day Two

A walking tour of Edinburgh ends at Scotland’s National Museum, where we view its exhibits.

Journey to Rough Castle and visit Bearsden, where remains of its Roman baths can be seen.

Day Four

A day at the Kilmartin Glen archaeological site.

Day Five

Visit Iona by ferry today and explore its Abbey.

Orkney & Shetland in 2020

Breathtaking landscapes frame years of history Skara Brae

From here, we travel to our next hotel in Oban.

Day Six

Explore the Glenelg Brochs Dun Telve and Dun Troddan, and then it’s on to Skye.

Day Seven

Visit the Standing Stones of Callanish and Iron Age structure at Dun Carloway Broch.

Day Eight

Travel to Skye via ferry and the visit its Museum of Island Life. Later, we travel on to Loch Tay.

Day Nine

Visit the Scottish Crannog Centre and Gask Ridge, and our tour ends in Edinburgh.

Tour Highlights • Visit the stunning Italian Chapel • Tour Skara Brae and Maeshowe • Admire the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar

Date

Activity Level

2020 dates coming soon

Call to register your place Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Dr Val Turner is Shetland’s Regional Archaeologist and has managed many excavations.

See website for more details

Home to some of the most wild and beautiful landscapes in the world, Orkney and Shetland have played host to so many periods of history that they are often called an archaeologist’s paradise.

During the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age, the people here were among the first in Britain to begin building Megalithic chamber tombs and later henge monuments.

Day Two

Day Seven

Tour Midhowe’s chambered tomb, the Iron Age Midhowe Broch, and the tomb of Taversoe Tuick.

Today we see St. Ninian’s Isle, South Voe Croft Museum and artefacts at Scalloway Museum.

Day Three

Day Eight

Day One

We meet in Kirkwall, Orkney.

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The Maeshowe chambered tomb, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar await.

Tour Old Scatness, Jarlshof and Mousa Broch.

Day Four

See Kirkwall’s sites and Tankerness Museum.

Visit Stanydale Temple, the Scord of Brouster, Shetland Museum, and the Broch of Clickhimin.

Day Five

Day Ten

Explore Skara Brae, Skaill House and the Norse settlement remains at the Brough of Birsay.

Explore Unst, the Viking houses at Underhoull and the Castle at Muness, among other sites.

Day Six

Day Eleven

See the Italian Chapel, the Burnt Mound at Liddle and the Tomb of the Eagles.

www.andantetravels.co.uk

Day Nine

The tour ends in Lerwick and we head home.

Study Days - 2019

Stonehenge

Offering rare, often unique insight into the fascinating working world of archaeology, our Study Days are ideal for those of us for whom time is limited. Each day is led by an expert guide and has been carefully designed to give you access to the best of British archaeology, through handling sessions, captivating lectures and site visits.

Human Osteoarchaeology - Winchester with Dr. Kate Tucker | £150............................................. 1st Jun

A Wessex Walk - Avebury with Mark Corney | £70................................................17th Aug

Everything You Need To Know About Castles Dover Castle with Dr. Marc Morris | £130............................................3rd Jun

Roman Villas - How the Other Half Lived at Fishbourne Roman Palace - Chichester with Oliver Gilkes | £125...............................................17th Aug

Flinders Petrie & the Discovery of Egypt Petrie Museum - London with Lucia Gahlin | £130..................................................7th Jun

Spitfire Study Day at Biggin Hill with Colonel Paul Beaver | £175................................... 3rd Sep

Chieftans to Senators - Iron Age Roman Dorchester Dorchester with Mark Corney | £120..................................................8th Jun Roman Villas - How the Other Half Lived at Fishbourne Roman Palace - Chichester with Oliver Gilkes | £125................................................ 14th Jun Roman Colchester - Boudica & Beyond with Peter Berridge | £115............................................ 14th Jun Cecil Lewis, Sagittarius Rising & The Royal Flying Corps - The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop with Colonel Paul Beaver | £130.................................. 21st Jun

Roman London - What lies beneath with John Shepherd | £125.............................................. 5th Sep Flinders Petrie & the Discovery of Egypt Petrie Museum - London with Lucia Gahlin | £130................................................. 6th Sep Roman St. Albans - A day in Roman Verulamium with Mark Corney | £120................................................. 7th Sep Northumbria Rock Art with Dr. Tertia Barnett | £140......................................20th Sep Arthur & Alfred –Monarchs & Myths Winchester with Dr. Andy Fear | £130............................................... 3rd Oct

Windsor Castle - The royals with Jennie Bond with Elizabeth Norton | £170........................................... 4th Jul

Vikings: Riders & Traders - Norwich with Brian Ayers | £120..................................................18th Oct

Inside Stonehenge in the Morning - Secrets of the Stones with Mark Corney | £150................................................... 7th Jul

Roman Colchester - Boudica & Beyond with Peter Berridge | £115............................................23rd Oct

Maritime Portsmouth with Dr. Ian Friel | £140...................................................20th Jul Roman London - What lies beneath with John Shepherd | £125..............................................24th Jul A Masterpiece in Stone - Salisbury Cathedral with Dr. Emma Wells | £140......................................... 2nd Aug Chieftans to Senators Iron Age Roman Dorchester Dorchester with Mark Corney | £120................................................ 9th Aug Roman Chester with Tony Wilmott | £130.............................................15th Aug

Roman Army - In Caerleon with Marc Corney | £120............................................... 2nd Nov The Secret World of Spies in London with Boris Volodarsky | £155........................................ 8th Nov Human Osteoarchaeology - Winchester with Dr. Kate Tucker | £150.........................................16th Nov Roman Coins - at Fishbourne with Dr. David Rudling | £115....................................16th Nov Life & Death in Middle Egypt - The University of Manchester with Dr. Campbell Price & Dr. Joyce Tyldesley | £150..............................................21st Nov

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

9

Celebrate the festive season Break your routine this holiday period and treat yourself to a Christmas or New Year tour somewhere special. Join an expert Guide Lecturer and group of like-minded travellers for a festive escape unlike any other. With private access to the Sistine Chapel, the chance to learn how to make traditional marzipan fruits in Sicily from monks and special access to the Doge’s Palace in Venice on offer, you can make memories of a different kind this year as you raise a toast to the incredible experiences that adventure can bring.

Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome at Christmas

10

www.andantetravels.co.uk

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

11

Ravenna at Christmas

Enjoy an Italian Christmas in a haven for mosaics

Tour Highlights • Privileged after-hours access to the Church of San Vitale • A boat trip to beautiful Barbana Island

Ravenna, San Vitale

• Take a tour of Pomposa Abbey

Date

Activity Level

21st - 27th Dec

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,195

£215

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Professor Valerie Higgins is Chair of Arts and Humanities at the American University of Rome.

See website for more details

Ravenna and Aquileia, cities full of churches and residences so typical of the time, replete with unparalleled mosaics. While Italy struggled at the hands of barbarian invaders, the great walled cities – seemingly secure behind their defences – enjoyed a golden age of creation. Marvel at the artistry and explore the stories behind the shimmering tiles.

The mists, lagoons and historic cities of the Po Valley make Ravenna the ideal destination for a festive foray.

Day One

Arrive in Bologna and transfer to Ravenna for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day Two

Today we explore the delights of Ravenna, including the Bishop’s Palace, Arian Baptistery and the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra.

Day Three

The complex around San Vitale awaits and we visit Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, the Mausoleum of Galla Placida and the Church of Sant’ Apollinare with its amazing apse mosaics.

Day Four

En route to Grado, we visit the Tomb of King

Vienna at Christmas

A festive European break with a cultural twist

Theodoric the Great, the Abbey of Pomposa and Concordia Sagittaria’s extraordinary church.

Day Five

Discover Grado and its lagoon today – Christmas Day. Take a boat to Barbana Island and enjoy a traditional Italian Christmas lunch.

Day Six

Visit Aquileia’s Cathedral, the Christian museum at Monastero and the National Archaeological Museum with is superb collections.

Day Seven

After breakfast, we transfer to Venice and catch a flight home.

Tour Highlights • Stand before Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ painting • Enter the catacombs beneath Saint Stephen’s Cathedral • Revel in the charm of Christmas markets

Date

Activity Level

22nd - 27th Dec

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,395

£295

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Dr Kelli Ann Malone is an archaeologist who specialises in heritage interpretation.

See website for more details

Vienna’s Christmas market

Spend Christmas in the splendid capital of Austria. Vienna is, in many ways, a cutting edge city, leading the world in design, architecture, contemporary art and more – but its rich history is even more captivating.

Day One

Being Christmas, we will take you to the city’s Christmas markets to experience the warm atmosphere. Discover the Naturhistorisches Museum with its Venus of Willendorf, walk around Baroque streetscapes, and discover the echoes of artistic and musical masterpieces.

Day Three

12

Arrive in Vienna and check in to the hotel.

Day Two

Our day begins at the Naturhistorisches Museum and then it’s on to Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. We tour its interior and catacombs.

We start today with a visit to the Römermuseum and then we take a walk around a Christmas market to get ourselves in the festive spirit. Glühwein and apfelstrudel await!

We have an indulgent, celebratory Christmas meal together this evening.

www.andantetravels.co.uk

Day Four

This morning, we visit the imperial summer palace of Schönbrunn. Drive out to Stift Melk, a Benedictine abbey perched atop a rugged outcrop.

Day Five

Visit the former winter palace of Hofburg, before we discover the Imperial Crypt beneath the Capuchin Church and the Imperial Treasury.

Enjoy a free afternoon to wander Vienna at your own leisure.

Day Six

We tour the Schloss Belvedere, home to a world renowned collection of art, and then we make our return home to London.

Rome at Christmas

Tour Highlights

A special, festive experience in the ‘Eternal City’

• A subterranean tour of the Colosseum • Explore Ostia Antica, which is as intact as the ancient city of Pompeii • Tour the Vatican Museum’s collections

Date

Activity Level

22nd - 27th Dec

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,395

£360

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Oliver Gilkes has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in Italy, Albania and Libya.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Rome is both an exhilarating and intimate destination where the glories of its ancient past exist beside amazing museums, art-soaked churches and medieval piazzas – evidence of the city’s continued power when its empire was no more. This is the perfect introduction to the ‘Eternal City’, led by an expert archaeologist who will bring to life its triumphs, tragedies and the political intrigue that characterised the Roman Empire. Special access to the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel and the Capitoline Museum make this a very memorable trip.

Day One

We fly from London to Rome. Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel and take time to unwind.

Day Two

Take a trip to the Galleria Borghese to see the exquisite collections housed here. After, we visit the Montemartini Museum and the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius, where the graves of Keats and Shelly can be seen.

Day Three

A guided tour of the Vatican Museum awaits and then there is time to explore Saint Peter’s Basilica. In the evening, we are treated to a private visit to the legendary Sistine Chapel.

Palermo

See website for more details

Day Four

Today is Christmas day and we explore the sites of the Field of Mars. Walk through the Largo di Torre Argentina, the Theatre of Pompey and experience the pomp and circumstance of the Pope’s Christmas message. Free time follows.

Day Five

A special guided tour of the Colosseum is ours, where we explore the subterranean and belvedere levels. We also visit the Church of San Clemente and Trajan’s Column.

Day Six

Our final day begins at the ancient port city of Ostia Antica and then we fly back to London.

Tour Highlights

The perfect fusion of festive food and archaeology

• Special access to the Cappella Palatina • Learn traditional recipes from monks

Date

Activity Level

22nd - 27th Dec

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,295

£250

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer

Rosetta Ferrari , Tony O’Connor will guide this tour. Rosetta is an expert on Italian food and Tony is an archaeologist.

See website for more details

Palermo’s Cappella Palatina

An authentic Sicilian adventure awaits.

This glorious region is rich in both history and gastronomy, and we take six full days to immerse ourselves in it all. Expert guides will bring stories of the past vividly back to life as our senses are enchanted by delicious local cuisine.

Experience the amazing archaeological sites to be found on this island, from atmospheric catacombs to an ancient necropolis. Take part in a traditional cookery class and sit down to meals that showcase real Mediterranean flavour.

Day One

Depart London for Palermo. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel and enjoy a group dinner.

Day Two

Day Four

A trip to Segesta to see its 5th century Doric temple gets Christmas Day off to a great start.

Later, we sit down to a multiple-course lunch.

Walk through the vibrant (and ancient) Vucciria market and then it’s onto a cookery class. After lunch, we have a special visit to the Cappella Palatina. Dinner and a rousing performance follow, and then we return to our hotel.

Day Five

Day Three

Day Six

It’s Christmas Eve and we start at the Salinas Archaeological Museum. Lunch is in Palermo and then we have some free time before sitting down to a traditional Italian festive feast.

Visit the 12th century cathedral, the Catacombs of Ossuna and the Arabesque castle of La Zisa, which is also UNESCO-listed. Dinner this evening is at a restaurant in Palermo.

Our last day begins with a special lesson from monks on how to make traditional marzipan fruits. We visit the Punic Necropolis and La Cuba before catching a flight to London.

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

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Egypt at New Year

Tour Highlights

A journey into ancient Egypt by land and water Pharaohs at Abu Simbel

• Privileged access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens • Discover the amazing Abu Simbel • Cruise the Nile aboard the MS Farah

Date

Activity Level

27th Dec - 4th Jan

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£3,995

£495

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Lucia Gahlin is an expert Egyptologist and has been leading tours to Egypt for over 20 years.

See website for more details

Temples, tombs and mummies – ancient Egypt’s archaeology is among some of the world’s most revered and it is a great place to welcome in the new year, what with its colourful streets, local entertainment and lavish cuisine.

Day One

Travel from London to Luxor, via Cairo.

of Seti I, the Theban Temple of the Great Pharaoh Seti I and the Tomb of Ay.

Day Two

Day Six

Explore Luxor Museum, visit Aboudi’s Bookshop and discover the magnificent Luxor Temple.

Discover Edfu’s Temple of Horus, the Temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder at Kom Ombo.

Day Three

Day Seven

Starting our adventure in the heart of ancient Thebes, we sail south through Upper Egypt before exploring the country’s southern border. The grand finale will be our visit to Egypt’s most impressive temple site – Abu Simbel, on the shores of Lake Nasser.

Visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens, where we have special access to Nefertari’s tomb.

Day Four

The Temples of Karnak await and after lunch aboard our boat, we explore the Temple of Mut.

Day Five

Explore rarely visited sites including the Temple

Venice at New Year

Disembark and visit the Temple of Isis at Philae.

Later, we tour Aswan Dam and take a sunset felucca ride to the glorious Botanical Gardens.

Day Eight

Explore Abu Simbel, home of the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari. After, fly to Cairo.

Day Nine

We travel from Cairo back to London today.

Tour Highlights

A privileged view of this legendary floating city

• A private visit to the Doge’s Palace • New Year’s Eve fireworks from San Giorgio • Enjoy a special evening visit to St. Mark’s Basilica

Date

Activity Level

27th Dec - 2nd Jan

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£3,295

£495

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer Dr Eireann Marshall is an Honorary Research Fellow for the OU and an experienced archaeologist.

St. Mark’s Square, Venice

At the head of the Adriatic, floating on the ephemeral islets of the lagoon, is the city of Venice. Explore the great churches, palaces and museums, and the lesser-known archaeological remains that are still being uncovered. Visit the islands of Torcello and Murano, where underwater investigation has revealed much about the trade that underpinned Venice’s rise to greatness.

With special access to the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, this is a privileged way to explore all that Venice has to offer.

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Day One

Fly from London to Venice. Upon arrival, we visit Altinum – an ancient Roman coastal town.

Day Two

Our day begins on the island of Torcello. Visit the Santa Fosca and Archaeological Museum, and tour the glass factory on Murano island.

Day Three

Travel to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where we enjoy amazing views. Later, visit San Giovanni e Paolo and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

Day Four

The magnificent Doge’s Palace awaits and we also visit the Archaeological Museum and

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See website for more details Correr Museum. Tonight we have a very special private tour of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Day Five

Take a walk around Venice, passing San Giorgio dei Greci, the Lion Gate and the Naval Museum.

Later, we view San Pietro in Castello. Tonight there’s a New Year’s Eve gala dinner and we can watch the San Giorgio fireworks.

Day Six

Walk along the Ponte dell’Accademia and end at San Pantalon church, famed for its Baroque Fumiani ceiling. After, we tour the Grand Canal.

Day Seven

We have free time before our flight back home.

Pompeii & Naples at New Year

Neapolitan festivities and ancient history await Fireworks over Naples

Tour Highlights • Visit Pompeii when it’s devoid of tourists • Celebrate a traditional Italian New Year • Discover the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Pozzuoli

Date

Activity Level

28th Dec - 3rd Jan

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,695

£450

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer John Shepherd is a Roman glass specialist and archaeologist with extensive field experience.

See website for more details

The streets of Naples are full of life, festooned with hanging washing and – at this time of year – decorated with elaborate cribs of the Neapolitan tradition. Explore both the modern city and the remnants of its ancient past on this unique festive tour.

Day One

There is also a visit to the incomparable site of Pompeii, which is typically littlevisited in late December. In addition, you’ll experience a Neapolitan New Year, where residents literally throw away the old year in dramatic fashion!

A full day exploring the haunting site of Pompeii is ours and having an expert guide on-hand will illuminate our time here beyond belief.

Fly to Naples and transfer to our hotel.

Day Two

Today we visit the National Archaeological Museum, the cloisters of Santa Chiara and the excavated streets below San Lorenzo Maggiore.

Day Three

Day Four

This morning we visit Herculaneum, which has been incredibly well preserved, and then it’s on to Oplontis – home of Nero’s wife, Poppaea.

Festive Food in Bologna

Culinary excellence and archaeological riches Panpepato Italian cake

Day Five

On New Year’s morning, we have a later start. After brunch, head underground to the Catacombs of San Gennaro. Free time follows.

Day Six

This morning we drive to the Greco-Roman city of Pozzuoli to see one of the world’s bestpreserved Roman amphitheatres. After lunch, we visit the cavernous Piscina Mirabilis, a huge cliff-carved cistern that once stored water for the Roman fleet in the harbour at Misenum.

Day Seven

Time permitting, we have some free time in Naples before returning home.

Tour Highlights • Learn to make pasta from the experts • Admire Este Castle’s frescoed ceilings

Date

Activity Level

29th Dec - 4th Jan

Twin/Dbl Share

SS

£2,595

£350

Introducing your Expert Guide Lecturer

Rosetta Ferrari , Tony O’Connor will guide this tour. Rosetta is an expert on Italian food and Tony is an archaeologist.

See website for more details

Discover the home of tagliatelle, ragu, mortadella and tortellini. This unique tour will satisfy even the most voracious appetites for food and history.

The Emilian menu includes some of Italy’s most famous products, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parma ham, which have been made for over 2,000 years. This is a particularly tempting way to spend the new year, exploring fascinating archaeological remains and sampling the city’s gastronomic heritage.

Hunt for truffles, visit amazing museums and enjoy a range of sumptuous meals.

Day One

New Year’s eve with sausage and lentils.

Fly from London to Bologna. Upon arrival at our hotel we have a buffet lunch and then discover the Archaeological Museum before dinner.

Day Four

Day Two

Day Five

Walk through the market streets to learn about local produce and then it’s off to Podere San Giuliano, where we learn to make pasta. Back in Bologna, we visit the Basilica of San Petronio.

Day Three

An early start allows us to see ParmigianoReggiano being made. We also visit a family-run balsamic vinegar producer and tour the church complex of Santo Stefano. Tonight we celebrate

A walking tour of Bologna and afternoon visit to Modena to see its Duomo and other sites await.

Today we enjoy a walk in the hills with a local expert to experience a truffle hunt. After lunch, tour the Etruscan town of Marzabotto.

Day Six

Drive to Ferrara to taste panpepato cake, visit Este Castle and the Archaeological Museum.

Day Seven

After free time, we return to London.

For more details call our travel experts on 01722 671612

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SPECIALIST Journeys Quality, Specialist Group Travel

Quality Specialist Group Travel

Valletta, Malta

ARCHAEOLOGY | HISTORY | WINE | SCENIC GARDENS | CHARITY CHALLENGES | PRIVATE GROUP TOURS archaeological tours

Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours

To find out more about any of our companies contact us 01722 569415 | www.specialistjourneys.com

Call our friendly sales team today: 01722 671612 If you have any questions about the tours featured within this brochure – including full, day-by-day itineraries – or to secure your place on the holiday of a lifetime, please visit our website: www.andantetravels.co.uk

the clock tower, unit 4, oakridge office park, southampton road, whaddon, salisbury, sp5 3ht

Tel: 01722 671612 | tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.co.uk

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