|
|
|
Travel 2010 Itineraries
Return to previous page  NEW YEAR IN BERLIN
Great museums, Potsdam and New Year celebrations with Liz Gibson
27 December 2009 – 05 January 2010
10 days / 9 nights
from $4,600 pp (land only plus airfare)
Experience the excitement of New Year in the new, vibrant Berlin. Since re-unification, Berlin has emerged as the invigorated political and cultural capital of Germany. During a leisurely stay, discover the city’s rich collections of visual art from antiquity to cutting-edge contemporary, held in the city’s many museums. Berlin’s world-class museums are clustered on the recently restored Museum Island and in the Kulturforum, adjacent to Potsdamer Platz - a striking showcase of Berlin’s astonishing contemporary architecture. Enjoy the spectacular New Years Eve fireworks display over the city’s most potent symbol, the Brandenburg Gate. Spend a day in the nearby historic city of Potsdam and its extensive Park Sanssouci, a tranquil contrast to the buzz of Berlin. This tour to the crucible of German creativity promises to be a memorable celebration of art and culture. Tour Leader
Liz Gibson B.A., Dip. Art Ed., M.A. (Art Admin) Former Senior Coordinator of Public Programs at the Art Gallery of NSW, Liz lectures on broad ranging aspects of art history and art appreciation. She has led Art Gallery Society tours to Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Baltic Countries, Slovenia and Croatia, and is keen to further explore the connections between the complex cultures of Eastern Europe. Liz’s tours cater for varying degrees of knowledge and interest in art, balanced with plenty of fun. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 914 kb)
|
|
 RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS IN ST PETERSBURG
The Hermitage, Summer Palaces and Russian Christmas celebrations with Liz Gibson
05 – 12 January 2010
8 days / 7 nights
from $3,250 pp (land only plus airfare) This tour can be booked on its own or be combined with New Year in Berlin. Experience the magic of a traditional white Russian Christmas in the elegant, former imperial capital of St Petersburg. Savour the treasures of the city’s most famous attraction, the Hermitage Museum, at your leisure and without the crushing summer crowds. The Hermitage, housed in the former Winter Palace, is just one of many St Petersburg palaces remnant of the illfated Romanov dynasty. Drive outside the city through a winter wonderland to other opulent Romanov palaces, Peterhof overlooking the Baltic, Catherine Palace at Pushkin and nearby Pavlovsk, each located in extensive parklands. Back in St Petersburg, a visit to the Russian Museum will reveal the unique world of Russian art, history and culture, from luminous painted icons to revolutionary art of the early 20th century avant-garde. Tour Leader
Liz Gibson B.A., Dip. Art Ed., M.A. (Art Admin) Former Senior Coordinator of Public Programs at the Art Gallery of NSW, Liz lectures on broad ranging aspects of art history and art appreciation. She has led Art Gallery Society tours to Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Baltic Countries, Slovenia and Croatia, and is keen to further explore the connections between the complex cultures of Eastern Europe. Liz’s tours cater for varying degrees of knowledge and interest in art, balanced with plenty of fun. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 926 kb)
|
|
 SICILIAN ODYSSEY:
FROM HOMER TO CARAVAGGIO
Palermo – Agrigento – Cefalù – Lipari – Taormina & Siracusa with Christopher Allen
03 – 17 April 2010
15 days / 14 nights
from $7,250 pp (land only plus airfare) Beginning in the capital Palermo, this tour plunges you into the eclectic cultural world and bustling vitality of Sicily. With Palermo as a base, visit the evocative ancient sites of Segesta and Selinunte. Spend a night in Agrigento with its row of temples overhanging the sea, before travelling north to the Norman city of Cefalù, point of departure for the Aeolian Islands, spending two nights on Lipari. After Messina continue to Taormina, perched high above the Mediterranean and close to Mount Etna, the volcano into which the philosopher Empedocles threw himself in the hope of becoming a god. Proceed south to Syracuse, home of the poet Theocritus and the philosopher Archimedes. Then travel inland to the mountainous heart of the island and the medieval city of Enna, near the sacred site where Persephone was carried off by Hades, god of the underworld. Return to Palermo for a final night and farewell dinner to conclude the tour. Tour leader
Dr Christopher Allen Dr Christopher Allen is an art critic and historian who graduated from the University of Sydney and currently lectures at the National Art School in Sydney. He is the author of Art in Australia from colonization to postmodernism (London, Thames and Hudson, 1997), and several other books including Jeffrey Smart: unpublished paintings 1940-2007 (Melbourne, Australian Galleries). He was until recently art critic for the Financial Review and is now national art critic for The Australian. Christopher speaks French and Italian and has travelled extensively throughout Europe for several decades. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 1 M)
|
|
 THE ESSENTIAL SPAIN:
BARCELONA AND MADRID
Explore some of the greatest art collections with Brian Ladd
06 – 15 May 2010
10 days / 9 nights
from $4,990 pp (land only plus airfare) Barcelona and Madrid are vital cultural centres which are home to some of the greatest art collections. These alluring cities express all the diversity and excitement of modern Spanish life. Beginning in glamorous Barcelona, the itinerary ranges from the architecture of Antoni Gaudi to the unique collection of medieval art in the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, plus the legendry Picasso Museum and the Fondaciõ Antoni Tàpies, dedicated to another renowned Spanish artist. Grandiose architecture and three major art museums are synonymous with Madrid. The Museo Nacional del Prado houses one of the finest holdings of old masters, with outstanding works by Titian, Bosch, Velásquez, El Greco and Goya. Spanish art of the modern era is encountered at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and no privately assembled art collection in modern times can compare with the Museo de Arte Thyssen-Bornemisza, spanning the Renaissance to the twentieth century. An excursion to Toledo, now a World Heritage Site, plunges us into the cultural complexity of medieval Spain. Tour leader
Brian Ladd DipFA (Sculpture), DipEd Brian Ladd is head of the Public Programs Department at the Art Gallery of NSW. Brian is responsible for wide-ranging education and public programs which enliven the Gallery and engage diverse audiences with the permanent collections and major exhibitions. A specialist in European and Australian sculpture, he brings enthusiasm and a broad knowledge to the study of art. Brian has travelled extensively and led successful Art Gallery Society tours to Italy, France, Central Europe, America and Spain. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 960 kb)
(updated 28 October 2009)
|
|
 THE ART OF EXPLORATION:
AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLEY COAST
Orion Expedition Cruises in conjunction with the Art Gallery of NSW
31 May – 10 June 2010
11 days / 10 nights
from $9,100 pp* (twin share land only) The coastal landscape of the Kimberley is spectacular with sandstone ranges and waterfalls cascading into the sea. The Kimberley is one of the world’s great art galleries where Aboriginal people have painted for many thousands of years, leaving a rich, imaginative and continuing record of their spiritual identity. Orion Expedition Cruises in conjunction with the Art Gallery of NSW provides this unique opportunity to access a range of contemporary Aboriginal art from the Kimberley region in a 5 star cruiseship. Travelling from Darwin to Broome and hugging a spectacular coastline, the Orion stops at Wyndham (accessing the nearby art centres of Warmun, Jirrawun, and Waringarri), then stopping at the ports of King George River and Falls, Vansittart Bay, Bigge Island, Hunter River (for the astounding Mitchell Falls), Montgomery Reef, and The Lacepedes. A myriad of art styles will be enjoyed, from the grace and dynamism of the Bradshaw figures to the awesome power of the Wandjina designs. At the final destination, Broome, a program of events is offered bringing together artists and artworks from surrounding communities. Tour Leaders
A once-in-a lifetime opportunity to travel by sea with a highly respected panel of expert lecturers. Howard Morphy (Director of the Research school of Humanities, Australian National University), Hetti Perkins (The Gallery's head curator of Indigenous art), Colin and Liz Laverty (long time collectors of Aboriginal art). A full and exciting lecture program will be provided on the art, culture and history of the region together with broader overviews of contemporary Aboriginal art. Photo: Orion Expedition Cruises View a detailed itinerary (PDF 1.3M) View the full brochure (PDF 2.5M)
|
|
 DARWIN TO BROOME:
TOP END ART & CULTURE
Darwin – Kakadu and Katherine National Parks – the Kimberley & Broome with Sheona White
21 July – 06 August 2010
17 days / 16 nights
from $7,500 pp (land only plus airfare) Experience the best of Top End Outback Australia, famous for its rich Indigenous art, spectacular landscape and home to a diverse mix of cultures. Whether you are a keen art enthusiast or an adventurous traveller, this tour combines an insight into the thriving Indigenous art communities, the stunning outback natural wonders and the fascinating multicultural mélange of Australia’s Top End. Over two and a half weeks, from Darwin to Broome, the many highlights of this remarkable journey will include the Tiwi Islands, Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land, Kununurra and the Kimberley. The tour has been timed for the perfect climate of late winter / early spring and is definitely limited in numbers – early booking is recommended. Tour leader
Sheona White Sheona White runs the Art After Hours late nights at the Gallery program and is the Senior Coordinator of Public Programs at the Art Gallery of NSW, a position she has held since 2005. She joined the Gallery in 2001 as the Curator of the Brett Whiteley Studio and was previously Senior Curator, Museum Education at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Sheona has written and lectured on art from the Top End, has curated Aboriginal art exhibitions and has travelled extensively in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 1 M)
|
|
 EMPIRES OF EASTERN EUROPE:
ISTANBUL TO BUDAPEST
Istanbul – Bulgaria – Romania & Budapest with Liz Gibson
04 – 25 September 2010
22 days / 21 nights
from $9,200 pp (land only plus airfare) Istanbul, variously the glittering capital of the Eastern Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires, is the starting point for an exciting adventure into the heart of Eastern Europe. Budapest, once the dual-capital of the grand Habsburg Empire, is the end point. From Turkey to Hungary, trace the cultural legacy imposed by the many warring forces that swept across the vast territory of today’s Bulgaria and Romania. At the crossroads of East and West, the fragmented history of this part of the world is reflected in a richly layered visual culture. See wide ranging architecture from ancient Roman ruins, Saxon citadels, traditional wooden villages, painted monasteries and Ottoman mansions, to monumentally scaled 20th century Soviet edifices. Discover not only a unique cultural landscape, but also enjoy a great diversity of nature, from the sweeping valleys of Bulgaria to the spectacular mountain ranges of Transylvania. Tour Leader
Liz Gibson B.A., Dip. Art Ed., M.A. (Art Admin) Former Senior Coordinator of Public Programs at the Art Gallery of NSW, Liz lectures on broad ranging aspects of art history and art appreciation. She has led Art Gallery Society tours to Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Baltic Countries, Slovenia and Croatia, and is keen to further explore the connections between the complex cultures of Eastern Europe. Liz’s tours cater for varying degrees of knowledge and interest in art, balanced with plenty of fun. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 3.4 M)
|
|
 GARDENS AND ART OF THE CÔTE D'AZUR AND NORTHERN ITALY
Nice – Lake Como – Vicenza and Venice with Holly Kerr Forsyth
21 September - 05 October 2010
15 days / 14 nights
from $8,990 pp (land only) From Nice on the Mediterranean to Venice on the Adriatic, join garden writer and inveterate traveller Holly Kerr Forsyth, for a ‘grand tour’ of the magnificent gardens, art and architecture of the Côte d’Azur and Northern Italy. Begin with a week in the South of France which has long attracted the rich and famous - and their architects, artists and gardeners. From your base in Nice, explore the glamorous resorts, the charming medieval towns in the hills behind, and the lush, semi-tropical gardens overlooking the Mediterranean. Then enjoy three full days in Italy’s Lake District, surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Italian and Swiss Alps. Around Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, you will discover some of Italy’s most outstanding gardens including the Villa Melzi, the Villa Carlotta, the Villa del Balbianello and Isola Bella. Journey across Italy to Vicenza, synonymous with the Renaissance architect Palladio and the elegant villas and their park-like gardens he built for the wealthy Venetian aristocracy. Finish in Venice, where you will enjoy an after-hours viewing of Saint Mark’s Basilica and a visit to several private gardens not normally open to the public. Tour Leader
Dr Holly Kerr Forsyth Dr Holly Kerr Forsyth is a well-known writer, photographer, lecturer and historian. She writes on gardening, landscape, environmental issues and social geography for a range of mainstream and academic publications, and for over a decade has been the gardening writer for The Weekend Australian. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 3.6M)
|
|
 MYSTERIES OF THE MEZZOGIORNO
A journey through Italy’s south with Neil Moore
03 – 15 October 2010
13 days / 12 nights
from $7,800 pp (land only) Known as the ‘Mezzogiorno’, the Italian south is a fascinating mix of Greek, Norman, Arab, French and Spanish influences. This excursion explores the ancient past and the exhilarating present from the great mountains of the central Apennines to the castles of Frederick II, and the Saracen strongholds of Southern Puglia with stops at coastal Vietri. From the towering mountains of the Abruzzo to the flatlands of Puglia, this is Italy’s last frontier of inaccessible hilltowns and forests which still provide refuge to wolves and bears and thousand year old olive trees. You will be reminded of the cultural richness of Italy, that there is no other place harbouring magical clusters of the strange conical houses known as trulli. Excellent meals of local produce will be included along the way at strategic places. You will stay in an extraordinary mountain village in the Abruzzo, restored cave accommodation in the ‘sassi’ of Matera in Basilicata, and in Puglia at the whitewashed town of Locorotondo. There will be guided visits to Paestum and Lecce – and of course you will be obliged to compare the local wines Tour Leader
Neil Moore BA(Hons) Neil is a painter and etcher of exceptional ability and has lived for the last twenty-one years in the Umbrian countryside. He exhibits regularly in Europe and Australia and has an extensive knowledge and love of the history, art and society of Italy. View a detailed itinerary (PDF pending)
|
|
 ISLAMIC MOROCCO
Casablanca – Rabat – Fes – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh & Essaouira with Christopher Hartney
07 – 20 November 2010
14 days / 13 nights
from $6,700 pp (land only plus airfare) Start this mind-expanding tour of Morocco investigating the delicious complexities of Islamic and Berber culture across the Maghreb. Plunge into the world-changing heritage passed from Morocco to Spain during the Muslim Empire in Europe that lasted from 711 through to the 1500s. This tour of Morocco will explore at every stop the sophisticated world the Muslims built in Europe’s dark quaking shadow. The Arab culture, with its roots at Mecca and Medina is the sister culture to the Berbers. Their indigenous culture links sub-Saharan Africa with the ancient Phoenicians and an incredibly long Jewish heritage. Together with the arrival of Islam, with its common language, heritage of the hajj and support of the arts and sciences, helped Morocco become a cosmopolitan kingdom, attuned to the great innovations of the day in every field of human endeavour. This tour will give you a profound experience of those places where Islam met the West, where Spanish and Western history was turned upside down and where the modern world was born. Tour Leader
Christopher Hartney BA, Phd Dr Christopher Hartney is a lecturer in the Department of Studies in Religion at the University of Sydney where he teaches Art and Religion, The Politics of Terror in the Twentieth Century and East Asian Philosophy. He has studied Morocco extensively at university since 1996 and has already led two successful tours to this fascinating country for the Art Gallery. Christopher has written numerous papers on popular culture in the West and is currently preparing a book on the Australian sculptor Ken Unsworth. He is also a visiting lecturer at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. View a detailed itinerary (PDF 987 kb)
|
|
 NEW YEAR IN THE ARTISTS' PARIS
Discover the unknown Paris with Terence Maloon
28 December 2010 – 07 January 2011
11 days / 10 nights
estimated from $5,500 pp (land only plus airfare) PARIS – one of the world’s most romantic cities, and Europe’s greatest treasure trove of art. This tour introduces Paris through aspects that are irresistible to art-lovers. Gain an “insider’s view” of places that have passed into legend as a backdrop to the lives of great artists and writers, or were the subject of their works. We are led through intimate nooks of “secret” Paris as well as to some of the meccas of modern tourism, into the thick of the metropolis and away from it into the tranquillity of the countryside. In addition, this itinerary takes us to touchstones of the history of the city: from ancient Roman times (the Roman baths incorporated into the Musée Cluny), the middle ages (Notre-Dame, Sainte Chapelle), the seventeenth century (Versailles, Place des Vosges), the rococo period (the Musée Jacquemart-André, some great mansions of the Marais), and to an array of modern art and architecture so innovative and influential that it changed the world. Tour leader
Terence Maloon DipEd, BA(Hons), MA Terence is senior curator of Special Exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW. His recent exhibitions were Classic Cézanne, Picasso – The Last Decades, Camille Pissarro and (with Peter Raissis) Drawing the Figure – from Michelangelo to Matisse. A passionate Francophile, Terence has led many successful Art Gallery tours to Europe over the past 15 years. Photo: Wendy Neill View a detailed itinerary (PDF 897 kb) Return to top |
|
|
