13 Oct 2014
Cox & Kings continues as the appointed travel partner for The Royal Academy of Arts for 2015 and has created its most extensive collection to date. With 35 expert-led art tours to 28 countries in five continents, there are nine new tours for 2015, including a tour to Ireland for the first time. The tours aim to appeal to the enthusiast and expert alike, enriching the understanding of often complex subjects. All tours are open to anyone with a passion for the arts and are carefully designed by Cox & Kings' experts in conjunction with the accompanying lecturers.
The lecturers are with the group throughout the tour, making themselves available for informal discussions as well as occasional evening lectures and site-talks, which supplement those given by the local guides. In addition, many tours include access to artworks not normally accessible to the general public, or talks by curators of local exhibitions. For example, a highlight on the 5-day tour to Rome, departing 20 May and 28 October is an exclusive and private out-of-hours visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Lecturers will often also take guests into additional places relevant to the tour that are not included in the itinerary.
The tours below are a selection of the new art treasure tours departing in 2015:
Ireland: Georgian Dublin & Country Houses – 6 days from £1,495 per person
26-31 July 2015 with Roger White
Transformed in the Georgian period, the small walled medieval city was expanded with spacious squares lined by handsome townhouses and grand public buildings. Focusing on the period's achievements in architecture, planning and decoration, Roger White has arranged special access into Trinity College to see the Dining Hall, Chapel and Examinations Hall, which all have fine Georgian interiors and are closed to the general public, and private access into Ely House, which has interiors dating back to the 1770's and has an unusual staircase.
Netherlands: Golden Age to Modern Minimalism – 5 days from £1,795 per person
18-22 October 2015 and 24-28 April 2016 with Thomas Abbott
Renowned for the sumptuous art of the Golden Age, the Netherlands also boasts many recent interesting artworks. Thomas Abbott will guide guests through the country's art history from the 17th century up until the 20th century. Highlights include a visit to the Mauritshuis, which reopened this year after extensive renovations, a private guided tour of the Slot Zeist palace, and a tour of the Keukenhof tulip gardens (April tour only).
Greece: Journey through the Ancient World – 10 days from £2,395 per person
21-30 November 2015 and 14-23 May 2016 with Dr Stephen Kershaw
Steeped in mythology and history, Greece's past is evident in the well preserved sites and monuments found throughout the country. Focusing on the classical highlights of the mainland, Stephen Kershaw will accompany guests to sites including Delphi, Mycenae and Olympia. Through his own contacts, a special introduction has been arranged at the Delphi museum with the antiquities inspector as well as a private meeting with the abbott at Hosios Loukas monastery.
St Petersburg: Pictures & Palaces – 6 days from £1,445 per person
22-27 February, 10-15 May, 20-25 September & 21-26 February 2016 with Dr Colin Bailey
One of the most majestic and compelling cities in the world, St Petersburg is mostly unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries. Colin Bailey will take guests to the new Faberge Museum as well as early access to the renowned Hermitage before it opens to the public. A highlight of the tour includes a visit to Catherine's Palace to see the Amber Room and learn about its restoration and watch amber being worked in the newly opened workshop.
Music tours with Daniel Snowman
Munich: Music & Art in Bavaria – 16-20 November from £2,145 per person
Vienna: Imperial City of Art & Music – 17-21 September from £1,995 per person
Both tours take in the art highlights of each city as well as backstage tours and tickets to musical performances. Daniel Snowman is the BBC's chief producer of radio features and documentaries and has led over 50 music tours to the cultural capitals of Europe.
All tours include international flights, transfers, sightseeing escorted by English-speaking guides, accommodation with breakfast daily and other meals as specified and are accompanied throughout by an expert lecturer.
For the full range of tours please visit www.coxandkings.co.uk/ra
Cox & Kings pays a fee to the Royal Academy for every booking on the arts tours programme and any booking on any Cox & Kings holiday from a Friend of the Royal Academy, which contributes to the work of the Royal Academy and specifically its Learning Department.
For more information, please contact Katie Parsons on 020 7808 5694 or email katie.parsons@coxandkings.co.uk
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Cox & Kings is the world's longest established travel company. Its history stretches back more than 250 years to 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed regimental agent to the Footguards (later the Grenadier Guards). The company's fortunes grew hand in hand with the British empire and by the early 20th century the company was acting as agent and banker throughout the armed forces and as a shipping agent. In 1922 Cox & Co merged with the Henry S King bank, which had strong connections with India. The bank became part of Lloyds and the shipping agency grew separately, evolving into the modern travel company.
Today, built on the high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox in the 18th century, the company continues to flourish as an independent tour operator, with operations in London, the US, Japan, Australia and throughout India. Cox & Kings organises escorted small-group tours and private tailor-made travel in the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.
