COX & KINGS OFFERS AN ART TOUR TO VENICE, TYING IN WITH THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS 'IN THE AGE OF GIORGIONE' EXHIBITION

Cox & Kings has announced a new Royal Academy of Arts tour to Venice for 2016, with an in-depth focus on Renaissance art and architecture. The Splendours of the Renaissance tour ties in with the Royal Academy of Arts' upcoming exhibition 'In the Age of Giorgione', opening 12 March 2016. The tour and exhibition focus on Venice during the early 16th century and the important artists of the time – including Titian, Bellini and Giorgione. These artists developed a particularly Venetian style of painting which appealed to the senses through rich colours and glowing light.

With much of Venice remaining relatively unchanged over the past 500 years, many important works of art are still in their original locations, and the itinerary includes the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari where artworks by Titian and Bellini are still hanging. Travellers will visit the Accademia, Venice's main art gallery, to view artworks by the masters, experience an exclusive evening visit to Basilica San Marco, a private visit to the Cini Foundation to see its artworks and Renaissance courtyards and more.

The tour is accompanied by lecturer and art historian Dr Richard Stemp (November 2016 departure) or Siân Walters (March 2017 departure), who will be with the group throughout the tour, offering a combination of lectures and site-specific talks, as well as more informal dinner discussions.

Cox & Kings' art tour product executive, Katie Liddell says “The Splendours of the Renaissance tour is perfect for travellers who wish to step back in time and relive what the art world in the early 16th century may have been like. Much of Venice remains much as it was 500 years ago, and clients will tread the same streets as the artists and witness the sights that inspired them. The accompanying expert lecturers will illuminate the works with information and stories, bringing the period to life in a way regular visitors could not achieve on their own”.

Venice: Splendours of the Renaissance is a 4 day / 3 night small group art tour from £1,295 per person, and departs 8 - 11 November 2016 with Dr Richard Stemp, or 14 - 17 March 2017 with Siân Walters. The tour includes international flights, transfers, sightseeing escorted by English-speaking guides, accommodation with breakfast daily and other meals as specified, and are accompanied throughout by the 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 Kimberley Hay on 020 7808 5694 or email kimberley.hay@coxandkings.co.uk

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NOTE TO EDITORS

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.