Categories
Art
Maintaining the World: Greek Gods – Part I
Whether or not one has a religious faith, we in the modern world are used to the idea of a …
Acragas (Agrigento) Valley Of Temples
Sitting imperiously on the top of Monte Camico in Sicily, Agrigento commands enviable views across the broad coastal plain towards …
A Journey through Spain’s Unique Gardens
If there is a word which could define Spain and the Spanish gardens, it would be diversity, without any doubt. …
The Crafts of Venice
By Em. Prof. Bernard Hoffert One of the most fascinating aspects of Venice is its rich craft tradition. The glories …
Sardinia: Land of Fairies and Giants
Located in the Western Basin of the Mediterranean Sea, at the crossroad between Italy, France, Spain and North Africa, Sardinia …
Portugal: A Short History through Art & Architecture
Located in the extreme southwest of Europe, Portugal is a narrow rectangle of land, 560km long and 119 to 220km …
Exploring East Anglia’s Rich Heritage: History, Culture and Landscape
East Anglia is bordered on all sides by formidable barriers — the North Sea to the east and north, the …
Islands of the Aegean: stories of the Eastern Mediterranean
Few places on earth gather such an abundant mix of mythology, archaeology, and history as the islands of the Aegean. …
La Chanson de Roland, the Mythical Paladin and his Legendary Sword Durandal
According to archaeologist and historian Anne Lehoërff, the origin of bronze swords in Europe can be traced back to the …
Designing Gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
I have been fortunate to design two gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The first was in 2004 and …
Lectures
Fresco Painting in the Veneto
Some of Italy’s most celebrated paintings were created using the ancient technique of fresco, of which a significant number are located in the Veneto.
Caravaggio in Sicily
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is one of art history’s most fascinating personalities: a painter of genius and a man possessed of a violent, mercurial temperament.
Everywhere the Glint of Gold
After its long awaited opening, the Grand Egyptian Museum is now open and for the first time all the treasures from Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb are on display together. In this lecture Lucia reveals many lesser-known but wonderful items.
From desert trails to ocean sails
The distinctive landscapes of Oman were shaped by the ancient trade routes that crossed them, conveying luxury goods such as spices, textiles and incense between Africa, Arabia and the wider world of the Indian Ocean.
Paintings in Stone
Between the 2nd and the 4th centuries CE, the mosaic workshops in the cities of the Roman Provinces of Africa (modern western Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) excelled in the production of high quality coloured figurative and geometric pattern mosaics