Categories
General
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 …
Iceland: Beyond the Volcanoes
Prof. Heather O’Donoghue offers an insight into the diverse and scenically spectacular Iceland
Corsica: L’Île de Beauté (the Island of Beauty)
Corsica owes its existence to the long collision of the African and Eurasian plates, from around 60 million years ago.
Treasures of Andalucia
With rich mineral resources and a strategic location, Spain’s Andalucía region has been conquered and colonised by many different cultures. …
The Legacy of the Knights Templar in Portugal: Master builders and protectors of the realm
During the 12th century, the Iberian Peninsula was a land of regular conflict between Christian and Muslim forces. It is …
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 …
The Art of the Japanese Garden
The history of Japanese gardens extends way back into Shinto belief where often clearings would be made in forested mountain …
A Journey through Southwest France
Southwest France is a land of natural beauty and cultural wealth. It has been inhabited for thousands of years and …
Drawing from Sculpture
Painters have drawn their inspiration from Greek and Roman sculpture for centuries.
The Baltics
Dr Uldis Ozolins offers an insight into the hidden treasures of this region and the rich diversity of the Baltic States
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