Categories
History
From Castles to Vineyards: The Heritage of Celje, Ptuj, and Maribor
Celje, Ptuj and Maribor represent three important urban centres within Slovenia, each embodying distinct historical trajectories and cultural developments that …
Japanese Castles: Authenticity and Paradox
The Japanese castle is one of the most iconic and seemingly eternal fixtures of Japan, but it is also a …
Sicilian Baroque: Splendour Reborn from Ruin
Experiencing the Sicilian Baroque brings the visitor closer to the authentic flavour of this most remarkable of all Mediterranean islands …
Chittorgarh Fort, A Monument to Rajput Bravery
In a land of legends few places feature as dramatically as the great Rajput fort of Chittorgarh. Its history resounds …
Fresco Painting in Italy and the Venetian Tradition
Fresco, whereby paintings are made onto damp plaster walls is one of the most ancient of all pictorial techniques; examples …
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s Ambition: Kinkaku-ji & Ginkaku-ji
In the historic city of Kyoto, two Zen temples stand as shimmering symbols of Japan’s cultural refinement: Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji. …
Sacred Stones and Settlements: The Neolithic World of Orkney
Some of Orkney’s most important archaeological sites lie in the ‘Heart of Neolithic Orkney’, the collective name given to a …
The Forts of Rajasthan: Strategic Integration Into the Landscape
The great fortresses crowning the hilltops of the Aravalli range, six of which are UNESCO World Heritage listed, echo the …
Sümela Monastery: A Highlight of the Black Sea Region
The Sümela Monastery Clings to a Sheer Cliff High Above Evergreen Forests Sümela Monastery on Mount Melá is dedicated to …
The Gardens of Samurai and Poet Ishikawa Jōzan (1583-1672)
Over many years Jim Fogarty has carried out his own research into Japan’s most iconic gardens uncovering layers of fascinating history …
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