Pre-cruise tour: Modern Art
13–15 April 2009 • Lecturer: Gijs van Hensbergen • Price £720
Day 1, Madrid
Fly at 9.30 a.m. from London Heathrow to Madrid. Lunch on arrival at the hotel followed by an afternoon at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, one of the greatest modern art museums and home to Picasso's Guernica. There is also time to see works by Miró, Dalí and Tàpies and Jean Nouvel's recent extension to the museum.
Day 2, Madrid to Málaga
Short visit to the Prado primarily to see Velázquez's Las Meninas (Picasso's feverish encounter with the subject is seen in Barcelona). Travel by high-speed rail (AVE) to Málaga, arriving mid-afternoon. An introductory walk focuses on Picasso's childhood including the church of his baptism.
Day 3, Málaga
The morning is dedicated to Picasso's birthplace which houses a small collection of his belongings and the Picasso Museum. Sail from Málaga at 11.00 p.m.
Price per person: £720
This includes: first-class, high-speed rail travel from Madrid to Málaga, accommodation as described below, breakfasts, two dinners and two lunches with wine, water and coffee (one lunch is on the train), all admission costs, all tips and taxes, the services of the lecturer. The airfare is calculate into the cruise price. Single supplement Ł100.
Lecturer: Gijs van Hensbergen. See page 10 for his biography.
Hotels: in Madrid (1 night): 4-star Husa Paseo del Arte, opposite the Reina Sofía; in Málaga (1 night): well-located 4-star Mate Larios.
How strenuous?
Standing around in museums is tiring. You need to be able to wheel (and lift) your own luggage at the train stations.
Small group: between 10 and 20 participants.