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Martin Randall's Cultural Holidays are ATOL and AITO protected.
Voysey House,
Barley Mow Passage
London W4 4GF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8742 3355
USA: 1-800-988-6168
Canada: (647) 382 1644
Australia: 1300 55 95 95
New Zealand: 61-7-3377-0141
Houses & Gardens Tours
Cities shape culture. For this reason many, perhaps a majority, of cultural holidays relate in some way to the urban environment. MRT’s houses and gardens tours, by contrast, focus on a type of domestic architecture that is specifically set against the idea of the city: these villas, private gardens and country houses were to be places of escape, of freedom and self-expression, where the preoccupations of the city were kept distant. Many are accessible only by private arrangement. All remain oases of harmonious tranquility. All our small-group tours are led by expert lecturers, chosen for their companionability and communication skills as well as their scholarship.
Lisbon Neighbourhoods
- Superb and varied collections of decorative and fine arts as well as some of the best examples of Portuguese ceramic tiles.
- Palaces and gardens are well represented including the National Palace at Sintra and the Rococo Royal Palace at Queluz.
- Rejuvenation in the last decade has transformed Lisbon into a vibrant and attractive city.
Gardens and Villas of The Italian Lakes
- A wonderful variety of villas and gardens around Lakes Maggiore and Como.
- Some of the most fascinating historic gardens in Europe, all enhanced by splendid natural settings.
- Lakeside hotels.
Courts of Northern Italy
- Mantua, Ferrara, Parma, Ravenna, Urbino and surroundings.
- Art and architecture of the Renaissance produced in the service of the ruling dynasties rather than for free cities.
- Mediaeval and later art also features.
Great Houses of the North
- The finest country houses and gardens in northern England, from mediaeval to Victorian, with an emphasis on the eighteenth century.
- Unhurried: there is plenty of time to rest, relax and absorb. Only two hotel changes.
- Some of the most glorious countryside in England, plus a few items other than houses.
The Cotswolds
- Nine walks through some of the loveliest countryside in the world with stops to enjoy buildings and landscape features.
- A carefully selected itinerary which favours the lesser-visited and less accessible places over some of the more touristy ones.
- Several outstanding gardens are a feature, as are manor houses and a handful of the finest parish churches in the country.
Walking in Cornwall
- Walks on most days through some of the most beautiful scenery in England.
- Visits to gardens, country houses, art galleries, and historic towns and villages. Maritime history, literary associations and the history of the county feature.
- Attention is also paid to geology, botany, ecology and other aspects of the natural world.
Gardens of Tuscany
- Wonderful range of gardens from Early Renaissance to 20th-century, several visited by special arrangement.
- Hotels in central Florence and Siena with free time to explore both cities.
- Ideal time of year to see Tuscany in bloom.
Brittany
- A new tour for 2012.
- Brittany’s landscapes captured and cultivated: gardens, châteaux and historic towns.
- Some of the finest prehistoric sites in Europe.
Ardgowan
- Stay as guests at Ardgowan, a grand 18th-century country house which remains a private home, not a hotel nor a museum.
- Visit other country houses in the vicinity, some not generally open to the public, all with special arrangements or privileged access.
- Pass through the stunning coastal and Lowland landscapes of western Scotland.
West Country Gardens
- Twentieth-century garden design from Jekyll to Pearson in historical context.
- Many special arrangements including access to gardens not usually open to the public and tours with head gardeners.
- Stays at The Castle Hotel in Taunton and Plumber Manor near Sturminster Newton.
Our lecturer’s knowledge and enthusiasm were a pleasure to behold.
Our lecturer’s love of plants and knowledge of garden history ensured that every garden was of interest.Really enjoyed the tour – super.
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