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Rome, Vatican Library, wood engraving c. 1880.
The Printing Revolution - Renaissance print culture in Rome & Venice
Tour highlights
- The arrival and impact of printing in Renaissance Italy: manuscripts, printed books and the visual arts 1450–1600.
- Special displays of manuscripts and books and privileged access to spaces not usually seen by the public.
- Accompanied by two expert lecturers: a British Library curator and an art historian specialising in the Italian Renaissance.
- No more than 18 participants.
This tour explores the culture of Renaissance Rome and Venice from a new and unusual perspective – the history of printing. The arrival of printing in Rome in the 1460s, followed by the exponential growth of publishing in Venice, had far-reaching and profound consequences. It was nothing less than an information revolution.
Beginning in Rome and continuing to the first site of printing in Italy, the Benedictine monastery at Subiaco, the tour introduces the new technology and what this entailed for the way books were made, bought, collected and read. It shows how the transition from manuscript to print took place, and presents the leading personalities involved in the advancement of printing – cardinals, aristocrats, scholars, printers and booksellers.
Many of the great collections of manuscript codices and printed books which were built at the time survive intact today in splendidly decorated libraries. Foremost among them was the Pope’s own library, the ‘Biblioteca Apostolica’, buried within the great Vatican complex. The story continues in Venice, which in the sixteenth century became the European centre of the publishing and bookselling trades. The monumental libraries here, places of architectural beauty themselves, house some of the greatest collections of illustrated books and manuscripts.
The focus of this tour leads not only to an understanding of the role of printing in Renaissance culture but also to an enhanced appreciation of the art of the period, and an understanding of the place of the book in early modern history.
This tour is particularly strenuous. Please read the advice under 'Practicalities'.
Practicalities
Two sharing: £4,720 or £4,540 without flights. Single occupancy: £5,370 or £5,190 without flights.
Travel by private minibus, coach and business class rail; private motoscafo transfers between the hotel and the airport in Venice; a vaporetto pass for the duration of the stay in Venice; luggage porterage between the hotel in Venice and the airport; hotel accommodation; breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all taxes; all tips; the services of two lecturers and a tour manager.
Donna Camilla Savelli: A pleasingly restored former baroque monastery, now 4-star hotel, set at the foot of the Janiculum hill in Trastevere. Hotel Splendid, Venice: delightful, quiet 4-star hotel situated halfway between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto bridge. Single rooms are doubles for sole use throughout.
This is a strenuous tour. There is unavoidably a lot of walking in both cities: the historic area in Rome is vast and vehicular access is restricted, and in Venice there is a lot of walking along the flat and up and down bridges. Standing around in museums and churches in both cities is also unavoidable, and you need to be able to lift your luggage on and off the train and wheel it within stations. The tour should not be attempted by anyone who has difficulty with everyday walking and stair-climbing.
Between 8 and 18 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
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Testimonials
“It was wonderful to see inside the libraries on this tour, to peruse the early printed books shown to us and to learn about the development of printing.
”
“I really enjoyed it, and had some overwhelming experiences of important and sometimes under-appreciated libraries, books, art and architecture. Many of the books and several of the library rooms I saw just took my breath away.
”
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