2022 Bulletin | January 2022

ACE CULTURAL TOURS

ACE CULTURAL TOURS Stapleford Granary Bury Road Stapleford 01223 841055 CAMBRIDGE ace@aceculturaltours.co.uk CB22 5BP www.aceculturaltours.co.uk

2022 BULLETIN

ACE CULTURAL TOURS 1

Contents Coming Soon – Music Tours in 2022

2–4

Stapleford Granary: The Home of ACE Cultural Tours Jazz: From New Orleans to Memphis

5 6–7

Wagner Festival in Leipzig

8

Verona Opera Festival

9

Buxton International Festival

10

York Early Music Festival

11

Hereford Three Choirs Festival

12–13

International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

14–15

Crete: Birds, Flowers & Minoans

16

Mid-Century Modern in the Heart of England

17

Roussillon

18

Pompeii with Herculaneum

19

Great Bardfield & Beyond: Mid-Century Art & Design in East Anglia

20

Welcome

The Vienna Secession

21

Dutch Masters: Rembrandt, Van Gogh & Mondrian

24

Steeped in winter frosts and the lingering glow of Christmas, we reflect on a year that has, despite its hardships, brought many joys – none more so than the wonderful festivals and musical performances attended by ACE groups throughout the summer and autumn.

Great Art Collections of New England

25

Northamptonshire Country Houses

26

Art & Architecture of the Tyrol

27

Isle of Man: A Wild & Ancient Heritage

28

Irish Houses, Castles & Gardens

29

Gardens of the Cotswolds

30

Swedish Palaces & Castles

31

40–41

With 2022 before us, we are delighted to present a selection of upcoming musical tours. Opera lovers can expect to be mesmerised by the Wagnerian performances on offer at Leipzig’s famous opera house and the stunning sets of Verona’s annual festival. Local music festivals are equally tantalising, from the exuberant Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate to York Early Music Festival.

Gardens of the Republic of Ireland

Ireland’s Ancient Heartland

22–23

32–33

Churches of Suffolk

34

Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk

35

Danube River Cruise

36–37

Athens, Delphi & the Peloponnese

38–39

Wonders of Southern India

40–41

2022 Schedule Overview

42–43

Our musical highlights are followed by a selection of wider cultural tours, including new departures to Ireland and New England alongside popular European subjects, from the palaces of Sweden to the fascinating art history of Vienna. We are also delighted to be returning to the churches of Suffolk, the country estates of Northamptonshire and the art history of East Anglia.

We hope you find a new ACE adventure within these pages, and look forward to welcoming you on tour soon.

01223 841055

18 1

MUSIC TOURS – COMING SOON

Aldeburgh Festival

We are pleased to be returning to many of the world’s most popular classical music festivals in June 12–17, 2022 with Nicholas Wearne 2022. Please contact the ACE office if you would “A special programme with like to register your interest an excellent leader” and receive details as soon Stirred by the vast skies and moody seas of Suffolk, Benjamin Britten was as they become available.

Schubert Festival in Schwarzenberg August 20–27, 2022 with Nicholas Wearne

“Everything about this trip was superb”

inspired to launch this summer festival that has blossomed into a year-round concert venue at Snape Maltings. Today, internationally acclaimed artists perform alongside up-and-coming musicians at the world-famous Concert Hall and the venue’s newer buildings. We are delighted to be returning in 2022 with Tour Director Nicholas Wearne, for what promises to be another spectacular celebration of music old and new, alongside a visit to the Red House, Britten’s former home. The 2022 festival is due to focus particularly on the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, as well as the world premiere of Alice Birch and Tom Coult’s Violet, developed at Snape Maltings.

There are few more idyllic settings to appreciate the world’s best song, chamber and piano concerts than the Vorarlberg region in Austria. On this lively summer tour we will enjoy a performance of Winterreise with Slovakian tenor Pavol Breslik, a piano recital with Paul Lewis CBE, and song recitals with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, lyric tenor Christoph Prégardien, baritone Andrè Schuen and tenor Ian Bostridge. The Modigliani Quartet and Emerson String Quartet will delight us with programmes of Schubert’s works for strings, while daytime visits will include a guided tour of Schwarzenberg, an excursion to the splendid Rieger Orgelbau workshop, and a visit to the town of Lindau in the beautiful Lake Constance area.

Further details will be released early in 2022.

Further details will be released early in 2022.

Scallop Shell sculpture, Aldeburgh

2

aceculturaltours.co.uk

MUSIC TOURS – COMING SOON

Sibelius Festival in Finland

Wexford Opera Festival

August 30 – September 5, 2022 with Richard Wigmore

October 2022 Tour Directors to be announced

“I feel refreshed by a relaxed week with wonderful music, food and company”

“I have been to the Wexford Festival before and always enjoyed it, but this ACE tour was especially wonderful…

It will be long remembered with pleasure”

There is something truly special about experiencing the music of Jean Sibelius within the breathtaking landscapes that he knew so well, home to the culture, stories and history that inspired so many of his works. On this tour we will journey from Helsinki, home to the Sibelius Monument and fascinating Rock Church, to Lahti where the festival takes place. Our principal venue is the Sibelius Hall, situated on the southern shores of Lake Vesijärvi. An architectural and acoustic marvel, it is the ideal space in which to enjoy performances with some of the world’s most celebrated artists: past years have included the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, and the award-winning violinist Baiba Skride. We expect the 2022 festival to be no less impressive.

Alongside the music, we hope to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sibelius Hall, a lake cruise, and a visit to Ainola, Sibelius’s former home.

Further details will be released in spring 2022.

01223 841055

Nestling amidst the medieval streets of old Wexford, Ireland’s most impressive music venue – the National Opera House – celebrates a superb annual festival of opera with an impressive range of music and performers. Since the first annual festival of music and the arts took place in 1951, Wexford Opera Festival has grown into one of the leading operatic events of the year and draws audiences from all over the world to enjoy often-neglected works and forgotten masterpieces.

The festival is particularly well known for introducing up-and-coming stars, conductors and directors. We plan to return in October 2022 to enjoy another selection of excellent and often thoughtprovoking productions, complemented by an exploration of the history and architecture of the surrounding area.

Further details will be released in spring 2022.

Glyndebourne October 2022 with Nicholas Wearne

“An excellent itinerary with an excellent guide. I could ask for no more” Every year, the Glyndebourne tour produces an exhilarating programme of world-class opera featuring young and promising singers. Many international careers – such as those of Thomas Allen, Felicity Lott and Willard White – began with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, as it was originally called. We look forward to returning in 2022 for another inspiring musical programme, based at the festival’s East Sussex home. Our tour will feature select evening operas woven around daytime excursions to nearby cultural attractions, as well as enlightening lectures from Tour Director Nicholas Wearne.

Further details will be released in summer 2022.

Wexford Opera House

3

MUSIC TOURS – COMING SOON

Oxford College Chapels & Organs November 2022 with John Bryden & Nicholas Wearne

“A really inspiring tour” The city of dreaming spires is home to a remarkable number of organs, each defined by the personality that made them, the aesthetics of the time in which they were built, the space within which they resound, and the uses to which they are put. These instruments have become part of the subtle alchemy that makes each college special. Our 2022 tour will explore several of Oxford’s organs and colleges, and feature exclusive organ recitals given by our Tour Directors. We also hope to venture into the surrounding countryside to visit UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace, one of England’s largest houses and home to the Long Library organ, constructed by perhaps the most famous British builder, ‘Father’ Henry Willis.

Further details will be released in spring 2022.

Music & Opera in Vienna November 2022 with Richard Wigmore

“The whole tour was well balanced with great musical events and time for sightseeing” Vienna has probably inspired more music than any other city. Rich in history, culture and romance, it was the capital of a vast multi-ethnic empire for several hundred years. Many of the world’s most celebrated composers lived and created works of musical genius among the city’s glorious surroundings.

Our winter tour to Vienna offers a series of performances in the city’s spectacular music venues, which have in previous years ranged from the State Opera House to the Konzerthaus, and from the Theater an der Wien to the glittering Musikverein. We also plan to take in Vienna’s architectural and artistic treasures, set against the city’s Christmas markets, whose presence dates back to the Middle Ages.

Further details will be released in late spring 2022.

Bath Mozartfest November 2022 with Sandy Burnett

“To be in such a beautiful city amongst delightful people listening to marvellous music was indeed special!”

Each year music pilgrims flock to the beautiful Georgian city of Bath to enjoy the classical festival that celebrates one of Europe’s favourite musical sons: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The festival – which has garnered critical acclaim for its high calibre performers – celebrates not only the music composed by Mozart but also that of composers for whom he provided inspiration. Concerts take place in the surroundings of Bath’s historical buildings, including the elegant Assembly Rooms and the Guildhall.

Alongside the musical treats, we hope to include visits to the city’s iconic abbey, the Holburne Museum – home to Sir William Holburne’s collection of fine and decorative arts – and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

Further details will be released in summer 2022.

Merton College Chapel Organ, Oxford

4

aceculturaltours.co.uk

STAPLEFORD GRANARY

The Home of ACE Cultural Tours

CALUM BARLOW

By CEO Kate Romano

Stapleford Granary

ACE Cultural Tours is a company owned by the charity founded by pioneering journalist Philip Brooke Barnes in the 1950s.

Much has changed over 70 years, but Philip’s profound belief in fostering cultural understanding remains at the heart of all we do. And since 2010, we’ve been able to expand our cultural curiosity and passion for the Arts in the beautiful surroundings of Stapleford Granary.

I took on the role of CEO of Stapleford Granary in August 2020, a time when we all still thought, or hoped, that the pandemic would be over fairly swiftly. In my ‘other life’, I’m a professional clarinettist, a writer and Radio 3 broadcaster and I ran my own production company for 10 years. It’s my task to deliver the next ambitious phase for the Granary; turning this wonderful site into a vibrant, bustling multi-arts centre, amidst one of the most challenging landscapes the Arts have ever known.

Despite the lockdowns and restrictions, we’ve found creative ways to work, distanced and remotely. We cut big wooden shutters and blacked out the concert hall for filming and streaming.

01223 841055

We became more confident in our own filming skills and with this growing body of material we launched our own YouTube channel. We started an Artist Residency scheme so that we could continue to support and showcase the work of artists. We designed a new website, published blogs and our social media came back to life.

As restrictions gradually eased, things got more exciting. Thanks to a very generous donation, we now have a beautiful 300 square metre temporary tent that covers the courtyard so we can hold magical, memorable outdoor events. We threw open the site (with the tent in situ) on 4 July 2021 for a Village Day – craft stalls, pop-up food, live music, theatre and children’s activities. And we did it all again for Christmas on 18 December!

Both of these days, each attracting around 800 visitors, demonstrated the unique ability of the Arts to bring people together and gave us a glimpse of the Granary’s potential to be an essential part of the local and wider community.

Cultural ideas spring up in all sorts of places. I love the sense of surprise when a creative idea starts to take root and flourishes in all sorts of unexpected ways.

Our tours grow from conversations, from the passions and interests of the creative teams, from visiting artists or chance discoveries. Quite naturally for an arts centre, our artistic planning at

the Granary is often inspired by the ways that the arts collide. A year ago, during the wintry January lockdown, we created a set of ‘musical postcards’; 11 evocative images of Norfolk by the extraordinary Victorian photographer Peter Henry Emerson paired with 11 solo piano miniatures which make up ‘Reflections’ by composer Howard Skempton. You can see these ‘postcards’ on our YouTube channel. The music and images may be fleeting (each is less than 2 minutes long), but the idea of ‘reflections in the landscape’ started to develop. In 2022, we’ll be curating a season of events and exhibitions all about the landscape and the natural world around us; how we preserve and care for it, how we move through it, how it changes over time.

We’d love you to pay us a visit. Our programme of concerts (classical, jazz and folk music) is an inspired mix of brilliant established artists and the finest of the younger generation, with imaginative programmes that combine much-loved classics with a thirst for something new.

And there’s plenty online for you to enjoy too with our cultural conversations, artist interviews and films. Please do sign up to our e-news via the website: www.staplefordgranary.org.uk.

You can also follow us on Twitter (@SGArtsCulture) and Instagram (@StaplefordGranary) and our Stapleford Granary YouTube Channel.

5

USA

Jazz: From New Orleans to Memphis

Antiphellos Theatre

March 28 – April 8, 2022 Louis Armstrong Park

Delve into the rich sounds, sites and flavours of the ‘cradle of jazz’ – New Orleans Trace the threads of US history and the evolution of musical genres as we progress along the Mississippi to Memphis Enjoy live music, complemented by relaxing daytime excursions in the cities and surrounding countryside Evolving towards the end of the 19th century from a mix of African, European and wider musical influences (including marching brass bands), jazz is inextricably connected with the social, economic and political heritage of the Deep South. It provides our tour with a focal point for a voyage along the Mississippi that will chart not only transitions within music but also within American society and culture.

Led by one of ACE’s most experienced music specialists, we will explore the origins of jazz in its many forms, following in the footsteps of the enterprising musicians who got their early breaks in the city. From the leafy courtyards of the French Quarter, 6

heavily influenced by Louisiana’s Spanish colonial past, to Jackson Square, site of the southern state’s purchase by the This tour will be led

by Sandy Burnett, MA, a musician and broadcaster. Sandy spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on BBC Radio 3, hosting dozens of live broadcasts from the BBC Proms and interviewing many of the world’s finest musicians. As a double bass player, Sandy has performed, toured and recorded with many of the finest musicians, artists and ensembles from Britain and beyond. He is the regular bass FITNESS PRACTICALITIES: Although player /for Blue Harlem, the Hep this tour is not physically demanding, a good level Chaps, the Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra of stamina is required to enjoy the evening and for thewhich American entertainment, takes thesinger/ form of aftersongwriter Gerard Kenny;ofhe has dinner performances on a number occasions.

Asaexpected the jazz genre, music Sundaywith residency at Lethe Caprice caninbeLondon’s loud at times.

Please noteappears this tour also West End, includes four hotel stops as we journey from regularly at Ronnie Scott’s, and in New Orleans to our final stop in Memphis.

2016 his playing was featured in the National Theatre’s acclaimed revival of August Wilson’s play based around black American music-making in the 1920s, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

United States in 1803, we will seek to understand how and why jazz developed here, and what it meant for the growing popular musical traditions of the USA. Our stay in ‘The Big Easy’ will encompass several musical events: we will dine at the Palm Court Jazz Café, home to live Dixieland jazz, and take in the music of Snug Harbor alongside our hotel’s very own Jazz Playhouse.

We also hope to offer visits to late night venues, including Preservation Hall, a cornerstone of live jazz in New Orleans since its inception in the 1960s; while Tour Director Sandy Burnett will explore the distinctive features of jazz and blues in a series of lectures, supplemented by a private performance with a jazz band based in the city.

Later we will follow the path of the Mississippi northwards, tracing musical developments within the US at the towns of Leland and Clarksdale (site of the ‘Devil’s Crossroads’), and enrich our knowledge of the Deep South’s history at the civil war site at Vicksburg and Dockery Farms, a major centre for the development of Delta blues.

Reaching Memphis, our tour turns to the emergence of mid-20th century musical genres with visits to Elvis Presley’s home at Graceland, Sun Studio, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and

aceculturaltours.co.uk

USA

Bourbon street

the legendary Beale Street – all against the backdrop of profound social change, illuminated by a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.

Late evenings are balanced by several leisurely mornings and free time to explore our surroundings independently, providing opportunities to sample the region’s world famous Creole and Cajun cuisine.

In New Orleans we will stay in the fourstar Royal Sonesta Hotel, a timelessly elegant establishment based in a historical courtyard building in the city’s French Quarter. Our base in Memphis will be the legendary Peabody Hotel, a grand fourstar institution famous for its resident mallard ducks, who have undertaken a daily march since they were first placed in the hotel’s fountain over eighty years ago.

Intermediate stops will be at comfortable hotels in Natchez and Clarksdale.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour requires a good level of fitness, and participants must meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as found in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Although this tour is not physically demanding, a good level of stamina is required to enjoy the evening entertainment, which takes the form of afterdinner performances on a number of occasions.

As expected with the jazz genre, the music can be loud at times. Please note this tour also includes four hotel stops as we journey from New Orleans to our final stop in Memphis.

01223 841055

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. The music featured on this tour may be adjusted once the full schedules for each venue are released.

with the Shotgun Jazz Band, featuring the Tour Director and local musicians. Afternoon: New Orleans Museum of Art and sculpture garden.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1220 on American Airlines (via Charlotte), arriving New Orleans 1914. Transfer to the Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, for six nights.

Day 8 Transfer to Clarksdale via Vicksburg Civil War site (short guided tour), Leland (Highway 61 Blues Museum) and Dockery Farms (cotton plantation, believed to be a major centre for the development of Delta blues). Overnight at the Hampton Inn, Clarksdale (site of the legendary ‘Devil’s Crossroads’). Evening: optional live music at Ground Zero Blues Club.

Day 2 Introductory lecture: Jazz – Its Origins and Beginnings followed by morning orientation walk of New Orleans including Jackson Square, St Louis Cathedral (founded in the 18th century) and Louis Armstrong Park. Free afternoon.

Evening: optional live music at the Jazz Playhouse, Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Day 3 Morning lecture: Jazz Pioneers – A Look at Some of the Early Greats followed by walking tour in the French Quarter (architecture reflecting Spanish colonial influences). Afternoon visit to Hermann Grima House. Evening: late-night live music at Preservation Hall.

Day 7 Transfer to Natchez via Baton Rouge for short visit to Museum of Rural Life (artefacts from 18th-19th century Louisiana). Overnight at the Natchez Grand Hotel, Natchez.

Day 9 Transfer to Memphis for visit to Graceland (mansion owned by Elvis Presley) and Sun Studio. Two nights at the Peabody Hotel, Memphis. Free evening.

Day 10 Morning lecture: Welcome to Soulsville – Sun, Stax and Civil Rights followed by visits to National Civil Rights Museum and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Farewell dinner and live music on Beale Street (Itta Bena and BB King’s).

Day 4 Free morning followed by afternoon excursion to Oak Alley Plantation (National Historic Landmark, named for its avenue of southern live oak trees) for guided tour. Dinner at the Palm Court Jazz Café (live jazz in historical French Quarter surroundings).

Day 11 Transfer to Memphis Airport for 1617 departure, arriving Dallas Fort Worth 1750.

Depart Dallas Fort Worth 2150.

Day 5 Morning lecture: The Great Migration, Chicago, the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age followed by Bayou riverboat excursion. Evening: dinner and live music at Snug Harbor (popular venue located behind a renovated 1800s storefront).

Cost of £4995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities for group services.

Not included: ESTA, travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £895.

Day 6 Morning: private jazz performance

Day 12 Arrive Heathrow 1245.

TOUR CODE: NOME22

7

GERMANY

Wagner Festival in Leipzig June 29 – July 4, 2022 Attend three of Wagner’s most acclaimed works – Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Take a day trip to Dresden, home to the splendid Semper Opera House Enjoy the wider musical delights of Leipzig, from the Mendelssohn House Museum to the celebrated Bach-Archiv Born in 1813 in Leipzig, Richard Wagner undertook much of his musical education in the city, and its myriad musical offerings left a significant mark on his own development. Indeed, it was while attending Leipzig University that Wagner embarked upon the first of his major compositions, the beginning of a lifelong career that would encompass his majestic Ring as well as numerous other works.

It is therefore unsurprising that Wagner’s music has come to play an integral role in Leipzig’s operatic calendar, and in 2022 the city will present all thirteen of the composer’s operas in the order in which they were written. We are delighted to be attending a part of this very special event, featuring three of his most celebrated works performed in Leipzig’s stunning opera house.

Lohengrin was composed in Dresden prior to Wagner’s exile to Switzerland: inspired by medieval German romance, we will experience the desperation of Elsa to know the true name of her protector who is doomed to leave her if she asks. Tristan und Isolde also takes its cue from chivalric romance, however its music – inspired by the philosophy of Schopenhauer – was well ahead of its time, helping to lay the groundwork for much of what was to come in the 20th century.

We end with a change both of tone and of scene: Wagner’s only comedy, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, is a riotous tale of tradition versus innovation 8

Leipzig Opera House

This tour will be led by musician and broadcaster Sandy Burnett, MA. Sandy spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on BBC Radio 3. wrapped around a simple love story, in a work that truly showcases the composer’s versatility and dramatic genius.

Leipzig is a treasure trove of musical delights, from a museum dedicated to Mendelssohn’s life and musical career in the city, to one of the most important centres for Bach scholarship in the world.

Journeying to Saxony’s capital of Dresden – Wagner’s home for more than twenty years – we will explore the composer’s musical development over time, and we also hope to include a tour of the Semper Opera House.

We stay in the centre of Leipzig at the Seaside Park Hotel, a four-star Art Deco residence situated within easy walking distance of the opera house.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour requires a good level of fitness, and participants must meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

The itinerary will be taken at a relaxed pace with free time around the performances. Participants should be comfortable undertaking short walking tours in Leipzig and Dresden, sometimes involving cobbles and uneven surfaces.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1050 on British Airways, arriving Berlin 1340. Transfer to Seaside Park Hotel, Leipzig, for five nights.

Welcome and introduction.

Day 2 Morning lecture followed by orientation walking tour of Leipzig, including Wagner statue and Nikolaikirche. Free afternoon. Early evening performance at Leipzig Opera House: Lohengrin.

Day 3 Morning lecture followed by visit to the Mendelssohn House Museum for guided tour.

Free afternoon. Early evening performance at Leipzig Opera House: Tristan und Isolde.

Day 4 Whole day excursion to Dresden, including visit to the Frauenkirche, guided tour of the Semperoper (subject to confirmation) and free time for exploration. Free evening.

Day 5 Morning lecture followed by visit to Bach Archive Museum (the world’s pre-eminent centre of Bach scholarship). Early evening performance at Leipzig Opera House: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Day 6 Köthen Castle (where Bach served as Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold – time allowing). Continue to Berlin for 1645 departure, arriving Heathrow 1745.

Cost of £2595 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, breakfast, three lunches, three opera plates, one dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £185.

TOUR CODE: WFLP22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

ITALY

Verona Opera Festival July 13–18, 2022 Enjoy productions of three spectacular operas: Carmen, La Traviata and Aida © COURTESY OF FONDAZIONE ARENA DI VERONA

Take in the atmospheric surroundings of Verona’s Arena, our venue for all three performances Explore the ‘fair Verona’ of Romeo and Juliet, and journey by boat across Lake Garda Established for over one hundred years, Verona’s internationally renowned opera festival ranks as one of the most outstanding in the world. Staged in the monumental ancient Roman amphitheatre known as the Arena di Verona, the festival has hosted many of the world’s greatest opera singers and some of the most magnificent sets in the classical world. As dusk falls and the candles are lit, we take our seats for three operatic masterpieces.

Our tour to the 2022 festival begins with Bizet’s Carmen courtesy of Franco Zeffirelli, who made his debut at the Arena with this same work in 1995.

Next we will experience perhaps Verdi’s best-known opera: La Traviata. Based on Alexandre Dumas’ play, The Lady of the Camellias, this deservedly famous work explores themes of forbidden love, personal sacrifice and doomed youth.

Overflowing with memorable melodies, Verona’s 2022 production boasts luxurious sets by Zeffirelli and beautiful costume design by Maurizio Millenotti.

This tour will be led

by Paul Jackson, MA, PhD, a conductor, pianist, musicologist and former Director of Music at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Paul has enjoyed an extensive career as a conductor of opera and also as a chamber musician, performing widely in the UK, Europe and America.

La Traviata

On our final evening we have the opportunity to experience one of the festival’s defining operas since its inaugural festival performance in 1913, Verdi’s Aida. With its dramatic public scenes and moments of private intimacy, this beloved work comes to life amongst the stunning sets and costumes of Zeffirelli and Anna Anni.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. While we will endeavour to deliver this itinerary in full, some elements may be adjusted nearer the time, particularly owing to local weather conditions.

Performance details may also be subject to change by the festival office.

In ‘fair Verona’, the city of Romeo and Juliet, we will explore evocative Roman ruins and splendid medieval churches.

An excursion will take us to the shores of Lake Garda, which has enchanted writers and travellers from Catullus to Tennyson. In Vicenza we will admire the architectural genius of Palladio, whose articulated classicism graces both private and public buildings in the city, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Day 2 Morning walking tour of Verona: Arena (exterior), Castelvecchio, Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore and cloister. Free afternoon followed by early evening lecture. Evening performance at the Arena: Bizet Carmen.

We will stay throughout at the comfortable and elegant Hotel San Luca, located a five-minute stroll away from Verona’s Arena.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour involves a significant amount of walking over cobbles, up and down steps (sometimes without handrails), and potentially in hot sunshine or over wet pavements. A good level of fitness is required to complete the itinerary, although allowances can be made for those with less stamina. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as detailed in our Booking Terms & Conditions. The walk from the hotel to the Arena is on flat ground and takes around five minutes. Please note all performances are scheduled to begin at 2100.

Day 1 Depart London Gatwick 1230 on Easyjet, arriving Venice 1540. Transfer to Hotel San Luca, Verona, for five nights. Evening introductory talk.

Day 3 Further visits in Verona: Duomo, Ponte Pietra, Church of Sant’ Anastasia (exterior), Casa di Giulietta and Roman Theatre. Free afternoon followed by early evening lecture and independent dinner. Evening performance at the Arena: Verdi La Traviata.

Day 4 Excursion by coach to Vigardolo for Villa Valmarana and Vicenza for Teatro Olimpico.

Free afternoon followed by early evening lecture.

Evening performance at the Arena: Verdi Aida.

Day 5 Excursion by coach to Lake Garda and its lakeside towns including Riva and Garda (weather permitting). By boat to Limone on the north-western side of the lake, before crossing to Malcesine for dinner.

Day 6 Depart Verona 1350, arriving Gatwick 1455.

Cost of £3095 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, breakfast, four dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £235, double room for single use supplement £465.

TOUR CODE: VROP22

01223 841055

9

UNITED KINGDOM

Buxton International Festival July 15–20, 2022

DAVID BRIERLEY / CC BY 2.0 / FLICKR

Festival Fringe Events We hope to include a selection of festival fringe events in addition to the main operas. Details of the festival’s literary and other musical events will be published on the ACE website once they are released in early 2022. Please note there may be some further itinerary adjustments at this time.

Buxton Opera House

Take in five main festival performances, including Rossini’s La Donna del Lago and Johann Adolph Hasse’s Antonio e Cleopatra Experience a new English version of Donizetti’s Viva La Diva Enjoy a visit to the Grade I listed Buxton Crescent and an excursion to Chatsworth Every summer the Derbyshire spa town of Buxton, surrounded by the glorious hills of the Peak District, presents a feast of opera, literature and music.

The combination of established and promising up-and-coming performers makes for one of the UK’s most stimulating arts festivals.

Our 2022 tour offers five productions, beginning with Rossini’s La Donna del Lago, designed by award-winning set designer Madeleine Boyd, and closing with Donizetti’s sparkling opera buffa Viva La Diva.

The festival is beloved for its mix of familiar and less familiar works, both old and new, and we will have an opportunity to enjoy Johann Adolph Hasse’s 18th century opera Antonio e Cleopatra as well as a new work by Alice Birch and Tom Coult: co-produced with 10

This tour will be led

by John Bryden, MA, ARCM, ARCO, an international concert pianist and organist who has given concerts in venues ranging from California to Kathmandu via Wigmore Hall.

Aldeburgh Festival, Violet tells the story of an isolated community who begin to lose an hour every day, causing their ordered society to fall into disarray, but enabling new opportunities to open up for the title character.

As a counterpoint to the operatic works, we will enjoy a performance of Styne and Sondheim’s Gypsy: A Musical Fable, one of the most famous examples of a ‘book musical’.

Making the most of our time in Buxton, we look forward to visiting Grade I listed Buxton Crescent. Built in the 1780s, it was amongst the first purpose built hotels in the country, and established Buxton as a fashionable Georgian spa destination.

We will also make an excursion to the magnificent Chatsworth estate, to enjoy a guided tour of the spectacular house and peruse its gardens.

We stay throughout at the four-star Best Western Plus Lee Wood Hotel.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking every day between the hotel, opera house and other festival venues. The walk between the hotel and the centre of Buxton is hilly, and the venues are around a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements, including the musical programme, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1330 at Best Western Plus Lee Wood Hotel, Buxton, for five nights.

Welcome and introductory lecture followed by afternoon festival fringe event. Evening festival opera at Buxton Opera House: Rossini La Donna del Lago.

Day 2 Morning lecture followed by free time. Afternoon festival opera at Buxton Opera House: Styne and Sondheim Gypsy – A Musical Fable. Evening festival opera at Pavilion Arts Centre: Johann Adolph Hasse Antonio e Cleopatra.

Day 3 Morning visit to Buxton Crescent including Pump Room, Assembly Room and Heritage Experience. Afternoon: festival fringe event.

Day 4 Morning lecture followed by excursion to Chatsworth House. Afternoon: festival fringe event. Evening festival opera at Buxton Opera House: Alice Birch and Tom Coult Violet.

Day 5 Morning lecture followed by festival fringe event. Afternoon festival performance at Buxton Opera House: Donizetti Viva La Diva.

Day 6 Tour disperses after breakfast.

Cost of £1645 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, four festival fringe events (subject to confirmation), breakfast, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, twin/double room for single use supplement £175.

TOUR CODE: BUXF22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM

York Early Music Festival July 10-15, 2022 ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some details, including the musical programme and visits, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0

Additional Night at the Hotel: This tour assembles at 1230 on 10 July in time to attend our first concert at 1400. If you would like to arrange an additional overnight stay at the hotel on 9 July, please mention this when you make your booking and ACE would be happy to arrange it for you at the cost of the extra night (as a supplement).

York Minster

Join flautist and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, Ashley Solomon, for some of the best early music performances the UK has to offer Artists include The Tallis Scholars and The Gonzaga Band Take in the beautiful historical surroundings of York’s buildings It is a wonderful thing to experience the music of the past within spaces that may have witnessed their early performances, and this is what York Early Music Festival offers every summer.

Established in 1977, the festival has been delighting audiences now for several decades and is considered the ‘jewel in the crown’ of its organisers, the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM).

Every July a line-up of world-renowned instrumentalists, vocal groups and artists present an array of classical works from the 18th century and before. There is perhaps no better environment to discover this music than York, with its assemblage of historical buildings.

We plan to include a celebration of the birthdays of Thomas Tomkins and Matthew Locke with acclaimed

01223 841055

This tour will be led

by Professor Ashley Solomon, a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, and Director of early music ensemble Florilegium. To date Florilegium have performed over 1300 concerts worldwide, including at previous York Early Music Festivals. recording artists the Rose Consort of Viols. Lunchtime programmes will range from award-winning trio sonata group La Vaghezza to the University of York Baroque Ensemble, and our days will conclude with evening concerts from The Tallis Scholars and the celebrated Gabrieli Consort & Players.

Complementing the musical highlights, our tour will feature a selection of wider cultural experiences, including a visit to the beautifully reconstructed Barley Hall in York, and an excursion to Castle Howard.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Although this is not a strenuous tour, it will involve a moderate amount of walking around central York, and negotiating steps and uneven terrain. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1230 at the DoubleTree

by Hilton York. Welcome followed by afternoon festival concert at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) featuring The Gonzaga Band: final programme to be announced. Evening introductory lecture.

Day 2 Guided tour of York Minster followed by lunchtime festival concert at NCEM featuring Rose Consort of Viols with Steven Devine (virginals): ‘Music for Severall Friends’ – programme celebrating the birthdays of Thomas Tomkins and Matthew Locke. Afternoon: free time and lecture. Evening festival concert at York Minster Chapter House featuring The Tallis Scholars with Peter Phillips (director): ‘Choral Connections’ – works by Josquin, Palestrina and Byrd.

Day 3 Morning lecture followed by some free time. Lunchtime festival concert at St Lawrence’s Church featuring La Vaghezza: programme to be announced. Afternoon: medieval walking tour of York.

Day 4 Morning visit to Barley Hall followed by free time to explore ‘The Shambles’. Lunchtime festival concert at St Lawrence’s Church featuring University of York Baroque Ensemble with Lucy Russell and Rachel Gray (directors): programme to be announced. Afternoon: some free time followed by lecture. Evening festival performance at York Minster featuring Gabrieli Consort & Players with Paul McCreesh (director): ‘Venetian Coronation’ – programme to be announced.

Day 5 Morning excursion to Castle Howard.

Afternoon lecture followed by evening festival concert at St Lawrence’s Church featuring Yorkshire Baroque Soloists with Peter Seymour (director): J S Bach ‘Coffee Cantata’ / Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211.

Day 6 Tour disperses after breakfast at the hotel.

Cost of £1745 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, dinner with water & coffee, voucher for Bettys Tea Room, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £285.

TOUR CODE: YEMF22

11

UNITED KINGDOM

Hereford Three Choirs Festival

July 23–27, 2022 with Russell Keable | July 27–31, 2022 with Richard Wigmore Enjoy a superb selection of concerts at the 2022 festival Hereford’s beautiful cathedral resounds with an array of music from celebrated composers, including Mahler, Haydn, Britten and Elgar Visit Elgar’s birthplace at Lower Broadheath in the Malvern Hills

The 2022 festival is based around the theme of ‘re-imaginings’, echoing its revival in Hereford 75 years ago, after a gap of seven years during the course of the Second World War. In 1946, audiences enjoyed many concerts that had originally been programmed for the festival in 1939, but which had been cancelled owing to the outbreak of war.

Highlights of our first tour will include a rare performance of Dvořák’s Requiem, plus a concert featuring the large-scale work Quo Vadis, composed by Sir George Dyson. An important figure in 20th century music, Dyson was involved in the re-establishment of the Three Choirs Festival after the Second World War, and this piece was first heard 75 years ago.

Finzi’s Dies Natalis was due to premiere in 1939, and we look forward to hearing a performance of this on our second tour: it will be, in the words of the festival’s Artistic Director Geraint Bowen, “a rare opportunity to hear this work as originally planned, with a soprano rather than a tenor soloist”.

12

HERRY LAWFORD / CC BY 2.0 / FLICKR

For over 300 years the cathedral cities of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester have taken turns to host a renowned annual music celebration. In 2022 the Three Choirs Festival will take place in Hereford, where we will experience a programme of concerts in the wonderful surroundings of its cathedral. The longest-running non-competitive classical musical festival in the world, the Three Choirs Festival features word-renowned solo artists, as well as its own Festival Chorus and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Hereford Cathedral

Our second tour will also take in a premiere of Hear My Voice by the British and Australian composer Luke Styles, whose work has been performed at Glyndebourne and Covent Garden. This new piece is a festival commission for the Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir and contralto Hilary Summers.

We also hope to enjoy a number of daytime performances alongside the evening concerts, as well as a dedicated visit to the cathedral – built in the Gothic style from the 11th century – to view the medieval Mappa Mundi.

An excursion into the Malvern Hills will feature a visit to The Firs, Elgar’s birthplace in Lower Broadheath. This delightful countryside cottage contains artefacts and photographs narrating the composer’s life.

We stay throughout at the three-star Three Counties Hotel near Hereford.

Our first tour will be led by Russell Keable, BA, MMus. Russell trained at the universities of Nottingham and London and studied conducting at the Royal College of Music. He currently teaches at the University of Surrey and is active as a composer, arranger, lecturer, broadcaster and performer.

Our second tour will be led by Richard Wigmore, MA, AGSM. Richard is a writer, broadcaster, lecturer and former professional singer. He contributes to Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine, and frequently appears on BBC Radio 3’s Record Review.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

Statue of Edward Elgar in Cathedral Close, Hereford

JIM LINWOOD / CC BY 2.0 / FLICKR

UNITED KINGDOM

In addition to the four evening festival performances advertised, we hope to include two or three afternoon festival performances per tour, subject to availability, as a result of which our itineraries may be adjusted. Details and updated itineraries will be released on the ACE website once the full festival programme has been confirmed in spring 2022.

Please note that the itineraries represent a guide to what we hope to offer, and some details, including the musical programmes, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

ITINERARY 1 July 23–27, 2022 with Russell Keable Day 1 Tour assembles 1230 at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford, for four nights.

Afternoon: orientation walking tour of Hereford and visit to Mappa Mundi exhibition at Hereford Cathedral. Evening lecture followed by festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Dvořák Requiem.

Day 2 Optional festival Eucharist at Hereford Cathedral or free time. Afternoon festival performance followed by lecture. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Rolf Martinsonn Ich Denke Dein (UK premiere), Mahler Symphony No 4.

Day 3 Morning lecture followed by excursion to Ludlow. Afternoon festival performance. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Dyson Quo Vadis.

01223 841055

Hereford Three Choirs Festival, 2015 Day 4 Morning lecture followed by excursion to The Firs, Lower Broadheath (Elgar’s birthplace).

Afternoon festival performance. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Haydn The Creation.

Day 5 Tour disperses after breakfast.

ITINERARY 2 July 27–31, 2022 with Richard Wigmore Day 1 Tour assembles 1230 at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford, for four nights.

Afternoon: orientation walking tour of Hereford and visit to Mappa Mundi exhibition at Hereford Cathedral. Evening lecture followed by festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Bach / Webern Ricercar, Strauss Metamorphosen, Richard Blackford Pietà.

Day 2 Morning lecture followed by excursion to Ludlow. Afternoon festival performance. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Judith Weir All the ends of the earth, Sarah Kirkland Snider If you bring forth what is within, M X Peruchona Cessate tympana, cessate praelia, new commission from Luke Styles (premiere).

Day 3 Morning lecture followed by some free time. Afternoon festival performance. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Bach / Stravinsky Variations on ‘Vom Himmel hoch’, Finzi Dies Natalis, Britten The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Poulenc Stabat Mater.

Day 4 Morning lecture followed by excursion to The Firs, Lower Broadheath (Elgar’s birthplace).

Afternoon festival performance. Evening festival performance at Hereford Cathedral: Elgar The Dream of Gerontius.

Day 5 Tour disperses after breakfast.

Cost of £1465 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, breakfast, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £60.

TOUR CODE: HTH122 / HTH222

13

ASH MILLS

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions, and be prepared for a moderate amount of walking, including over steep ground in Ludlow, as well as over cobbles, up steps and within dimly lit interiors. Please note that there is no lift at the hotel, so participants must feel comfortable navigating stairs.

UNITED KINGDOM

International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

Antiphellos Theatre

UTOPIA, LIMITED POSTER C.1894

August 18–22, 2022

Utopia Limited

Movement of the 1870s and 1880s, featuring Charles Court Opera, a group who have been praised as “superb” by the Evening Standard and “wickedly funny”

by The Guardian.

Take in a range of professional productions, including HMS Pinafore and Iolanthe, as well as a rare opportunity to see Utopia Limited

Charles Court Opera will also present a “murderous musical mystery tour” in the form of Express G&S, a brand new and exciting spoof bursting with references to Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas. Taking a whistle-stop tour from Penzance to

Enjoy a variety of talks and lectures, including a guest talk with Gilbert & Sullivan expert Ian Bradley, all set in the picturesque spa town of Harrogate Gilbert and Sullivan represent quintessential Victorian England.

The brilliant, witty lyrics of W S Gilbert dazzle alongside the attractive melodies of Arthur Sullivan. In 2022, the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival will present another exciting and memorable programme of operas.

We will enjoy a selection of productions performed by the professional National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

Perennial favourites HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance will be staged, alongside the Savoy opera Iolanthe. We also look forward to a performance of Patience, a satire on the Aesthetic 14

Tour Director Donald Maxwell is an operatic baritone, director and lecturer. Donald has been involved with the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival for many years. He performs with opera companies worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he featured in La Bohème in 2018.

Donald writes: “‘Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen’! Appropriately for the lovely spa town of Harrogate, this ever-popular festival offers a total immersion into the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan. This year’s programme includes a rare chance to see Utopia Limited as well as some old favourites… both on and off stage!”

the Tower of London, and Venice to Fairyland, it includes favourite songs from The Mikado and The Sorcerer amongst others.

Our 2022 tour will also include a rare chance to enjoy Utopia Limited, brought to us by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. The penultimate collaboration by Gilbert and Sullivan, it is less frequently performed than the pair’s other operas, and was praised by Bernard Shaw, who in 1893 stated, “I enjoyed the score of Utopia more than that of any of the previous Savoy operas”.

Prior to taking our seats, we will enjoy a dedicated lecture from Tour Director Donald Maxwell introducing this hidden gem of Gilbert and Sullivan’s repertoire.

Valley Gardens

aceculturaltours.co.uk

TIM GREEN / CC BY 2.0

In the words of Tour Director Donald Maxwell, experience the “essential guide to all things Gilbert & Sullivan”

UNITED KINGDOM

The Royal Hall

The performances will take place in the Grade II listed surroundings of the Edwardian Royal Hall in Harrogate.

Lectures and a Festival Masterclass given by our Tour Director, and an opportunity to meet one of the festival’s Trustees, will complement the musical programme.

We are also delighted to feature a guest talk with academic, writer and Gilbert & Sullivan expert Ian Bradley. Formerly Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History at the University of St Andrews, Ian has performed regularly with the University of St Andrews Gilbert and Sullivan Society, of which he is honorary life president, and frequently writes, broadcasts and lectures on the subject.

We will stay throughout at the four-star White Hart Hotel, centrally located in Harrogate, a short walk from the Royal Hall.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This not a particularly strenuous tour but participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

There is a short but busy walk from the hotel to the Royal Hall, and the return walk is uphill.

Participants will also be required to navigate the stairs at the Royal Hall. Please note that we have a busy programme of operas and talks to make the most of our time at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

01223 841055

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Tour assembles from 1400 at the White Hart Hotel, Harrogate, for four nights. 1430 orientation walking tour of Harrogate followed by welcome and introduction to the tour.

Evening talks providing an overview of the operas and lives of Gilbert, Sullivan & Carte, followed by exploration of Gilbert & Sullivan on screen.

Day 2 Morning lecture: Introduction to Patience, followed by Festival Masterclass with Donald Maxwell. Afternoon matinee festival performance featuring Charles Court Opera: Express G&S. Evening festival performance featuring Charles Court Opera: Patience.

Day 3 Morning lecture: Introduction to Utopia Limited. Afternoon matinee festival performance featuring the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: HMS Pinafore. Evening festival performance featuring the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: Utopia Limited.

Day 4 Morning guest talk with Ian Bradley (expert on Gilbert & Sullivan) followed by some free time. Afternoon matinee festival performance featuring the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: Iolanthe. Evening festival performance featuring the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: Pirates of Penzance.

Day 5 Morning guest talk with Bernard Lockett, Trustee of the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival: The Heritage of Gilbert & Sullivan. Tour disperses approx 1030 at the hotel.

“Donald Maxwell is an exceptional leader. We enjoyed his entertaining lectures, his knowledge and musical anecdotes” “Donald Maxwell was friendly, informative and highly entertaining” “I must admit now that I am unable to think of an imperfection let alone a fault with the whole experience” – ACE customers on previous International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival tours

Cost of £1475 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, breakfast, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £260.

TOUR CODE: IGSH22

15

GREECE

Crete: Birds, Flowers & Minoans April 19–26, 2022 Absorb captivating views across the Cretan landscape from the beautiful Lassithi Plateau Explore the Minoan palace at Knossos in addition to the remains at Gournia and Malia Look out for waders, migrant pipits and larks in the coastal town of Elounda, followed by a nearby cliff walk where wild gladioli and endemic orchids grow above the sea Its mountains and gorges alive with wildlife, Crete possesses a magical quality that entrances every visitor. One of the most exceptional botanical areas in the Mediterranean, Crete boasts a superb flora containing at least 160 endemic species, including ebony, rock lettuce and birthwort. Myriad orchids grace archaeological sites, and fields sparkle with wild gladioli and irises.

Crete is also well known for its fauna, from the kri-kri – the wild ancestor of the domestic goat – to the rare bearded vulture that haunts the island’s mountain passes. During our walks across the Cretan landscape we will enjoy breathtaking views, particularly at the Lassithi Plateau, a fertile mountain expanse where raptors glide in the valley Tour Director Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, is a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. He has run many projects linking nature and communities, and recently led a team providing access to the British countryside for hard to reach groups. Kevin is currently leading a project on eagles, vultures and other wildlife in Albania. In 2017 he was appointed President of the Cambridge Natural History Society.

Aubretia

below. At the head of the precipitous Samaria Gorge, where centuries-old cypresses stand sentinel, we will seek out mountain plants such as aubretia and yellow Star-of-Bethlehem.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Changing local conditions may also affect our itinerary nearer the time.

Although the emphasis of our programme will be on flowers and birds, there will also be a guided tour of the famous Minoan site of Knossos and visits to the smaller remains at Gournia and Malia. The majestic Selinari Gorge, meanwhile, offers opportunities to visit an old chapel and newly founded monastery.

Day 1 Depart London Gatwick 0710 on Easyjet, arriving Heraklion 1310. Transfer to Agios Nikolaos for five nights at Hotel Miramare.

Our tour to Crete coincides with Orthodox Easter, and we will take in local events and celebrations on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of our stay.

Our first five nights are spent at the Hotel Miramare Resort & Spa, a small hotel close to the sea near Agios Nikolaos. In Omalos we stay at the Neos Omalos, a mountain resort hotel.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants should have a good overall level of fitness for this tour, as a number of visits will involve negotiating rugged or uneven terrain. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditiona.

Cost of £2045 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £165.

Day 2 Morning talk followed by coastal town of Elounda (waders, migrant pipits, larks in former salt-pans) and peninsula of Spinalonga (sunken city of Olous). Afternoon: boat trip to Venetian island fortress of Spinalonga, followed by cliff walk (wild gladioli, endemic orchids, birds of prey).

Day 3 Minoan Palace of Malia (marsh shore with short turf covered in Cretan camomile and catch fly). Afternoon visit to the famous Minoan Palace at Knossos.

Day 4 Lassithi Plateau (large, fertile mountain plateau with panoramic views) for orchids, upland plants and fruit groves with optional visit to Dhiktean Cave (birthplace of Zeus).

Day 5 Morning: ruins of Gournia (unusual Minoan town), rocky coastline in search of Cretan ebony. Afternoon: gigantic gorge mouth at Monastiraki (chough, Alpine swift).

Day 6 Orthodox Easter Sunday Selinari Gorge (chapel, monastery and vulture colony), Rethymnon, Agia Lake (waders and migrant water-birds) then transfer for two nights at Neos Omalos Hotel in mountains of western Crete.

Day 7 Across Omalos Plateau to Samaria Gorge, exploring little-known paths, searching for mountain plants (endemic Cretan tulip, aubretia, yellow Star-of-Bethlehem, centuries-old cypresses), with possible sightings of bearded vulture and agrimi (wild goat).

Day 8 Depart Chania 1435, arriving London Gatwick 1635.

TOUR CODE: CRET22

16

aceculturaltours.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM

Mid-Century Modern in the Heart of England

TOM PARNELL / CC BY SA 2.0 / FLICKR

April 19–23, 2022

Engineering Building – University of Leicester

Across the East Midlands, many towns and cities developed distinctive manufacturing specialisms during the Industrial Revolution, and the region is home to a rewarding and varied array of Modernist buildings and art collections.

From a base in Leicester, we will span out across the region. Our tour will focus particularly on the middle of the 20th century, while encompassing buildings from across the era, beginning with the Arts & Crafts and Expressionist collections at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester.

The University of Leicester is home to one of the most globally celebrated British buildings of the early 1960s: the Engineering Building, considered one of the first postmodern buildings in Britain.

Later design is represented by Leicester’s Curve Theatre, built in 2008 as part of the city’s new ‘Cultural Quarter’, and Foreign Office Architects’ John Lewis & Partners, where the monumental glazed This tour will be led

by Alan Powers, PhD, one of the UK’s leading architectural historians, who has published widely on all aspects of 20th century architecture and design.

01223 841055

exterior nods to Leicester’s historical hosiery industry.

Northampton offers a fascinating diversity of architecture – from the National Lift Tower, dominating the city’s skyline, to 78 Derngate, the only house in England designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

We will stay throughout at the College Court Conference Centre & Hotel, a Grade II listed former Hall of Residence built in the 1960s for the University of Leicester, and now transformed into a modern and comfortable centre for hospitality.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour is not particularly strenuous, but will involve a moderate amount of walking and standing, so participants should have a good level of fitness. Please note that several of the rooms at Stoneywell are accessed via a spiral staircase, and there are exposed stone slabs and grassy slopes in the grounds which can become slippery if wet.

In addition, there are three flights of stairs at 78 Derngate. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and owing to the special nature of many of the visits, some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1300 at College Court Conference Centre & Hotel, Leicester, or 1330 at Leicester Station. Afternoon visit to Leicester

Museum & Art Gallery, New Walk (Arts & Crafts and Expressionist collections, Richard Attenborough gift of Picasso pottery). Four nights at College Court Conference Centre & Hotel. Evening introductory lecture.

Day 2 University of Leicester (Engineering Building, Charles Wilson Building and Attenborough Tower – exteriors), Curve Theatre (Rafael Viñoly Architects, 2008) and John Lewis & Partners (exterior with glass hosiery pattern designed by Foreign Office Architects, 2008). Afternoon: Stoneywell (1899 Arts & Crafts home designed by Ernest Gimson).

Day 3 Whole day excursion to Nottingham: Cripps Hall (University of Nottingham Hall of Residence designed by McMorran & Whitby, 1959), Council House (designed by Thomas Cecil Howett, 1927-29 – visit subject to confirmation), Nottingham Playhouse (designed by Peter Moro, 1963) and exterior view of Nottingham Contemporary (Caruso St John Architects, 2009).

Day 4 Whole day excursion to Northampton: National Lift Tower (exterior), Shoe & Boot Collection at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery (subject to reopening), Charles Rennie Mackintosh House at 78 Derngate and St Matthew’s Church (Henry Moore sculpture and Graham Sutherland painting). Evening lecture: Art & the Church in the Post-War Period.

Day 5 Morning visit to Coventry Cathedral (designed by Sir Basil Spence, 1951–62). Tour disperses c 1315 at hotel followed by c 1400 at Leicester Station.

Cost of £1265 includes: accommodation based on sharing a standard twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, standard double room for single use supplement £160.

TOUR CODE: MCMH22

17

FRANCE

Roussillon March 28 – April 4, 2022 Visit Céret, home to iconic 20th century artists such as Picasso, Braque and Matisse Delve into Dalí’s Surrealist mind by visiting his unmissable TeatroMuseo in Figueres Explore the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and view its remarkable Romanesque architecture Nested between France and Spain, Roussillon – a former county of the Principality of Catalonia – boasts diverse landscapes and a unique identity. This French gateway to Spain inspired and welcomed several artists from the 20th century avant-garde, such as Picasso, Miro, Matisse, Dalí and Braque.

In addition to exploring collections of Cubism, Fauvism and Surrealism, we will also devote time to exploring the Musée d’Art Hyacinthe Rigaud in Perpignan, encompassing fine examples of regional art from the Gothic period through to modern times.

As well as the art collections, our stay in Roussillon will enable us to study Romanesque architecture and sculpture.

Highlights include the Abbey of Saint Michel de Cuxa, Serrabone Priory, the Musée du Maître de Cabestany and the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes – decorated by the Maître de Cabestany’s workshop in the 12th century.

We will cross into Spain, taking the opportunity to look at the restored stoneThis tour will be led

by Juliet Heslewood, MA, an author and art historian who lived in France for nearly 30 years where she devised and led study tours in six different regions.

Juliet studied at the universities of London and Toulouse, and she has written many books, including most recently Van Gogh: A Life in Places.

18

Besalú

built town of Besalú with its complex fortified bridge. Forteresse de Salses, keeping watch over the border with Spain, is a masterpiece of 15th century military architecture. We will also look at Dalí’s theatrical works in his purposebuilt Teatro-Museo in Figueres.

We will stay on the Mediterranean just outside the fishing port of Port Vendres, once home to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, at the comfortable and simply furnished three-star Hotel Les Jardins du Cèdre. The terrace enjoys panoramic views overlooking the sea and the hotel is particularly noted for its excellent restaurant. All the twin/ double rooms are deluxe category located in the brand new building of the hotel opened in May 2020. Double for single use rooms are either standard or comfort category located in the hotel’s 19th century Catalan mansion.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour involves a significant amount of walking on cobbled and uneven surfaces. Because of the age of many of the buildings, steps can be of differing sizes and depths. Lifts are not available at many of the sites, nor at the hotel. Participants must therefore have a good level of mobility and fitness, and meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1400 on British Airways, arriving Toulouse 1650. Transfer to Hotel Les Jardins du Cèdre, Port Vendres, for seven nights.

Day 2 Introductory lecture followed by visits in Collioure: harbour and Church of Notre Dame des Anges. Continue to Elne.

Day 3 Morning: Prats de Molló and St Joan de les Abadesses. Afternoon: stone-built town of Besalú in Spain.

Day 4 Whole day excursion to Catalonia: Figueres (Dalí Museum) and Sant Pere de Rodes.

Day 5 Morning: Church of St André de Sorede followed by Chapelle St-Genis-des-Fontaines and Céret for the Musée d’Art Moderne (subject to confirmation). Afternoon: Church of St Martin de Fenollar.

Day 6 Morning: Serrabone Priory followed by a walking tour of Villefranche-de-Conflent.

Afternoon: Abbey of St Michel de Cuxà.

Day 7 Forteresse de Salses followed by Musée d’Art Hyacinthe Rigaud in Perpignan and Cabestany (Musée du Maître de Cabestany).

Day 8 Transfer to Toulouse for visit to Basilica of St Sernin (time permitting). Depart Toulouse 1735, arriving Heathrow 1825.

Cost of £2315 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a deluxe twin or double bedded room (new building), breakfast, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, standard or comfort double room for single use supplement (main building) £185, deluxe double room for single use supplement (new building) £420, on request.

TOUR CODE: ROU122

aceculturaltours.co.uk

ITALY

Pompeii with Herculaneum

JEBULON

April 29 – May 5, 2022

House of the Neptune Mosaic, Herculaneum

This perennial favourite offers a thought-provoking window onto Roman life

sanctuaries of Ceres, Hera and Neptune, which rank among the best-preserved Greek temples to be found anywhere in the ancient world.

Discover Cumae, one of the most important Greek city-states in antiquity, alongside Pozzuoli with its impressive Roman amphitheatre

Our comprehensive tour in and around the Bay of Naples will take in a wide array of further ancient treasures, such as the vast villa complex at Oplontis.

Adorned with sumptuous wall paintings that unveil the extravagant lifestyle enjoyed by the Roman elite, the villa is thought to have been Nero’s wedding present to his second wife, Poppaea.

Cumae, one of the most important Greek city-states in antiquity, is also on our itinerary together with Italy’s third largest Roman amphitheatre at Pozzuoli.

The renowned Archaeological Museum in Naples supports our site visits with its excellent collection of artefacts “Meanwhile on Mt Vesuvius broad sheets of fire and leaping flames blazed at several points, their bright glare emphasised by the darkness of night…” – so wrote Pliny of the sudden eruption of Vesuvius nearly 2000 years ago.

Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed yet preserved by the volcanic catastrophe, offer unrivalled insights into day-to-day life in the Roman Empire. As well as investigating the ruins of Vesuvius’s twin victims, we will view the exceptional finds on display at the National Archaeological Museum in the evervibrant city of Naples.

Paestum, “inexpressibly grand” according to Shelley, was founded c 600 BC by Greek colonists from Sybaris. Here we will pay particular attention to the Doric

01223 841055

We will stay at the Hotel La Medusa, Castellammare di Stabia, an attractive four-star establishment set in beautiful grounds.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: A good level of fitness is required for this tour, and participants should be aware that the terrain at the archaeological sites can be uneven, with few opportunities to sit down. Please note that the optional ascent up Vesuvius involves a steep walk of around 30 minutes. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Archaeological sites can close or change their opening times at short notice; therefore, some visits may be reordered.

Tour Director Steve Mastin, MA, PGCE, FHA studied history and classics before working as a school teacher for 17 years, leading trips to Italy, France and Germany. He has also worked overseas training history teachers in Singapore, Australia and Kazakhstan. A committed advocate of the power of storytelling, Steve is passionate about bringing a life-long love of history to students of all ages.

He is a Fellow of the Historical Association and is a regular speaker at history conferences both in the UK and overseas.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1115 on British Airways, arriving Naples 1500. Transfer to Hotel La Medusa, Castellammare di Stabia, for six nights. Short evening talk.

Day 2 Morning visit to Naples Archaeological Museum (artefacts from Vesuvian sites), followed by lunch on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius. Continue the ascent by coach, followed by optional ascent to the crater (weather permitting; must be done on foot). Evening talk.

Day 3 Whole day visit to Pompeii (forum, shopping macellum, Houses of the Faun and Venus, baths, theatres) including Villa of the Mysteries.

Day 4 Herculaneum (panoramic villas, palaestra, baths, shops) followed by Villa of Oplontis (fine wall-paintings, huge piscina) and Villa Boscoreale.

Evening talk.

Day 5 Whole day excursion to Paestum: Temples of Ceres, Hera and Neptune, museum (fine archaic reliefs and the famous painted Tomb of the Diver).

Day 6 Cumae (cave of the Sibyl, acropolis), Pozzuoli (amphitheatre) and Stabiae Villa.

Evening talk.

Day 7 Morning visits (details to be confirmed).

Depart Naples 1950, arriving Heathrow 2145.

Cost of £1995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £265.

TOUR CODE: POM222

19

UNITED KINGDOM

Great Bardfield & Beyond: Mid-Century Art & Design in East Anglia May 3–7, 2022 home to work by Marianne Straub, who lived at Great Bardfield.

We also look forward to taking in the principal collection of Bawden’s graphic work at The Higgins Bedford, followed by a study session at Cambridge University Library to discover the archive of the Curwen Press.

Our tour concludes with a visit to Jim Ede’s Kettle’s Yard, where paintings and sculptures in a domestic setting tell a parallel story of interwar art and taste.

We will stay at the four-star University Arms Hotel, Cambridge.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will involve a moderate amount of walking, so a good level of fitness is required, and it also involves coach journeys of up to an hour. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

Two Women Sitting in a Garden by Eric Ravilious

Discover the Great Bardfield artists and the environments within which they lived and worked Enjoy a special visit to the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden Gain an in-depth understanding of mid-century art and design From 1930 to the early 1970s, the Essex village of Great Bardfield was home to a number of artists whose output has received growing recognition in recent years – most notably Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden. Their work spanned painting, illustration and design, and they used traditional imagery and techniques with a modern inflexion.

The artists’ homes and gardens and the nearby scenery often served as the subject matter for their works, and the details of their lives and connections have come close to displacing the Bloomsbury Group as a subject of curiosity.

20

This tour will be led

by Alan Powers, PhD, who studied at the University of Cambridge and is one of the UK’s leading architectural historians.

This tour adopts Cambridge as a base for exploring the sites, collections and private houses associated with the Great Bardfield artists, their contacts, and the parallel movements of their time.

Starting at the Fitzwilliam Museum, we will make a special study of watercolours and drawings by members of the group, and view items that reveal some of their influences.

Our tour continues with a visit to the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden, which has done more than any other institution to showcase this network of artists.

A further highlight will be a visit to the Warner Textile Archive, an important resource for textiles of the 1930s, and

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and certain elements may be subject to change. Due to the special nature of the visits, some details may be confirmed nearer the time.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1400 at the University Arms Hotel, Cambridge for four nights.

Afternoon visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum to view items from the Prints and Drawings Archive. Introductory lecture.

Day 2 Morning excursion to Saffron Walden for visit to Fry Art Gallery. Afternoon walking tour of Great Bardfield.

Day 3 Morning excursion to Braintree for visit to Warner Textile Archive. Afternoon: Silver End Village for walking tour and visit to Heritage Centre. Free evening.

Day 4 Morning: The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, Bedford. Afternoon: Cambridge University Library.

Day 5 Morning lecture followed by visit to the house at Kettle’s Yard. Tour disperses c 1230.

Cost of £1345 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £310.

TOUR CODE: GRBB22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

AUSTRIA

The Vienna Secession May 9–13, 2022

Understand the Secessionists’ links with their Art Nouveau and Jugendstil contemporaries and their influence on the Expressionist and Modernist movements Enjoy guided architectural tours and visits to Vienna’s leading art museums Following their motto ‘To every Age its Art, to every Art its Freedom’, the Secessionists’ designs – from metro stations to office buildings, and from elaborately decorated apartment buildings and luxurious villas to churches – shaped the Viennese cityscape in the early years of the 20th century. The revolutionary art of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele and the extraordinarily modern-looking furniture and interiors designed by Josef Hoffmann and Kolomon Moser were a radical break from the conservatism of the 19th century Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Our tour will include a visit to the movement’s elegant gallery, designed

by Joseph Olbrich to house the first exhibitions of contemporary art in the city, now home to Klimt’s 34-metre long Beethoven Frieze. We will also pay visits to the Belvedere Museum, to see its large collection of other paintings by Klimt and Schiele, and to Klimt’s last studio in the suburb of Hietzing.

Other highlights will include a visit to Otto Wagner’s landmark Postal Savings Bank, views of his metro stations at Karlsplatz and Schönbrunn as well as his Majolika Haus apartment building, and a private tour of his masterpiece, the Church of St Leopold in the grounds of Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital.

The Secessionists’ use of the latest building technology and decorative

01223 841055

techniques appealed to the period’s new industrial and commercial middle classes, and their designs and interiors remain popular today. We will see well-preserved examples of cafés, bars and shops, as well as furniture and homewares designed by the ‘Wiener Werkstätte’ (Vienna Workshops) set up by Moser and Hoffmann in 1903, influenced by William Morris’s craft workshops in Great Britain.

We will stay throughout at the four-star Hotel Mailberger Hof, an elegant familyrun hotel situated in the historical First District.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility, as it will involve significant amounts of walking and standing, including over cobbled streets and up steps. Some journeys will be made by tram.

Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

This tour will be led by Christopher Bourne, BA, who read History and French at the University of Manchester and lived and worked in Brussels for 15 years, where he was an architectural tour guide and freelance translator and editor.

His interest and enthusiasm for the art and architecture of the Vienna Secession and the Jugendstil is a natural progression from his knowledge of Art Nouveau. He is now based in London, where he is a member of the Victorian Society and the 20th Century Society.

Christopher writes: “While the Art Nouveau movement had merely ruffled a few feathers in Brussels, its Austrian equivalent caused outrage among the conservative ruling class in Vienna, from Emperor Franz-Josef down, causing a group of young radical artists to formerly ‘secede’ from the Association of Austrian Artists in 1897.”

CC BY 2.0

Discover the influential group of innovative young artists who ‘seceded’ from the Austrian art establishment in 1897, including Gustav Klimt and Otto Wagner

Johanna Staude by Gustav Klimt

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1220 on British Airways, arriving Vienna 1525. Transfer to Hotel Mailberger Hof for four nights.

Introductory lecture.

Day 2 Morning: walking tour looking at buildings in the city centre (including Karlsplatz metro station designed by Wagner and Olbrich), followed by visit to the Secession Building (Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze). Afternoon: visit to MAK (Museum of Applied Arts). Free evening.

Day 3 Majolika House and Schönbrunn metro station (exteriors) followed by suburb of Hietzing: villa exteriors and cemetery (graves of Klimt and Wagner). Private tour of Klimt Villa & Studio. Afternoon: Wagner’s villas in Hütteldorf (exteriors) followed by private tour of Church of St Leopold in the grounds of Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital.

Day 4 Morning: visits to Wagner’s Postal Savings Bank and Belvedere Museum (Klimt/Schiele galleries). Afternoon: visit to Leopold Museum.

Day 5 Morning lecture followed by visit to Karl Marx-Hof (famous 1920s housing complex) and Steinfeldgasse (Hoffmann villas – exteriors).

Depart Vienna 1630, arriving Heathrow 1750.

Cost of £1745 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a superior twin or double bedded room, breakfast, four lunches, three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, superior double room for single use supplement £235.

TOUR CODE: VISE22

21

IRELAND

Gardens of the Republic of Ireland

Antiphellos Theatre

© CAROLINE HANNAH

May 11–18, 2022

Dargle Glen Garden

From Kilmacurragh to Dargle Glen, enjoy visits to some of Ireland’s most impressive gardens in the company of head gardeners, curators and owners

meeting a variety of owners, gardeners and curators, who will reveal the stories behind each garden, show us their unique botanical treasures, and discuss the maintenance and skill taken to preserve them today.

Explore a selection of private grounds, including June Blake’s beautiful country-style garden

A particular highlight will be Ireland’s National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh: renowned for their rhododendrons and champion trees,

Explore designs inspired by William Robinson at Altamont and Mount Usher The south-eastern region of the Republic of Ireland encompasses some of the most fertile and picturesque gardens in the country. A favourable climate gives rise to a huge diversity of plants from around the globe, ranging from champion trees to unusual bulbs and herbaceous plants.

Spanning grand, historical estates to 19th century botanical collections and more recently created, privately owned gardens, our tour will showcase a carefully chosen selection of the region’s most beautiful horticultural offerings. During our journey we will have the benefit of 22

This tour will be led

by Caroline Hannah, BA, who has a degree in English Literature & History of Art as well as a university-accredited Garden Design Qualification from the University of Essex/Writtle University College. For many years and prior to joining the team at ACE Cultural Tours, Caroline ran her own garden design business and has undertaken both commercial and residential projects. She has given talks on garden design, and also conducted a live question and answer session on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

these important 19th century grounds provided ideal growing conditions for plants brought back by explorers from all over the world.

19th century visitors to Dargle Glen were frequently inspired to capture its dramatic scenery on paper. Surrounded by 57 acres of birch and oak woodland, this private landscape garden overlooking the River Dargle was restored by its Caroline writes: “I am truly delighted to be leading this tour for ACE. The Republic of Ireland is very rich in terms of its wonderful gardens and we are extremely privileged to have private tours with passionate owners, head gardeners and estate managers, many of whom have made life long commitments to continuing the legacy of their gardens. We will be staying at the BrookLodge & Macreddin Village Hotel, a stunning place set in beautiful grounds where we will have the opportunity to learn about foraging.”

aceculturaltours.co.uk

Powerscourt Gardens

new owner in 1998, and the grounds boast an award-winning cantilevered summerhouse built over the gorge. Today the garden features an extraordinary fusion of plants from Chile, Japan and America, alongside commissioned sculpture and unusual planting.

No exploration of the region would be complete without a visit to Huntington Castle, an irresistible castellated structure remodelled in the 1670s when the formal avenues were laid out. The gardens are famous for their ancient yews and Italianate style terraces, and our tour will include a visit to both the castle and grounds.

From the spectacular Powerscourt Gardens at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, to the tranquil, William Robinson-inspired Altamont; and June Blake’s country-style garden to Jimi Blake’s experimental plantsman’s garden at Hunting Brook, we will come away with a nuanced appreciation of the horticulture of this inspiring region.

We will stay at the four-star BrookLodge & Macreddin Village Hotel, based in a beautiful village setting and combining classic accommodation with awardwinning dining.

01223 841055

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour requires a good level of fitness as it will involve a significant amount of outdoor walking, often over uneven ground, slopes, steps and bridges.

Some surfaces can be slippery if wet. Distances vary from garden to garden: some are very short and compact while others are very extensive and occupy large sites. Participants should therefore have a good level of mobility, although it is usually possible to opt out of the more strenuous walks and join the group later. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Timings and the nature of certain visits may be adjusted on the ground by the Tour Director depending on local conditions, particularly the weather.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1035 on British Airways, arriving Dublin 1210. Afternoon visit to Mount Usher Gardens (along the River Vartry, with over 5000 species). Continue to BrookLodge & Macreddin Village Hotel for seven nights. Welcome and introduction.

Day 2 Morning: Dargle Glen Garden (romantic landscape garden with unusual plants, surrounded by oak and birch woodland).

Afternoon: Prospect House Garden. Return to hotel via Sally Gap and scenic route through Wicklow Mountains. Evening lecture.

Day 3 Morning visit to Russborough House & Parklands (with tour of Walled Garden)

followed by June Blake’s garden (country style garden around granite house and farm buildings) and Hunting Brook Gardens (experimental plantsman’s garden with woodland designed by owner Jimi Blake). Free evening.

Day 4 Morning foraging experience and tour of the hotel grounds with the Head Gardener.

Afternoon visit to National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh (trees of historical importance).

Day 5 Morning: Altamont Gardens (William Robinson-inspired garden with over 1500 species). Afternoon: Huntington Castle including guided tour of the castle and grounds (ancient yews and Italianate terraces).

Day 6 Morning visit to Powerscourt Gardens (Italian garden of the mid-18th century; spectacular views and outstanding trees).

Afternoon visit to Killruddery House & Gardens (late 17th century, the oldest garden on our tour). Free evening.

Day 7 Morning: Dower House Gardens (19th century with wild flower meadow and white garden). Afternoon: Patthana Garden (artist’s garden with bold planting and beautiful birches).

Day 8 Depart Dublin 1300, arriving Heathrow 1430.

Cost of £2575 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, four lunches (two packed), five dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £280.

TOUR CODE: GORI22

23

© CAROLINE HANNAH

IRELAND

THE NETHERLANDS

Dutch Masters: Rembrandt, Van Gogh & Mondrian May 16–21, 2022 Enjoy a visit to the Lakenhal Museum, reopened after a major restoration and expansion Discover the famous collections of Amsterdam, Leiden and The Hague Learn about the Netherlands’ contribution to European art history through three of its most celebrated painters Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondrian: three towering geniuses of Dutch art whose work spans three hundred years.

Each of the later painters were acutely aware of the example of their illustrious predecessors. This tour will explore the common threads between them and ask how this small country in northern Europe came to nurture three artists who made such momentous contributions to art history.

Our tour begins with an examination of the life and work of Rembrandt, from his birthplace in Leiden to his beautifully restored house and studio in Amsterdam.

We will also take in the Oude Kerk, the 14th century church he often visited and where his marriage was registered.

Leiden is home to the newly restored Lakenhal Museum, which reopened in 2019 following a three-year renovation.

Highlights from the collection include This tour will be led

by Rupert Dickens, MA, an art historian specialising in Dutch and Flemish art who studied at Birkbeck, University of London, before gaining a Masters degree in Dutch Golden Age Studies at UCL. He is a guide lecturer at the Wallace Collection and an accredited Arts Society lecturer.

24

The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn

A Peddler Selling Spectacles, one of Rembrandt’s earliest known works, and The Last Judgment by Lucas van Leyden.

From our base in Amsterdam, we will explore the world-famous Rijksmuseum, as well as the grand Mauritshuis in The Hague, featuring masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Visits to the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum will be followed by an excursion to the Kröller-Müller Museum, the second largest collection of works by Van Gogh in the world.

Finally, the Mondriaanhuis in Amersfoort contains exhibits relating to the artist’s life and oeuvre, and the Kunstmuseum in The Hague is home to a permanent display of De Stijl pieces, including the world’s largest collection of works by Mondrian.

We will stay throughout at the four-star Hotel Estheréa, housed in a 17th century building on the Singel, Amsterdam’s oldest major canal.

Cost of £2495 includes: return travel, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £425.

TOUR CODE: DUTM22

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will require a good level of fitness, as several sites will be visited on foot and Amsterdam is not easily navigable by taxi. Please note that pavements can be uneven. Participants must be prepared for spending moderate amounts of time standing in galleries and museums, without opportunities to sit down, and at some sites it will be necessary to navigate stairs, as lifts are not always available.

Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks mentioned.

Day 1 Depart London St Pancras 1104 on Eurostar, arriving Amsterdam 1611. Transfer to Hotel Estheréa for five nights. Evening lecture: The Rise & Fall of Rembrandt.

Day 2 Morning walking tour in Amsterdam focusing on sites relating to Rembrandt, including Oude Kerk and Rembrandthuis. Afternoon excursion to Leiden for walking tour and Lakenhal Museum.

Day 3 Morning visit to the Rijksmuseum.

Afternoon: Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum.

Day 4 Morning lecture: Van Gogh – Sunflowers & Stars followed by excursion to Kröller-Müller Museum. Afternoon: Mondriaanhuis followed by some free time in Amersfoort. Return to Amsterdam for free evening.

Day 5 Morning lecture: Mondrian & De Stijl followed by excursion to The Hague for Mauritshuis. Afternoon: Kunstmuseum.

Day 6 Depart Amsterdam 1347 on Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 1700.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

USA

Great Art Collections of New England May 16–24, 2022

SMART DESTINATIONS / CC BY-SA 2.0

Our tour begins with three nights at the Simsbury Inn in Hartford, followed by two nights at the Fairfield Inn & Suites

by Marriott Williamstown. We will conclude with two nights at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in the Cambridge area of Boston.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Visit the historical university collections of Harvard and Yale

Stead in Farmington, a Colonial Revival house.

Explore the treasures of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and the unique Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

We will then head north to rural Massachusetts, spending a day in and around Stockbridge. This picturesque New England town was home to Norman Rockwell and Daniel Chester French.

Learn about collectors and philanthropists who founded public art galleries For any art lover, the museum and gallery collections of New England are a must-see. Their rich holdings of European and American paintings are staggering not only for the quality and quantity of works on display, but also for the beautiful buildings and settings that house them.

Our journey starts in Connecticut, where we will visit the extensive university art collections at Yale and America’s oldest public art gallery, the Wadsworth Atheneum. By contrast, works of art

by Monet, Degas and Mary Cassatt are housed in a domestic setting at HillThis tour will be led

by Sarah Burles, MA, an art historian and museum educator who has worked at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, and is an accredited Arts Society lecturer.

01223 841055

The Clark Institute in Williamstown was founded by Sterling and Francine Clark in 1955 to house their extensive art collection. The museum has recently been enhanced by a beautiful new extension designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Meanwhile, just down the road in North Adams is MASS MoCA, one of America’s largest museums of contemporary art, which opened in 1999 in a series of redeveloped industrial buildings.

The Mohawk Trail, a historical route with spectacular views once used by Native Americans, will take us back towards Boston. The collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are world-class and wide-ranging: the ancient world, the Renaissance, the Art of the Americas and works from the Far East are all well represented in this stunning museum building. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is named after the woman who created her own Italian Renaissance palazzo to house her collection of art.

A final highlight will be a visit to the Harvard Art Museum, containing works

by Botticelli, Fragonard, Whistler and Picasso.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour is not anticipated to be particularly strenuous, but participants will need to be prepared for spending periods of time walking and standing in museums and galleries, some of which are large. Stools are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed. This tour involves a moderate amount of travel by coach and three separate hotel stays. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1115 on British Airways, arriving Boston 1335. Transfer to Hartford for three nights at the Simsbury Inn. Welcome and introduction.

Day 2 Whole day excursion to New Haven for Yale University Art Collection, lunch at Mory’s and visit to the Yale Center for British Art. Day 3 Morning excursion to Hill-Stead near Farmington. Afternoon: Wadsworth Atheneum.

Day 4 Transfer to Stockbridge for visit to Chesterwood and walking tour of historical Stockbridge. Afternoon: visit to nearby studio and museum devoted to the illustrator Norman Rockwell. Continue for two nights at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Williamstown.

Day 5 Morning: Clark Art Institute. Afternoon: Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Day 6 Transfer to Worcester via the Mohawk Trail for visit to Worcester Art Museum.

Continue to Boston for two nights at Sheraton Commander Hotel.

Day 7 Morning: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Afternoon: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Day 8 Morning: Harvard Art Museum. Depart Boston 1915.

Day 9 Arrive Heathrow 0650.

Cost of £3995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, two lunches, seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities for group services.

Not included: ESTA, travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £620.

TOUR CODE: GANE22

25

UNITED KINGDOM

Northamptonshire Country Houses May 17–21, 2022 Enjoy visits to an array of stunning private houses and gardens, from Drayton House to Cottesbrooke Hall

Boughton House

EUAN MYLES PHOTOGRAPHY / CC BY-SA 4.0

Discover the beautiful Grade I listed gardens at Holdenby Visit Boughton House, seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch and home to a notable art collection Northamptonshire, known as the ‘County of the Spires and Squires’, offers a wealth of fine stately homes nestled amongst charming, gently rolling countryside in the heart of England. The county is notable for containing more privately owned historical houses than any other, several of which we will visit on our tour.

Drayton House, home of the StopfordSackville family, has evolved gradually over the centuries and boasts a magnificent Baroque frontispiece by the architect William Talman, while Holdenby House has a fascinating royal history. Originally built as a palace by Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor and favourite of Elizabeth I in 1583, it also served as prison to Charles I following his crushing military defeat at the nearby Battle of Naseby. The site boasts 20 acres of exquisite gardens.

Lamport Hall shows how an enlightened patron could remodel his house during the difficult years of the Commonwealth and adorn it with paintings, which remain in the house to this day.

Boughton House, the former seat of the Dukes of Montagu, is a French-style chateau with an extraordinary collection of artistic treasures, whilst Kirby Hall is a magnificent Renaissance ruin.

Northamptonshire has traditionally been a popular place in which the privileged have indulged their passion for country sports, and this is nowhere more evident than at the idyllic Cottesbrooke Hall, set in stunning 18th century gardens.

Rumoured to be the model for Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, this splendid 26

This tour will be led

by Adam White, PhD, an art historian and museum curator who is an expert in country house collections and one of Britain’s leading authorities on English sculpture of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods.

He originally studied French and Philosophy at Oxford University before gaining a PhD in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Adam has also held the role of Hon Curator of Collections at Lotherton Hall in Yorkshire.

Queen Anne house boasts arguably one of the finest collections of sporting art in Europe.

Lyveden New Bield and the Triangular Lodge at Rushton parade the beliefs of a Roman Catholic, whose faith was regarded as treasonous in late Elizabethan England.

The houses will be complemented with a selection of visits to estate churches, containing fascinating family memorials.

We will stay at the magnificent fourstar Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, located close to Kettering. This Grade I listed Victorian mansion is a former preparatory school whose architecture was influenced by nearby Kirby Hall, and our Tour Director will introduce us to its considerable historical interest.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: A lot of the walking on this tour is over uneven ground, including flagstones, cobblestones and grassy slopes that can be slippery when wet. Access to Lyveden New Bield involves a half-mile walk uphill across fields and is not suitable for those with walking difficulties, and there is also a narrow iron staircase to access the viewpoint.

A good level of fitness and mobility is required for this tour, and participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Owing to the special nature of certain visits, some details may not be confirmed until nearer the time.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1330 at Kettering Station followed by 1400 at Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa. Afternoon: St Peter’s Church, Deene, followed

by Deene Park (house and gardens). Four nights at Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa. Day 2 Morning: Drayton House and St Peter’s Church, Lowick. Afternoon: Holdenby (extensive gardens). Evening lecture.

Day 3 Morning: All Saints’ Church, Lamport and Lamport Hall (house and gardens). Afternoon: Cottesbrooke Hall (house and gardens) and All Saints’ Church, Cottesbrooke.

Day 4 Morning: St Edmund’s Church, Warkton and Boughton House & Gardens. Afternoon: Kirby Hall, Lyveden New Bield and Rushton Triangular Lodge.

Day 5 Tour disperses after breakfast at hotel or c 1000 at Kettering Station.

Cost of £1645 includes: accommodation based on sharing a superior twin or double bedded room, breakfast, three lunches, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, superior double room for single use supplement £280.

TOUR CODE: NHCH22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

AUSTRIA

Art & Architecture of the Tyrol May 16–24, 2022 Tour Director Alex Koller, PhD, was born in Vienna and has studied in Vienna, Salzburg and Cambridge. He gained his first degree in History of Art and Slavonic languages in Salzburg before continuing to Cambridge for a PhD in History of Art from Magdalene College.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. We cannot guarantee the availability of all the artworks mentioned.

Marienberg Abbey

Explore historical residences in Italy and Austria Soak up the atmosphere of this naturally stunning region Delve into Innsbruck, former seat of the Holy Roman Empire The province of South Tyrol has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries: a passage for merchants trading between Germany and Italy and on the route for Holy Roman Emperors travelling to Rome. Under Emperor Maximilian I, Innsbruck established itself as the seat of the Holy Roman Empire.

We begin with a visit to Trento, centre of historical Welschtirol (Italian Tyrol), where the dominance of Italian influences underlines the region’s position at one of Europe’s great cultural meeting points. The narrow cobblestone streets and arcaded squares of Bozen (Bolzano) have rung to the footsteps of the bishops of Trent, the counts of Tyrol and the Habsburgs.

Schloss Tirol is perched high above the commune of Meran, whose heyday came in the latter years of the Austrian monarchy when the town rose to prominence as a spa resort.

01223 841055

Brixen (Bressanone), on the edge of the sculptural Dolomites, was the former ecclesiastical centre of the Tyrol, and at Sterzing (Vipiteno), we will meet the most singular feature of the Tyrolean artistic tradition: a profusion of medieval sculptural and painterly works.

We will also journey to the city of Innsbruck, the historical capital of the Tyrol.

We will stay throughout in hotels of four-star quality. Please note that this tour departs from London Heathrow Airport and returns to London Gatwick Airport.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will require a good level of fitness and stamina.

Participants must meet ACE’s fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions, and should be prepared for a moderate amount of walking and standing during our visits, as well as three separate hotel stays and scenic coach journeys of up to 1.5 hours. Some sites will require navigating steps, cobbles and uneven ground. There is an option to make an ascent using the Hungerburgbahn (funicular) to enjoy the views but participants can opt out of this if they wish.

Cost of £3595 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, two lunches, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £370.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 0850 on British Airways, arriving Venice 1205. Continue to Meran for three nights at Hotel Meranerhof via Trento for brief visit to the Duomo.

Day 2 Morning: orientation walking tour of Meran and visit to Schloss Tirol. Afternoon: Lana.

Day 3 Whole day excursion to the Vinschgau Valley: St Benedikt Church in Mals, Marienberg Abbey, Müstair Convent of St John, pilgrimage church in Taufers and Renaissance Schloss Churburg (some visits time permitting).

Day 4 Depart for Brixen via Bozen, Gries parish church (Michael Pacher altarpiece), Schloss Runkelstein and Klausen. Two nights in Brixen at Hotel Goldener Adler.

Day 5 Morning excursion to Sterzing.

Afternoon: Kloster Neustift and Brixen.

Day 6 Whole day excursion to the Pustertal and the Dolomites for St Sigmund, Bruneck and Innichen. Dolomite tour via Cortina d’Ampezzo, Sella Pass and Val Gardena. Three nights in Innsbruck at AC Hotel by Marriott Innsbruck.

Day 7 Morning: Bergisel Monument and Olympic Ski Jump at Bergisel (exterior only, weather permitting). Afternoon in Innsbruck: walking tour including Hofkirche and Baroque Cathedral of St James followed by visit to Hofburg.

Day 8 Morning: Hall in Tirol (Jesuit Church – subject to confirmation), Volders (Trinity Church). Afternoon: Wilten and the Imperial Residence at Schloss Ambras.

Day 9 Morning: optional visit to Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum and optional ascent by Hungerburgbahn for views – time permitting. Depart Innsbruck 1610 on Easyjet, arriving Gatwick 1705.

TOUR CODE: AAAT22

27

ISLE OF MAN

Isle of Man: A Wild & Ancient Heritage May 18–25, 2022 Explore the geology and landscape of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Learn more about the island’s Celtic, Viking and early Christian past Nestled in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man boasts a unique accolade: an independent crown dependency, it is the only entirely self-governing territory to have been awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, reflecting a harmonious relationship between people and nature. The island’s remarkable human history, dating back to 6500 BC, has left evocative traces on the landscape alongside some of the most captivating seascapes and clifftops in the world.

From a base in historical Castletown – the island’s former capital – we will explore several of its most rewarding natural environments. The heather moorland of Dalby Mountain Reserve will introduce us to birdlife including chough, hen harrier, snipe and red grouse; while a rich array of wildlife will greet us at the Ballaugh Curraghs Ramsar wetland, an internationally recognised site of biodiversity. Coastal areas in the south will offer views of seabirds including kittiwakes, fulmars and black guillemots; and in the north, the stark beauty of the landscape will come alive as we walk along the rare lichen-rich coastal heathland of the Point of Ayre.

Our tour will also touch on the island’s 10,000 year-old social and political history. Maughold parish church is home to several historically important Celtic crosses: the Pillar Cross displays one of the oldest ‘three legs of man’ – or triskelions – on the island. The Leece Museum in Peel, meanwhile, hosts a fascinating array of local objects including the last birching stool to be used on the island. Our excursion to this picturesque fishing port will also take us via Tynwald Hill in St John’s, thought to be the oldest 28

Maughold

This tour will be led by Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism.

Kevin has overseen a team providing access to the British countryside for hard to reach groups. He has also taken on the role of President of the Cambridge Natural History Society. continuous parliament site in the world, originally founded by Norse settlers.

We will stay at the historical three-star George Hotel in Castletown, conveniently located for many of our visits.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

This tour includes several walks, some of up to two and three miles, often over rough terrain.

Minibuses or additional walks will sometimes be required to access certain sites. While options will be given for those who would prefer not to do the full walks, participants should have a good level of fitness. They should also feel comfortable negotiating uneven steps and occasionally dark interiors, and getting in and out of boats during a possible visit to the Calf of Man. Please note facilities on the Calf of Man are very limited.

ITINERARY This itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Certain visits – including the boat trip to the Calf of Man – are weather permitting, and we cannot guarantee the presence of all the wildlife mentioned.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1815 at The George Hotel, Castletown, for seven nights. 1830 welcome and introduction to the tour.

Day 2 Morning walk in and around Castletown including the bay area and Langness Peninsula.

Optional visit to Castle Rushen. Afternoon: continue to Scarlett for visits to old lime kilns and quarry (spring squill, flowers).

Day 3 Colden Hill (raven, snipe, stonechat) followed by Douglas for Heritage Museum. Free evening in either Douglas or Castletown.

Day 4 Ramsey and Maughold for slate cliffs and seabirds, including Maughold parish church (ancient Celtic crosses). Afternoon: Point of Ayre walk (dramatic sand dune landscape with rare lichen coastal heath) and lighthouse.

Day 5 Dalby Mountain Moorland Nature Reserve (heather moorland with adder’s-tongue fern, bog asphodel and birdlife). Afternoon: Niarbyl (sea views) and Ballaugh Curraghs Ramsar wetland site (royal fern, bog myrtle, hen harrier, feral red-necked wallabies).

Day 6 Morning: visit by boat to Calf of Man (weather permitting) for seabirds and history.

Afternoon: village of Cregneash (a living illustration of a farming and crofting community in the 19th and early 20th centuries). Please note today’s itinerary is weather dependent.

Day 7 Whole day excursion via Tynwald Hill (ancient parliament site) to Peel: Leece Museum (local fishing and boat building industry), St Patrick’s Isle (Manx Natural Heritage tour of castle).

Day 8 Tour disperses after breakfast.

Cost of £1875 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, two lunches (one packed), six dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: return travel, travel insurance, single room supplement £175, double room for single use supplement £245.

TOUR CODE: ISMN22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

BADGERNET / CC BY-SA 3.0

Discover a diversity of seabirds, plant and marine life

IRELAND

Irish Houses, Castles & Gardens June 14–20, 2022 Pakenham, the present Earl of Longford, being a noted plantsman.

Tullynally Castle

© COSMO SAMUEL BROCKWAY

We will make our way westwards. Birr Castle, which dates back to medieval times, is well known today because of its royal connection – the present Earl’s brother, Lord Snowdon, was married to Princess Margaret. Yet the property retains an air of secrecy and few people are able to glimpse its fine interiors, virtually untouched, including the Gothic Saloon with its vaulted ceiling and Chippendale furniture.

At the very heart of our tour, Glin Castle is a stunning late 18th century house overlooking the sea. We will enjoy the castle’s famous hospitality on a private overnight visit, including a tour of its walled garden and loop walk. Close to Glin, Kilgobbin House, the 18th century dower house built for Adare Manor, is the family home of the Countess of Dunraven, and features original art and furniture from Adare.

Absorb centuries of architectural history on a series of privileged visits

Doneraile Court sits at the heart of a breathtaking estate, through which flows the River Awbeg, immortalised in Spenser’s The Faerie Queene.

Explore art collections and tour gardens, in the company of specialist guides and owners

The final stop on our journey, Russborough House, is a rococo palazzo hidden deep in the Wicklow Mountains.

Enjoy an exclusive overnight stay at Glin Castle This new tour features a handpicked selection of Ireland’s houses and castles, many of which are not frequently open to the public.

Our first stop is Killruddery House, home to the Brabazon family, Earls of Meath: a wonderful Tudor Revival mansion with an original 17th century foundation, its French-style formal gardens are considered one of the finest examples of 17th century gardening in Ireland.

Tullynally Castle, home of the famous Pakenham family, is filled with eclectic collections, and is only accessible by private arrangement. The gardens are large and full of variety, with Thomas

01223 841055

The accommodation on this tour has been carefully selected to complement the daytime visits, with a focus on elegant design, beautiful architecture and excellent locations. A special highlight of the tour will be a private stay at Glin Castle, hired exclusively by ACE for a night.

We also look forward to staying at the five-star boutique Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore. The beginning and end of our tour will be spent in Dublin at Buswells, a classic Georgian hotel in the heart of the city, and The Westin, a luxurious fivestar hotel, respectively.

Cost of £3195 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, three lunches, five dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £565.

TOUR CODE: IHCG22

This tour will be led by journalist and author Cosmo Samuel Brockway. A seasoned travel writer, Cosmo also covers architecture and design in publications including Architectural Digest, The World of Interiors and The Telegraph. He regularly leads tours all over the world, and is looking forward to introducing ACE travellers to Ireland’s stunning estates and gardens in 2022.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants should have a good level of fitness and meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. This tour is not especially strenuous, but will involve some walking around gardens and estate grounds.

This is usually over relatively flat terrain and participants can decide how far they wish to go.

In order to take in several important properties, our route around Ireland will involve four separate hotel stays and a moderate amount of coach travel, with journeys of up to 2 hours in duration.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1310 on British Airways, arriving Dublin 1440. Transfer to Buswells Hotel for three nights. Evening welcome talk at the Irish Georgian Society.

Day 2 Morning: Killruddery (house and grounds). Afternoon: Powerscourt Estate (gardens) followed by Enniskerry (village walk).

Evening talk.

Day 3 Excursion to Tullynally Castle (house and gardens) followed by free evening in Dublin.

Day 4 Morning: Birr Castle (including private light lunch with the Earl of Rosse). Afternoon: continue to Glin Castle for tour (house and gardens) followed by dinner and exclusive overnight stay at the castle.

Day 5 Morning: some free time at Glin Castle followed by visit to Kilgobbin House (tour and private light lunch with the Countess of Dunraven). Afternoon: Doneraile Court.

Continue to Ardmore for overnight stay at Cliff House Hotel.

Day 6 Excursion to Curraghmore House (tour of house, gardens and 18th century shell house).

Afternoon visit to Russborough House. Continue to Dublin for overnight stay at The Westin.

Day 7 Depart Dublin 1300, arriving Heathrow 1430.

29

UNITED KINGDOM

Gardens of the Cotswolds June 19–23, 2022 Discover gardens spanning centuries of design in one of Britain’s best-loved landscapes Hear insights from the Head Gardener at Bourton House Garden

The Cotswolds are a truly special place for garden-lovers. Exquisite planting schemes are bathed in the glow of golden stone buildings, and rolling hills form an idyllic backdrop to the world’s most famous garden designs. This brand new tour explores a handpicked selection of the Cotswolds’ finest gardens, with a focus on those in Gloucestershire.

Sezincote House and Persian Garden

Mughal references, including planting that is evocative of a paradise garden.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens are the creation of three generations of female gardeners.

Famous for its roses, Kiftsgate also features a sunken white garden, a double border comprising shrubs, small trees and herbaceous plants in shades of pink, mauve and grey, and stunning views towards the Malvern Hills.

We also look forward to a private outof-hours visit to the Grade II listed Painswick Rococo Garden, a unique place that is of great interest to garden historians, where we will enjoy a guided tour led by the Director. The only surviving garden in the rococo style open in the UK, this pleasure ground was originally designed in the 1740s.

Neighbouring Hidcote’s series of Arts & Crafts-inspired and carefully crafted ‘garden rooms’ are famous across the world for their beauty, intricacy and impact upon subsequent garden design.

This tour will be based at the four-star Hare & Hounds Hotel near Tetbury, built in Cotswold stone and surrounded by manicured lawns.

Snowshill is a charming example of a small Arts & Crafts garden, and we also hope to enjoy a visit to the intriguing Grade II* listed manor house.

Miserden Gardens, meanwhile, are situated at the heart of a family-run estate that takes a particular interest in environmental sustainability. The gardens feature stunning flowering beds, shrubs and topiary, some elements of which were designed by Edwin Lutyens.

Stepping back further in time, a remarkable 19th century garden can be found at Sezincote, near Moretonin-Marsh. Here, a landscape garden designed by Humphrey Repton is the setting for a house built in the style of an ‘Indian palace’. The gardens feature 30

MICHAEL GARLICK / CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit some of the world’s finest Arts & Crafts-inspired gardens

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: A good level of fitness and mobility is required for this tour, as it will require significant amounts of time spent on foot outdoors, walking and standing in gardens.

The terrain may be uneven, with steps, stone paths, bridges (which may be slippery when wet) and slopes (some of which are steep) to navigate.

Some of the gardens are located on multiple levels, and several feature ponds, pools and streams. Handrails and benches are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed. Participants must meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

Cost of £1565 includes: accommodation based on sharing a very good twin or double bedded room, breakfast, three lunches, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, good twin/ double room for single use supplement £100, very good twin/double room for single use supplement £220.

This tour will be led

by Caroline Hannah, BA, who has a degree in English Literature & History of Art as well as a university-accredited Garden Design Qualification from the University of Essex/Writtle University College. Caroline ran her own garden design business and has undertaken both commercial and residential projects.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and due to the special nature of the visits, some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Timings and the nature of certain visits may be adjusted on the ground by the Tour Director, depending on local conditions, particularly the weather.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1700 at the Hare & Hounds Hotel, Tetbury, for four nights. Welcome and introduction.

Day 2 Morning: Hidcote Manor Gardens.

Afternoon: Kiftsgate Court Gardens.

Day 3 Morning: Snowshill Manor & Garden.

Afternoon: Painswick Rococo Garden.

Day 4 Morning: Sezincote Gardens. Afternoon: Bourton House Garden and Batsford Arboretum.

Day 5 Morning: Miserden Gardens and Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury. Tour disperses approx 1430 at hotel followed by approx 1500 at Kemble Station.

TOUR CODE: GCOT22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

SWEDEN

Swedish Palaces & Castles July 3–9, 2022 We will stay at the four-star Victory Hotel, situated in picturesque Gamla Stan (Old Town), the original island nucleus from which the city of Stockholm grew.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will involve a moderate amount of walking and standing, including over uneven ground and steps, so participants must have a good level of fitness.

The tour also features an evening dinner cruise around Stockholm archipelago. Participants must meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Working palaces may close fully or partially at short notice due to events.

Elghammar Castle

Explore the historical houses and palaces to be found in Sweden’s capital city and its hinterland Wander the streets of Stockholm’s picturesque Old Town Visit grand country estates to view fine architecture and interiors, from the moated Gripsholm Castle to the Baroque palace of Drottningholm The city of Stockholm, one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals thanks to its position at the western end of the Stockholm archipelago, is our base for this tour exploring some of the outstanding architecture to be found in Sweden.

Spanning the period from the 16th century, when under Gustav Vasa Sweden established its independence from Denmark and began to experiment with Renaissance classicism, through to the early 19th century, when the arrival of a new royal dynasty helped to popularise the French Empire style, this tour features an array of important houses, palaces and castles.

The French Empire style is best seen at Rosendal Palace, whilst the Rococo phase can be admired at the suburban villa of

01223 841055

This tour will be led by architectural historian Charles Hind, MA, FSA, Chief Curator and H J Heinz Curator of Drawings at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Charles has published widely on architectural history from the 16th to the 20th centuries. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Trustee of the Georgian Group, the Lutyens Trust and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust.

Svindersvik and the Baroque at the royal palace of Drottningholm.

Further highlights will include Gustav Vasa’s great moated castle of Gripsholm; the massive quadrangular Skokloster, with its extraordinarily well-preserved 17th century interiors; and the exquisite neoclassical interiors in Sweden’s own Gustavian style at Tullgarn Palace.

Our tour includes a number of private visits. Tureholm features remarkable Baroque and Rococo interiors, and Catherine the Great’s court architect Quarenghi designed Elghammar for a retired Swedish ambassador to St Petersburg. There will also be a number of opportunities to sample delicious Swedish food, including a dinner cruise around the Stockholm archipelago.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1325 on British Airways, arriving Stockholm 1700.

Transfer to the Victory Hotel in Stockholm Old Town for six nights.

Day 2 Whole day excursion to Drottningholm Palace (home to Sweden’s royal family): Baroque palace, Chinese Pavilion and Court Theatre.

Evening dinner cruise around Stockholm archipelago.

Day 3 Morning excursion to Gripsholm Castle (lakeside castle with interiors dating from the 16th and late 18th centuries and neoclassical theatre). Afternoon: private visit to the mansion of Elghammar (owned by the Duke d’Otrante).

Free evening.

Day 4 Sturehov (1780s house with painted interiors and collection of faience stoves) followed by Tullgarn (summer palace of the royal family and Tureholm (with Baroque, Rococo and Chinoiserie painted wall decorations).

Day 5 Excursion to Uppsala for medieval cathedral (Renaissance tomb of Gustav Vasa) and Linnaeus Garden. Afternoon: Skokloster Castle (quadrangular mansion with well-preserved late 17th century interiors). Free evening.

Day 6 Morning: historical walking tour of Gamla Stan with visit to the cathedral (Storkyrkan).

Continue to Svindersvik (1740s summer retreat) followed by Rosendal Palace (Empire interiors) and Vasa Museum (well-preserved 17th century warship).

Day 7 Depart Stockholm 1545, arriving Heathrow 1725.

Cost of £2895 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, five lunches (three light), four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £265, small double room for single use supplement £430.

TOUR CODE: SWPC22

31

IRELAND

Ireland’s Ancient Heartland

Antiphellos Theatre

July 4–11, 2022

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Venture into Irish mythology and history as we explore the country’s ancient past and the landscape that bore witness Explore the remarkable passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth Visit evocative monastic sites, including Monasterboice with its exquisite high crosses Stepping into the shadowy world of Newgrange Passage Tomb – believed to be over 5000 years old – it is easy to conjure up images of the past, yet much harder to reach any firm conclusions. Ringed by megalithic carvings, the mastery of the tomb’s architecture inspires both wonder and curiosity about its role in Irish history, folklore and legend. Part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage site, Newgrange is regarded as one of the most important megalithic structures in the world and is a fitting start to our journey into Ireland’s history.

Our explorations will be based in County Meath, named after the former kingdom, and home to a wealth of historical sites from prehistory to the modern era. As 32

well as illuminating Ireland’s past, many of these places aid our understanding of Europe’s religious, artistic and cultural heritage more generally.

The mystery of Newgrange is mirrored at nearby Knowth, also part of the UNESCO Boyne Valley complex. The atmospheric Hill of Tara, meanwhile, retains its status as fabled seat of the High Kings of Ireland and possesses at least twenty diverse monuments erected over hundreds if not thousands of years.

Images of the past become a little clearer as we explore Ireland’s early Christian history. The unassuming grounds of Monasterboice include three 10th century high crosses, among them Muiredach’s High Cross, richly decorated with biblical carvings and widely regarded as the finest monument of its kind in Ireland.

The extensive site of Clonmacnoise on the banks of the River Shannon boasts the ruins of a cathedral, several churches, a round tower and high crosses; while Old Mellifont Abbey was the first Cisterician abbey and example of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture built in Ireland.

Later, during our visit to Kells, we will linger at the evocative 10th century oratory named after St Columba.

As we step into the later medieval period, we will explore the remains of Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and once used as an administrative centre for the Lordship of Meath; its position on the site of an earlier monastery underlines the importance of the area in the surrounding landscape. We will also learn more about this region’s role in early modern Irish and British history at a museum dedicated to the Battle of the Boyne – the 17th century conflict that turned the tide against King James II, and helped to ensure Protestant ascendency in Ireland for hundreds of years.

We will stay at the three-star Newgrange Hotel in the charming and historical town of Navan, close to most of the sites on our tour.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour involves many visits to outdoor archaeological sites or ruins. Participants should therefore have a good level of overall fitness and mobility (meeting ACE’s fitness criteria as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions), and be comfortable navigating uneven and sometimes rugged ground. The Hill of Tara involves a gentle incline to reach the main sites and the steps to access the keep at Trim Castle are steep. The interiors of the chambered tombs, where accessible, are dimly lit; those who feel uncomfortable going inside have the option to remain outside.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

Trim Castle ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1035 on British Airways, arriving Dublin 1210. Transfer to Navan for seven nights at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan.

Welcome and introductory talk: Meath through Time.

This tour will be led by Mike King, BA, MA, a museum professional for over 30 years who has worked in both Northern Ireland and Scotland. Mike is currently Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. He is interested in engaging travellers in archaeology and history, especially Irish archaeology, the early medieval culture of Britain and Ireland, European pilgrimage and Rome’s legacy in early medieval Europe. He is particularly fascinated by carved stones, and created an exhibition on the megaliths of Northern Ireland. He also coordinated the protection and movement of a 10th century high cross in Downpatrick. Mike lectures,

Day 2 Morning: Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre for exhibitions and guided visits to Newgrange and Knowth (the most famous passage tombs of Neolithic Ireland). Afternoon visit to Fourknocks Chamber Tomb (subject to confirmation).

Evening talk: Passage Tombs and the Prehistory of the Boyne Valley.

Day 3 Morning: Monasterboice (magnificent high crosses, round tower and ruined churches) and Old Mellifont Abbey. Afternoon: Hill of

guides and publishes widely, and is looking forward to leading his first tour with ACE in 2022.

Mike writes: “I always find exploration of County Meath’s treasures a fascinating experience, as it involves the uncovering of so many layers of prehistory and history in one dramatic landscape.

There is also the opportunity to enter standing structures dating from over 5000 years ago to the present day, whether it is the passage of the tomb at Newgrange, the ‘house’ of St Columba in Kells or the magnificent castle of Trim.

If you enjoy visiting ancient tombs, high crosses, abbeys, battle sites and castles at the heart of Ireland’s story, this tour will be a delight.”

Slane (legendary site of St Patrick’s paschal fire) including shrine, friary church and medieval college. Evening talk: The Art of Irish High Crosses.

Day 4 Morning: Hill of Tara (a complex of impressive prehistoric sites, traditional seat of the High Kings of Ireland). Afternoon: Donaghmore Round Tower and Church (founded by St Patrick) and Duleek (site of the earliest known stone church in Ireland) including high crosses. Evening talk: Irish Monasteries and Abbeys.

Day 5 Morning: Kells (once home to the famous Book of Kells) including four high crosses, round tower and St Columba’s House. Afternoon: Cavan County Museum (overview of the archaeology and history of the region).

Day 6 Morning talk: Medieval to Early Modern Meath. Visits to Trim Castle (the largest Anglo Norman castle in Ireland) and Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre.

Day 7 Morning: Clonmacnoise Monastery (visitor centre, churches, high crosses and round tower). Afternoon: Fore Abbey (early Christian church and medieval abbey in a glorious valley setting).

Day 8 Depart Dublin 1255, arriving Heathrow 1425.

Cost of £2075 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £325.

TOUR CODE: IRAH22

01223 841055

33

ANDREW PARNELL / CC BY 2.0

IRELAND

UNITED KINGDOM

Churches of Suffolk July 11–15, 2022 Delve into Suffolk’s prosperous past at Holy Trinity in Long Melford

SPENCER MEANS / CC BY-SA 2.0

Encounter hidden medieval treasures in less frequented churches Stay in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, a stone’s throw from its cathedral Like its neighbour Norfolk, the undulating landscape of Suffolk possesses one of the highest concentrations of churches in the UK. Many are famous for their magnificent stained glass, celebrated nationally “for the people they depict, the stories they tell and their famous designers” (National Churches Trust, 2018).

Yet these churches also help to reveal important religious, architectural and economical developments: rising on the back of the 15th century woven cloth trade, many owe their life and character to the region’s burgeoning wealth, as well as changes that came later, from the Reformation to 19th century revisions.

Encasing some fine 15th century stained glass, the parish church at Stratford St Mary boasts a beautiful exterior, characterised by flint flushwork, while St Peter and St Paul offers a striking This tour will be led by medieval historian Imogen Corrigan, BA, MPhil. Following almost 20 years in the army, from which she retired in the rank of Major, Imogen obtained a first-class degree in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History from the University of Kent and subsequently an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. Her book Stone on Stone: The Men who Built the Cathedrals was published in 2019. She is also an accredited Arts Society lecturer and a Freeman of the Company of Communicators.

34

Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford

reflection of the region’s medieval prosperity.

Among the most renowned wool towns in Suffolk, Long Melford boasts a spectacular parish church in Holy Trinity, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country. Perched at the village’s highest point, it entrances visitors with its medieval stained glass, including the famous depiction of the Trinity as three interlocked hares, and its light-filled lady chapel.

No less important for our understanding of the period are some less frequented buildings. St Nicholas’s Church in Denston is a prime example of late Perpendicular architecture and a treasure trove of original features, including misericords, a panelled font and medieval benches topped with animal carvings.

Churches of Suffolk is one in a series of more gently paced tours, ideal for those who prefer less a physically demanding itinerary while enjoying the same high level of academic content. Walking and travelling distances are typically shorter and hotels will usually be situated in central locations to allow for ease of access to major amenities. Please note, however, that participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Our base for the tour will be the fourstar Angel Hotel, a charming boutique establishment set among the cobbled streets of Bury St Edmunds.

Day 1 Tour assembles 1330 at the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds, for four nights. Welcome lecture followed by a visit to St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: While we do not expect this tour to be especially strenuous, some of the sites visited will contain uneven flooring, steps, ramps and dimly lit interiors.

The visit to St Gregory’s Church in Sudbury will involve a walk of around one mile, and the visit to Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford will require a short walk up a shallow slope.

Day 3 Morning: St Nicholas’s Church, Denston and Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.

Afternoon: St Peter & St Paul, Lavenham and St Mary’s Church, Brent Eleigh.

Cost of £1155 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £150.

TOUR CODE: CHUS22

Day 2 Visits including St Mary the Virgin Church, East Bergholt, Stratford St Mary and St Mary’s Church, Combs.

Day 4 Morning visits to St Mary’s Church, Thornham Parva, St Mary the Virgin Church, Yaxley and the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Hoxne. Afternoon: St Nicholas’s Church, Rattlesden and St Mary’s Church, Dennington.

Day 5 Morning: St Andrew’s Church, Norton and St Nicholas’s Chapel, Gipping. Afternoon visits to St Nicholas’s Church, Rattlesden and St Mary’s Church, Woolpit. Tour disperses 1630 at Bury St Edmunds Station followed by the hotel.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM

Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk July 11–14, 2022 This tour will be led by Sarah Burles, MA, a proficient tour leader and lecturer accredited with the Arts Society.

Sarah studied History of Art at Cambridge before gaining a Masters at University College London and going onto a career in museum and gallery education, including several years at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Sarah runs art tours and courses in and around Cambridge as well as online, and has a particular passion and enthusiasm for making art and museum collections accessible.

Flatford Mill (Scene on a Navigable River) by John Constable

Visit Constable’s birthplace, East Bergholt, to see sites associated with the artist Explore the new National Centre for Gainsborough, based at the artist’s house in Sudbury and recently reopened following major redevelopment Visit Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, home to the finest collection of Constable’s paintings outside London It was only with the rising popularity of Impressionism that John Constable (1776–1837) won whole-hearted recognition in his native country. Now ranked alongside JMW Turner as one of England’s greatest painters, Constable is the source of some of the best-known images in British art. This tour will study the influence of the Suffolk countryside on Constable and his near contemporary Gainsborough, one of the founders of the British landscape tradition.

“I fancy I see Gainsborough in every hedge and hollow tree,” said Constable of the Suffolk countryside. As we wander along the banks of the River Stour, where Constable spent his “careless boyhood”, we will discover that Flatford Mill, Dedham Lock and Willy Lott’s cottage

01223 841055

– immortalised in The Hay Wain – have changed little over two centuries. We will stroll through the country lanes of East Bergholt, where the artist’s first studio was located, and view his Ascension in Dedham’s parish church.

Slightly further afield, we will visit Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich to see artworks including Willy Lott’s Cottage and the intimate companion pieces Golding Constable’s Vegetable Garden and Golding Constable’s Flower Garden.

Complementing the focus on Constable’s life and influences, our tour will also examine Gainsborough’s roots in his native Suffolk on a visit to Sudbury, where a major new redevelopment and refurbishment has transformed the artist’s house into the National Centre for Gainsborough. The site will offer insights into the artist’s life and legacy, as well as the ambitions and challenges of delivering this fascinating project.

Our base for this tour will be the beautiful four-star Hintlesham Hall Hotel, a 16th century Grade I listed manor house, set in 175 acres of Suffolk countryside.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will involve a significant amount of walking and standing, so participants must have a good level of fitness and mobility, and meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Please note that some sites do not have lifts, and there is uneven ground to navigate in the churchyards and at Flatford Mill.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.

Day 1 Assemble 1330 at Ipswich Station or 1400 at Hintlesham Hall Hotel. Afternoon coach tour of Stour Valley and the Suffolk villages of Stoke by Nayland, Nayland and Stratford St Mary (churches associated with Constable). Three nights at Hintlesham Hall Hotel.

Day 2 Morning lecture: Constable’s Country – Artist & Landscape followed by East Bergholt (Constable’s birthplace): walking tour viewing Constable’s first studio and the site of his parents’ house (exteriors), and visit to St Mary’s Church and bell cage. Afternoon: Dedham for walking tour viewing Dedham Mill and Dedham Lock (exteriors – featured in Constable’s paintings) and St Mary’s Church. Flatford Mill and Flatford Lock (subjects of many of Constable’s paintings), Willy Lott’s cottage (featured most famously in The Haywain) and site of Boat Building on the Banks of the Stour.

Day 3 Morning: The Munnings Art Museum (oil paintings and watercolours by Sir Alfred Munnings and antique furniture collection).

Continue to Sudbury (where Gainsborough was born) for afternoon at newly redeveloped National Centre for Gainsborough (Gainsborough’s House).

Day 4 Morning: Christchurch Mansion (works

by Constable and Gainsborough). Tour disperses c 1300 at Ipswich Station followed by c 1330 at hotel.

Cost of £1175 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, one lunch, dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £200.

TOUR CODE: CGSU22

35

GERMANY | HUNGARY | AUSTRIA | SLOVAKIA

Danube River Cruise

Antiphellos Theatre

August 29 – September 7, 2022

Melk Abbey

Following ACE’s voyages along the Seine and Rhône, we are delighted to partner with luxury cruise company CroisiEurope for a new cultural adventure.

Bubbling up in the Black Forest town of Donaueschingen where the Brigach meets the Breg, the mighty River Danube strides across a vast stretch of Europe.

For centuries it has formed the borders of nations and empires, turning the tide of history and inspiring a myriad of writers, artists and musicians.

We will journey from the breath-taking abbey at Melk to the magnificence of Budapest’s Castle District, stopping at Vienna, Esztergom and Bratislava. Visits to some of the river’s most beautiful and important sites – from Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum to the soaring interiors of Budapest’s Great Synagogue 36

– will combine to shed light on the Danube’s story.

To mirror this variety, several ACE Tour Directors will join us at different stages of our journey, supported by a variety of excellent local guides. Musicians including John Bryden, Emilie Capulet, Ashley Solomon, Judy Brown and Nicholas Wearne will perform on board our chartered vessel, the aptly named MS Symphonie, giving life to the celebrated opus of works inspired by the river.

Meanwhile art historians Lars Tharp, Andrew Spira, Sarah Burles and Tom Abbott will prepare us for our daytime visits with a series of on-board lectures, while also guiding at several sites. We also hope to take in a performance on one of Vienna’s famous stages, subject to forthcoming programme announcements.

Visits will be taken at a leisurely pace, with several opportunities to

explore locations independently, and to appreciate the river’s magical surroundings during relaxed stretches of cruising.

For further details, including the tour itinerary, fitness requirements and flight and vessel information, please see the ACE website.

Cost of £3395 includes: return travel, accommodation based on sharing a twin cabin (main deck), breakfast, seven lunches, nine dinners with unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, tea & coffee, shore excursions & admissions, musical performance in Vienna (subject to confirmation), gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, upper deck twin cabin supplement of £250 per person, twin cabin for single use supplement of £600 for a main deck cabin or £1000 for an upper deck cabin. Further supplements available on request.

Nara TOUR CODE: DANC22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

GERMANY | HUNGARY | AUSTRIA | SLOVAKIA

Budapest

aceculturaltours.co.uk

37

GREECE

Athens, Delphi & the Peloponnese

Antiphellos Theatre

October 17–27, 2022

Acrocorinth

Explore Greece’s classical archaeology, taking in ancient temples, palaces and fortresses Visit Delphi, located in striking surroundings beneath Mount Parnassus Discover the Acropolis of Athens and its dedicated museum, containing the mesmerising caryatid sculptures Our journey across the Peloponnese embraces some of the most evocative names from ancient Greece: Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games; Mycenae, from where Agamemnon went to war against Troy; and, soaring above the Gulf of Corinth, Delphi, the ‘centre of the world’.

The wealth of Corinth is epitomised by the Doric Temple of Apollo and the magnificent buildings of the Roman forum. At Epidaurus, the most celebrated healing centre of the ancient world, we will explore the sanctuary of Asklepios, god of healing, and the well-preserved theatre, renowned for its harmonious proportions and wonderful acoustics.

38

This tour will be led by Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, who studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist, specialising in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. A member of the Society for Libyan Studies and the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies, Andrew has led many tours for ACE in the GrecoRoman world as well as several in Britain, with a particular emphasis on the archaeology of his native Scotland.

Another early highlight is the Bronze Age site of Tiryns, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to an evocative fortress; while at the astonishing Lion Gate at Mycenae – tracing the footsteps of Heinrich Schliemann – we will view the grave circle and palace megaron.

We will also visit Mystras near Sparta, a former Frankish outpost housing the Palace of Despots – a rare example of Byzantine civic architecture – as well as numerous churches adorned with 14th and 15th century frescoes.

Moving onwards in our journey, we will discover the spectacular sanctuaries of Olympia and Delphi, both sites of enormous significance in the religious world of ancient Greece. The Archaeological Museum at Delphi holds some of the most magnificent artefacts from the Mediterranean world, including the bronze Charioteer of Delphi and the stone omphalos or ‘naval of the world’.

Our tour builds to a fitting finale in Athens. Stepping inside the Acropolis Museum, we will explore fascinating finds from over two thousand years of history, including the mesmerising caryatid statues, and make a visit to the impressive Parthenon Gallery. Our visit to the Acropolis itself will take in the Propylaia – the monumental gateway – together with the Parthenon and the Erechtheion.

We will stay throughout in hotels of three and four-star quality.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: We recommend that participants have a good level of overall fitness for this tour, which has a full itinerary to make the most of our time in Greece, including some early starts, long walks and long coach journeys. Many visits will involve traversing rugged or uneven ground. Participants should meet our usual fitness requirements, as described in our Booking Terms and Conditions.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

GREECE

Delphi

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Our itinerary may also be adjusted further on the ground.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 0845 on British Airways, arriving Athens 1435. Transfer to Hotel Amalia, Nafplion, for three nights.

Welcome and introductory talk: Homer and the Mycenaean Age. Day 2 Visits to ancient Corinth (forum, Temple of Apollo, Archaeological Museum, South Stoa) and Mycenae for Treasury of Atreus (beehive tomb), Lion Gate, grave circle, palace megaron and museum. Evening talk: Greek Theatre.

Day 3 Visits to Tiryns (Mycenaean fortress with cyclopean walls), Argos (agora, bath complex, theatre), Epidaurus (theatre with remarkable acoustics, sanctuary of Asklepios) and Palamidi fortress (commanding views). Evening talk: The Byzantine Church. Please note today’s visits to Argos and Palamidi are time permitting.

Day 4 Mystras: Palace of Despots, beautifully situated churches with 14th and 15th century frescoes. Continue to Pylos for two nights at Hotel Philip. Evening talk: Navarino Bay. Day 5 Nestor’s Palace at Pylos and Ottoman Neokastro fortress (dramatic views over Navarino Bay). Free afternoon in Pylos.

Day 6 Messini (magnificent circuit of 4th century BC walls, sanctuary of Asklepios and stadium) then continue to Olympia for two nights at Hotel Amalia. Evening talk: The Olympic Games.

Day 7 Ancient Olympia (home of the Olympic Games): palaestra, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, stadium, Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Some free time with option to visit the Museum of the Olympic Games. Evening talk: The Oracle at Delphi.

Evoking Legend at Nestor’s Palace Andrew writes: “So many archaeological highlights feature on this long established tour, including the great ‘Homeric’ palaces at Mycenae and Tiryns, but I have a special fondness for Nestor’s kingdom of ‘sandy Pylos’ in the western Peloponnese. Legend tells that Odysseus’s son Telemachus, while searching for his wandering father, ended up at Nestor’s Palace, where the old king prepared some fine wine for his guest and poured a little out as a libation. When we visit the excavated palace and stand in the throne room, we can picture the scene, brought to life by the small channel next to where the throne would have been, and imagine the wine soaking into the floor as a sacrifice to Athena. It’s an evocative scene in a special place, one of many on this tour.”

Day 8 Via Rio-Antirrio bridge to Delphi for visits: temples of Athena and Apollo, gymnasium, theatre and Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

Overnight at Hotel Amalia Delphi.

Day 9 Further visits in Delphi including sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Transfer to Athens, visiting walled monastery of Hosios Loukas en route (subject to confirmation). Two nights at Hotel Herodion, Athens. Evening talk: Athenian Religion.

Day 10 Whole day exploring Athens on foot: Acropolis Museum (Parthenon sculptures, Peplos Kore and caryatids), Agora and Stoa of Attalus, Acropolis, Propylaia, Parthenon and Erechtheion.

Day 11 Morning visit to National Archaeological Museum (time permitting). Depart Athens 1500, arriving Heathrow 1655.

Cost of £2895 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £485.

TOUR CODE: PELO22

aceculturaltours.co.uk

39

INDIA

Wonders of South India

Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

Visit the UNESCO monuments of Mahabalipuram, including Rivage Temple resplendent with thousands of sculptures dedicated to Shiva

settlements of Pondicherry and Tharangambadi. Remnants of India’s empires will be seen in Thanjavur, once capital of the Chola dynasty, and the seafront Pallava Kingdom temple complex of Mahabalipuram.

Explore the stunning monuments of Thanjavur, from the 11th century Brihadeshwara Temple to the Saraswati Mahal Library, one of the oldest of its kind in the world

The elaborately designed temples of Madurai and Kanchipuram will provide glimpses into the story of Hinduism both past and present, while the churches of Chennai and Fort Kochi will bring to life the journey of Christianity across the subcontinent.

Stay in some of South India’s heritage properties, offering beautiful architecture and fascinating glimpses into the past This 17-day tour of Southern India offers a visual and sensory feast for all tastes.

Spanning the width of the southern half of the subcontinent, our journey will take in some of India’s great architectural, religious and cultural highlights.

Author and travel writer Cosmo Samuel Brockway will be our guide as we explore the treasures of this varied and beguiling region, from the historical monuments of Chennai to the atmospheric colonial 40

We will enjoy the astonishing scenery and serenity of Kerala’s Malabar Coast, elephant spotting from the lake at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and cruising its famous backwaters on a traditional houseboat, before experiencing a melting pot of cultures at Fort Kochi, home to Chinese fishing nets, tiled synagogues and glorious period buildings.

The energetic city of Mumbai will reveal its many treasures, including the famed UNESCO World Heritage site of Elephanta Island with its 5th century cave carvings. We will also enjoy a dawn heritage walk through Jewish built markets and Gothic edifices, and a curated tour of a leading museum collection.

Interactions with local figures will give the tour a personal flavour as we hear stories from lives led across South India, and learn about some of the most ancient and colourful communities in the world.

Opportunities will also be taken to sample South India’s appetising cuisine, including a ‘food walk’ through the lively streets of Madurai.

OUR ACCOMMODATION India is rightly famed for its wonderful hotels, including heritage properties that immerse travellers in the architectural splendours of the past and offer fascinating insights of their own.

Tempting us onward at every stage, our accommodation will range from Chennai’s Taj Connemara Hotel, bursting with history, to the stunning surroundings and city views of The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai in Madurai, and from the relaxing natural surroundings and wildlife of CGH Earth Spice Village to the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. The majority of hotels are of a four or five-star standard.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

NAVEEN RAJ DHANAPAL / UNSPLASH

November 12–28, 2022

INDIA

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

Some visits will involve walking across uneven or rugged ground, as well as the occasional incline.

The visit to Tiruchirappalli will involve a climb up to a rock temple. The visit to Elephanta Island in Mumbai will include a 120-step ascent to the site entrance, however there is an option to be carried by chair for those who wish. The tour involves several walking tours and participants must be comfortable spending up to two and a half hours on their feet. We will undertake a number of long coach journeys (with stops) and hotel changes, and some environments (such as the Sassoon Docks and Flower Market) may also be crowded.

ITINERARY Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and certain elements (including our accommodation) may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1400 on British Airways.

Day 2 Arrive Chennai 0535 and transfer to the Taj Connemara Hotel (renowned heritage hotel, opened in 1854) for overnight. Welcome and introduction followed by orientation coach tour of Chennai including Fort St George, Cathedral of San Thome (believed to be the final resting place of St Thomas) and Government Museum (fine collection of bronze and stone sculptures).

Day 3 UNESCO monuments of Mahabalipuram: 7th century seaport of the Pallava dynasty (cave temples, huge rock bas-reliefs, Rivage Temple with thousands of sculptures dedicated to Shiva).

Some free time. Two nights at Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa. Day 4 Morning visit to Kanchipuram (ancient Hindu temple city) followed by opportunity to visit bazaars and some free time. Free evening.

Day 5 Transfer to Pondicherry for two nights at The Promenade Hotel (located on the waterfront). Afternoon walking tour of the French Quarter including White Town Promenade, Cluny Embroidery Centre, Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Cathedral of

aceculturaltours.co.uk

Thanjavur Palace the Immaculate Conception and Pondicherry Museum (time permitting).

excursion (subject to confirmation) looking out for elephants and possibly tigers.

Day 6 Further visits in Pondicherry including Auroville Ashram (experimental international community founded in 1968): meditation temple (matrimandir) and artisan workshops. Free afternoon and evening.

Day 12 To the Malabar Coast for scenic houseboat cruise along backwater canals (including lunch). Continue by coach to Kochi for three nights at Fragrant Nature Hotel.

Day 7 Via Chidambaram (Parvati Temple) and Tharangambadi (former Danish colony) to Thanjavur (former capital of the Chola Dynasty, 10th-11th century). Two nights at the Svatma Hotel, Thanjavur (beautiful heritage hotel).

Day 8 Full day of visits in Thanjavur: Brihadeshwara Temple (dedicated to Shiva and a fine example of Dravidian architecture), Maratha Palace (constructed by the rulers of the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom), Saraswati Mahal Library (one of the oldest libraries in Asia, dating back to the 16th century). Free evening.

Day 9 To Madurai via ancient city of Tiruchirappalli (time permitting). Two nights at The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai Madurai (superb heritage hotel set amidst tranquil gardens with magnificent views over the city). Evening: night ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple (subject to confirmation).

Day 10 Morning visits in Madurai (IndoSaracenic Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Meenakshi Temple) followed by free afternoon. Evening: South Indian ‘Food Walk’ featuring various tastings of local cuisine.

Day 11 To Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary for overnight at CGH Earth Spice Village (eco resort). Afternoon lake boat

Day 13 Morning lecture: The History of Fort Kochi and its Communities. Visits in Kochi including Church of St Francis, old ‘Dutch’ Mattancherry Palace, synagogue, convent school.

Evening performance by Kathakali dancers and independent dinner.

Day 14 Morning motorboat excursion from Fort Kochi Harbour, including tour of Kochi Harbour and Bolgatty Island. Free afternoon.

Day 15 Morning flight to Mumbai for two nights at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (Tower Wing).

Afternoon visit to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum).

Day 16 Optional dawn visit to the Sassoon Docks and Flower Market, followed by boat trip to Elephanta Island for its Hindu Cave Temples.

Day 17 Depart Mumbai 1315, arriving Heathrow 1800.

Cost of £5395 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, eleven lunches with water, eleven dinners with water & tea/ coffee, excursions, gratuities.

Not included: visa, travel insurance, twin or double room for single use supplement £1250.

TOUR CODE: WSIN22

41

THAMIZHPPARITHI MAARI CC BY-SA 3.0

Tour Director Cosmo Samuel Brockway is a travel writer, author and journalist who has spent many years in India. A specialist in South Asian culture and expert on architecture and design, Cosmo has written for leading publications including Architectural Digest and The Telegraph. He has led many tours to the subcontinent as well as around the world, and is looking forward to introducing ACE travellers to the wonders of Southern India in 2022.

2022 Schedule Overview Some details may be subject to change. Please visit aceculturaltours.co.uk for more information.

January 17–21

Wildlife of Suffolk: Minsmere & Orford Ness

27–2/2

Mozart Festival in Salzburg

February 9–12

Somerset Levels in Winter

17–20

Bath Bachfest

March

April

1–7

Venice: The Triumph of Light & Colour

5–10

Flemish Painting: From van Eyck to Rubens

7–12

Aquileia: City of Antiquity

5–12

Sardinia: Birds, Flowers & Nuraghi

7–14

Art on the Côte d’Azur

12–18

14–18

Roman & Byzantine Ravenna

Festtage: Music & Opera in Berlin

21–26

Art Treasures of Dresden: Porcelain & Paintings

19–23

Mid-Century Modern in the Heart of England

23–26

Art Collections of Liverpool

19–26

Crete: Birds, Flowers & Minoans

Roussillon

25–9/5

Lycian Cruise

28–7/4

Jordan: Kingdoms of the Desert

29–5/5

Pompeii with Herculaneum

28–8/4

Jazz: From New Orleans to Memphis

May

30–4/4

Cornwall Calling: The Artists of Newlyn, Lamorna & St Ives

28–4/4

Lycian Cruise

42

3–7

Great Bardfield & Beyond: Mid-Century Art & Design in East Anglia

9–13

The Vienna Secession

10–17

Isles of Scilly

10–19

Ancient Sicily

11–18

Gardens of the Republic of Ireland

16–21

Dutch Masters: Van Gogh, Rembrandt & Mondrian

16–24

Art & Architecture of the Tyrol

16–24

Great Art Collections of New England

16–26

Cyclades: Ancient Islands of the Aegean

17–21

Northamptonshire Country Houses

18–25

Isle of Man: A Wild & Ancient Heritage

20–27

Douro River Cruise on the Royal Barge

23–26

Artists of the North

23–26

William Morris & the PreRaphaelites in Oxford

aceculturaltours.co.uk

June 6–13

The Shetland Islands

12–17

Aldeburgh Festival

13–20

Bach Festival in Leipzig

13–25

Northern Greece

14–20

Irish Houses, Castles & Gardens

14–29

Southern Russia: Kossacks, Kalmyks & the Caucasus

19–23

Gardens of the Cotswolds

21–26

Bauhaus: German Modern Art & Design

29–4/7

Wagner in Leipzig

July

27–31

Hereford Three Choirs Festival

19–30

Serbian Monasteries

27–4/8

The Hanseatic League: An Artistic Legacy

20–26

Art & Architecture of Puglia

21–30

Albania: From the Illyrians to the Ottomans

23–30

Douro River Cruise on the Royal Barge

26–1/10

Aquileia: City of Antiquity

August 2–5

Churches of Norfolk: An Appointment with Angels

8–12

Dorset Country Houses

8–12

Romney Marsh Churches

18–22

International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

3–7

Bruges

3–10

Roussillon

20–27

Schubert in Schwarzenberg

13–23

Ancient Cyprus

22–25

Artists’ Houses in Sussex

17–27

22–26

Northumbria in the First Millennium

Athens, Delphi & the Peloponnese

18–3/11

29–2/9

Derbyshire Halls & Houses

Japan in Autumn: History, Art & Landscape

29–7/9

Danube River Cruise

24–31

Piero della Francesca

30–3/9

Art Collections & Stately Homes of the West Country Sibelius Festival in Finland

2–9

Wild & Ancient Orkney

3–9

Swedish Palaces & Castles

4–11

Ireland’s Ancient Heartland

10–15

York Early Music Festival

11–14

Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk

30–5/9

11–15

Churches of Suffolk

11–18

Wildlife of the Austrian Alps

September

12–19

Wild & Ancient Orkney

13–18

October

Glyndebourne Wexford Opera Festival

November 7–14

5–9

Great Scottish Houses of the Enlightenment

Renaissance Florence: City of Wonders

12–28

Wonders of Southern India

Verona Opera Festival

5–10

Isle of Wight

16–20

Bath Mozartfest

15–20

Buxton International Festival

5–11

Oberammergau Passion Play

19–2/12

Archaeology of Morocco

18–22

Prehistoric & Roman Anglesey & Snowdonia

12–16

Roman & Byzantine Ravenna

Music & Opera in Vienna

19–24

Country Houses of North Norfolk

Oxford College Chapels & Organs

19–26

Art on the Côte d’Azur

18–22

Romney Marsh Churches

23–27

Hereford Three Choirs Festival

01223 841055

43

SUYASH AGRAWAL / UNSPLASH

Japan in Autumn: History, Art & Landscape

Our Experts View our full list of Tour Directors and their tours online at aceculturaltours.co.uk/tour-directors

Tom Abbott Tom Abbott, BA, MA, is an independent art and architectural historian associated with the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens.

He is a proficient lecturer and tour leader, with extensive experience directing cultural and art tours across Europe to destinations including Germany, France, Italy and Poland. His expertise ranges from the medieval to the current.

Harriet Allen Harriet Allen, PhD, is a geographer and a Fellow, Tutor and Director of Studies at Girton College, Cambridge. Harriet is Chair of the Biogeography Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and a Coordinating Editor for the journal Landscape Ecology.

Christopher Bourne Christopher Bourne, BA, read History and French at the University of Manchester and lived and worked in Brussels for 15 years, where he was an architectural tour guide and freelance translator and editor. He is an expert on art and architecture, particularly of Belgium, the Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession. Now based in London, Christopher is a member of the Victorian Society and the 20th Century Society.

Cosmo Samuel Brockway Cosmo Samuel Brockway is a journalist, tour leader and award-winning author. He writes for leading publications on culture and design, including Architectural Digest, The World of Interiors and The Telegraph. Cosmo has led tours across the world, from India to Norway, and from the Holy Land to the Greek island of Patmos. He is also well acquainted with many of the finest private country estates in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Judy Brown Judy Brown is a Scottish mezzo-soprano who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A much sought-after recitalist, opera and consort singer, she works with the Monteverdi Choir under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the Dunedin Consort, the Academy of Ancient Music and Scottish Opera.

John Bryden John Bryden, MA, ARCM, ARCO, is an international concert pianist and organist who has given concerts at venues ranging from Princeton and Kathmandu to the Wigmore Hall. Formerly a senior lecturer in music at Dartington College, John has also taught at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh and at Edinburgh University.

Sarah Burles Sarah Burles, MA, studied History of Art at Cambridge and gained a Masters at University College London before going on to a career in museum and gallery education. This included 12 years at the Fitzwilliam Museum as well as work in other Cambridge museums. An accredited Arts Society lecturer, Sarah has a passion for making museums and their collections accessible.

44

Sandy Burnett Sandy Burnett, MA, is a musician and broadcaster who spent over a decade as one of the core classical music presenters on BBC Radio 3, interviewing many of the world’s finest musicians.

Sandy has conducted numerous orchestras and choirs, and has masterminded a complete cycle of J S Bach’s sacred cantatas.

Emilie Capulet Emilie Capulet, RSA, MMus, PhD, is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Head of Classical Performance at the London College of Music.

Emilie studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and she regularly performs in international concert halls and at music festivals.

Emilie has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, CBC’s Radio Canada, France Bleu Provence and Nicaraguan television and radio.

Mark Corney Mark Corney, BA, FSA, is a specialist in Roman history and former presenter on Channel 4’s Time Team. Mark is an Honorary Research Fellow at Bristol University and is a former investigator with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.

Imogen Corrigan Imogen Corrigan, BA, MPhil, FRSA, spent nearly 20 years in the British Army and retired in the rank of Major before turning to a life-long interest in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History, which she studied at the University of Kent. A proficient lecturer on medieval history and particularly church art and architecture, and accredited with the Arts Society, Imogen has also gained an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. Her book Stone on Stone: The Men Who Built the Cathedrals was published in 2019.

Rupert Dickens Rupert Dickens, BA, MA, studied art history at Birkbeck, University of London before gaining a Masters degree in Dutch Golden Age Studies at University College London. Previously a BBC television and radio journalist for more than 20 years, Rupert has been visiting and working in the Netherlands and Belgium since the 1980s. He now works as a guide lecturer at the Wallace Collection and is an Arts Society accredited lecturer.

Peter Exley Peter Exley, BSc, is an ecologist and ornithologist who works for the RSPB. Peter has also held posts with BirdLife International and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. He has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Algarve, New England, Madeira, the Faroes and Shetland.

Suzanne Fagence Cooper Suzanne Fagence Cooper, MA, PhD, is a curator and historian who specialises in 19th and 20th century British art. An Arts Society accredited lecturer, she was a curator and Research Fellow at the V&A Museum for 12 years and has collaborated with many of Britain’s regional museum collections.

She is the author of To See Clearly: Why Ruskin Matters (2019), and curated the 2019 exhibition Turner, Ruskin & the Storm Cloud at York Art Gallery.

Oliver Gerrish Oliver Gerrish, MSt, is an architectural historian who studied at the University of Cambridge. He is a trustee of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust as well as founder of their Architecture Awards.

Oliver has written for Country Life, appeared in a number of BBC and ITV television series on architecture, and organised and led numerous tours to many of Britain’s historical buildings.

Kevin Hand Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, is a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. Kevin led a Darwin Initiative project on the taiga forests in Siberia, a project on sustainable forest use in the Ecuadorean Amazon with the Yachana Foundation, and ran National Tree Week in the UK for 13 years. He is also President of the Cambridge Natural History Society.

Caroline Hannah Caroline Hannah, BA, has a degree in English Literature & History of Art as well as a universityaccredited Garden Design Qualification from the University of Essex/Writtle University College. For many years Caroline ran her own garden design business, and has undertaken both commercial and residential projects. She has given talks on garden design, and also conducted a live question and answer session on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Juliet Heslewood Juliet Heslewood, MA, is an author and art historian. Juliet studied History of Art at London University and later gained an MA in English Literature at Toulouse. For over 25 years she lived in France where she devised and led study tours on art and architecture. Juliet’s books include Van Gogh: A Life in Places.

Charles Hind Charles Hind, MA, FSA, is an architectural historian and the H J Heinz Curator of Drawings at the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Visiting Fellow at the Centro Palladio, Vicenza, as well as a Trustee of the Great Dixter Trust, the Lutyens Trust and the Walpole Society.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

Paul Jackson Paul Jackson, BA, MA, PGCE, is a conductor, pianist, musicologist and former Director of Music at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Paul has enjoyed an extensive career as a conductor of opera and as a chamber musician, performing widely in the UK, Europe and America.

Russell Keable Russell Keable, BA MMus, trained at the universities of Nottingham and London and studied conducting with George Hurst and Norman Del Mar at London’s Royal College of Music. He currently teaches at the University of Surrey and is active as a composer, arranger, lecturer, broadcaster and performer.

Philip Kenrick Philip Kenrick, MA, DPhil, is an archaeologist who gained his doctorate on pottery from British excavations at Benghazi. Philip has worked in Libya, Sicily, Italy, Turkey and Jordan, and is a former treasurer of the Society for Libyan Studies, as well as the author of two Libya Archaeological Guides and co-author of Classical Antiquities of Algeria: A Selective Guide.

Oliver Kenzie Oliver Kenzie, BA, MRes is a Cambridge-based archaeologist, specialising in Early Iron Age Greece. Following his BA in Archaeology at the University of Birmingham, Oliver undertook postgraduate research on Early Iron Age religion.

He lived for a short time in Athens, conducting research at the British School at Athens.

Mike King Mike King, BA, MA, is a museum professional with over 30 years’ experience, who has worked in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Currently Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Mike lectures, guides and publishes widely, and is particularly interested in engaging travellers in Irish archaeology, the early medieval culture of Britain and Ireland and European pilgrimage.

Marcus Kohler Marcus Kohler, BA, is an ecologist and ornithologist. Formerly of BirdLife International, Marcus now works as a freelance international wildlife consultant, supporting conservation projects as well as leading wildlife tours across the world. He is also Managing Director of MKA Ecology, a successful ecological consultancy he founded in 1998.

Alex Koller Alex Koller, PhD, is an expert in art history and architecture. Born in Vienna, Alex has lived and studied in Vienna, Salzburg and Cambridge, gaining his PhD in history of art from Magdalene College, Cambridge. Alex is an accomplished linguist and has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the Far East.

Steve Mastin Steve Mastin, MA, PGCE, FHA, studied history and classics before working as a school teacher for 17 years. During this time he organised and led many trips abroad, and has also worked overseas training history teachers in Singapore, Australia and Kazakhstan. Steve is a regular speaker at history conferences.

01223 841055

Donald Maxwell Donald Maxwell is an operatic baritone, director and lecturer. He performs with leading opera companies all over the world, including La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden.

Donald was also Director of the National Opera Studio and Head of Opera Studies at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Diana Ward Diana Ward, MSc, CBiol, MCIEEM, is an ecologist and wildlife specialist. Her company, Ward Ecology Ltd, carries out ecological assessment work, and she has worked for many years on Sites of Special Scientific Interest and river restoration projects.

She was Senior Editor of The Rivers & Wildlife Handbook.

Carolyn Perry Carolyn Perry, BA, is an archaeologist and educator with extensive experience of the Mediterranean world. Following a degree in Classics and Archaeology, Carolyn lectured in Ancient History and Mythology at Queen Mary College, University of London, before spending several years in the Education Department at the British Museum. She was also Manager of the Petrie Museum of Archaeology, UCL.

Nicholas Wearne Nicholas Wearne, BA, MPhil, is a former ACE Bursary student, who holds a Junior Fellowship at Birmingham Conservatoire. His career as a solo organist has taken him all over the world, and he was winner of the Poul Ruders Prize at the 2011 Odense International Organ Competition.

Nicholas has also held the prestigious position of organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square.

Alan Powers Alan Powers, PhD, is one of the UK’s leading architectural historians, and has published widely on all aspects of 20th century architecture and design. Alan was Professor at the University of Greenwich School and currently lectures at New York University in London. His books include Bauhaus Goes West: Modern Art & Design in Britain & America.

Mark Welch Mark Welch, PhD, has been a research scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London for over 25 years. He has a PhD in geosciences from Edinburgh University, and taught crystallography at Cambridge University for nine years. Mark has led many field trips in the UK as a geologist and naturalist, and is currently involved in surveying bees and flies for a wide range of sites in East Anglia.

Ashley Solomon Ashley Solomon, HonRCM, ARAM, is Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music and Director of Baroque ensemble Florilegium. As a result of his commitment to editing and performing music from the Mission Churches of Chiquitos and Moxos Indians in Bolivia, Ashley was the first European to be awarded the coveted Hans Roth Prize in 2008.

Andrew Spira Andrew Spira, MA, studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art and City University, London. For several years he was a specialist in Byzantine and Russian icons at the Temple Gallery, London, before working as a curator at the V&A Museum.

Andrew was subsequently Programme Director at Christie’s Education, and has been leading tours across Europe for over 20 years.

Martin Symington Martin Symington is one of Britain’s most prolific travel journalists, regularly contributing to The Times, The Daily Mail and Wanderlust. Born and brought up in Oporto, he is the author of the Dorling Kindersley guidebook to Portugal and the AA Essential Guide to Portugal.

Lars Tharp Lars Tharp, MA, FSA, Hon DLitt, is a Danishborn art historian, lecturer and broadcaster who has worked on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow as well as Hidden Treasures and Art of the Baroque. A former Director of the Foundling Museum, Lars is a ceramics specialist who has curated or overseen exhibitions at York Art Gallery and the Foundling Museum. Lars’s publications include Hogarth’s China.

Lucrezia Walker Lucrezia Walker, BA, MA, lectures at the National Gallery and teaches the London Art History Programme for the University of North Carolina.

She has 20 years’ experience of leading cultural tours in major European cities, and has lived, studied and worked in Italy. Lucrezia is the author of several books, and was previously Galleries Correspondent for The Tablet.

Christopher Wellington Christopher Wellington, MA, graduated in history from Cambridge University, but has spent most of his career working in Italy, where he lives with his family in Piacenza. He is a recognised guide in Emilia Romagna, and his professional interests include history, the Church, and art and architecture, especially of the Middle Ages.

Adam White Adam White, PhD, is an art historian and curator with expertise in country house collections. He studied at Oxford University and the Courtauld Institute of Art, and is one of Britain’s leading authorities on English sculpture of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. He has held the position of Hon Curator of Collections at Lotherton Hall in Yorkshire.

Richard Wigmore Richard Wigmore, MA, AGSM, is a writer, broadcaster, lecturer and former professional singer. Richard specialises in Viennese Classics, Lieder and Opera and writes for Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and other journals. He has lectured at Birkbeck College, the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, and his publications include Schubert: The Complete Song Texts and the Faber Pocket Guide to Haydn.

Andrew Wilson Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, is a specialist in archaeology and ancient history with a particular interest in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. Andrew is a member of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He is also a member of the Hadrianic Society.

45

BOOKING PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS

Booking Procedure and Conditions Please complete the booking form and return it with the deposit required.

Alternatively, you can either book online or by telephone.

Upon receipt of your deposit we will send you a confirmation/invoice with, in most cases, a reading list. An itinerary, practical information and travel documents (if applicable) will be sent to you three weeks before the commencement of the tour.

INTRODUCTION ACE Cultural Tours meets or exceeds all the requirements of the Package Travel Regulations 2018, full details of which can be found online at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2018/634/contents/made In addition, flight-inclusive tours benefit from the financial protection afforded by our Air Travel Organiser’s License (ATOL 10204), whilst UK and other tours without flights are protected through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). We are also long-term members of the Association of Independent Tours Operators (AITO). For your own safety and financial security we do not recommend you book a holiday that does not benefit from the above protection.

The Package Travel Regulations 2018 together with the following booking information and our promotional material form the basis of your contract with ACE Cultural Tours. We have tried to keep this as concise and simple as possible, so please read all the following paragraphs to make sure you understand and are happy with the terms of your booking.

PAYMENT All tours and courses costing up to £250 per person must be paid in full at the time of booking.

If you are booking 10 weeks or more before departure, the following deposits are payable at the time of booking: £250 per person for UK tours. £350 per person for all European tours. £450 per person for Worldwide tours.

The balance must be received by us not less than 10 weeks prior to departure.This date will be shown on the confirmation invoice.

Reminders are not sent, so please make a note of the date in your diary.

If you are booking less than 10 weeks before departure, full payment for all tours must be made at the time of booking.

46

NO SURCHARGES Tour prices are confirmed at the time of booking and thereafter will not be subject to any surcharge. We have forward purchase of currency and other precautions in order to guarantee your holiday is not affected by fluctuations in fuel or currency rates. In the event of extraordinary circumstances making the tour unviable we would offer you a full refund or credit note or an alternative tour.

CANCELLATION BY YOU You may cancel your booking at any time before departure. Notice of cancellation must be in writing and because we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking, the following charges will apply (for which we suggest you purchase appropriate insurance): Notice period

Cancellation charge

70 days or more

Deposit only

69-29 days

60% of total booking value

28-15 days

90% of total booking value

14 days or less

100% of total booking value

COVID-19 If you have to cancel as a result of COVID-19 the above charges will not apply, subject to receipt of a medical note or other official proof of restriction of movement due to COVID-19.

CANCELLATION BY US We reserve the right to cancel your booking if there are insufficient bookings on your tour (this will depend on tour type and destination) or for other unforeseen operational reasons. In such an event, we will provide you with at least 70 days’ notice of cancellation and provide you with a full refund.

Very occasionally, due to extraordinary circumstances in the immediate vicinity of the destination, it may be necessary to cancel the tour with less than 70 days’ notice, in which case we will likewise provide you with a full refund.

Note that in either situation we cannot reimburse any incidental expenses you may have incurred (for example, train fares, additional accommodation or connecting flights). If you are buying your own flights, please liaise with the office before committing to significant expenditure.

CHANGES BY US We do our utmost to ensure that all the arrangements and visits are as described.

However, it is in the nature of travel that changes are sometimes inevitable, although most of these will be minor in nature. In the event that a particular visit is not possible, we will aim to replace it with another of equal interest. If we have to make more significant changes to the itinerary in advance of departure, we will provide you with a choice of a refund, credit note or an alternative itinerary.

ACCOMMODATION Accommodation in hotels is in twin/double bedded rooms, the majority of which have private bath/shower and toilet.

On cruise ships, accommodation is in cabins with shower and toilet only.

Single rooms: despite the fact that single rooms carry a supplement, such accommodation is sometimes not of the same standard as twin/double accommodation. Single rooms may not always be in the same area of the hotel as a twin/double and the single supplement does not necessarily mean a twin/double room will be provided for single occupancy. Please note that ACE Cultural Tours very much welcomes single travellers and we make no profit from single room supplements.The costs are simply down to the economics of running a hotel.

Porterage is included on overseas tours where available.

FLIGHTS & TICKETS Specific instructions relating to the departure and travel arrangements will be sent with your air and/or other travel tickets approximately 2 weeks before departure.

It is essential that you check your tickets carefully immediately upon receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times.

Occasionally carriers will make late changes to departure times but we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs.

We will always aim to provide you with the name of your likely airline and flight times when you make a booking. However, flight schedules are set by the airlines and outside our control. We therefore reserve the right to change the actual carrier and flight times for your tour.

In accordance with the regulations, we are required to bring your attention to the Community List of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the UK & EU: https:// ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/airban/search_en.

aceculturaltours.co.uk

BOOKING PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS HEALTH & SAFETY We operate a safety audit system and work hard with our suppliers to ensure the safety and comfort of our travellers. However, please note that some of the destinations to which we travel have lower requirements and standards than those of the UK. It is therefore essential that you follow any instructions and guidance provided by your tour manager or director.

FITNESS All tours involve a significant amount of walking, often over uneven paths, hillsides or steps.You should be prepared to walk at a reasonable pace for at least 60 minutes and additionally stand for at least 30 minutes without requiring a rest.

DIETARY AND SPECIAL REQUESTS Please advise us at the time of booking of any food allergies or special dietary requirements you may have for medical or religious reasons and we will do our very best to assist.We are also happy to cater for vegetarians or pescatarians. It is not, however, possible to offer extensive choices at every meal to cater for food preferences as many of our menu selections are fixed. Inclusion of the dietary or special request on your booking confirmation or any other documentation is not a guarantee that the request will be met.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS Whilst we will provide details of any compulsory health requirements applicable to British citizens for your tour, it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before departure.

Please check with a doctor or clinic not less than ten weeks prior to departure to ensure that you have met the necessary requirements and have the applicable information.The following website may also be helpful: travelhealthpro.org.uk For tours in the EU/EEA you should obtain an GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) prior to departure from https://www.ghic. org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do. Please note that an GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance.

You must be in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure (and pay for any related costs).

We regret that we cannot accept any liability if you incur fees or are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation.

01223 841055

MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR DISABILITY We aim to provide authentic cultural experiences and to maximise the time spent on tour. As a result, the majority of itineraries are quite intensive and can be tiring. They may involve a significant amount of walking, uneven surfaces at outdoor sites or in historic buildings, long journeys, and uncomfortable climatic conditions which might exacerbate existing medical or mobility issues. Destinations include many countries with lower standards of health and safety than the UK and limited adaptations for people with reduced mobility. Some destinations do not (and cannot reasonably be expected to) provide emergency and/or health care to the standard that travellers with mobility and/or health conditions may require in the event of any form of incident or emergency.

For the above reasons, our holidays may not be suitable for people with certain disabilities, medical conditions or significantly reduced mobility.

If you suffer from any medical condition, disability or reduced mobility (including any which affect the booking process) or have any special requirements as a result, please tell us before making your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and in order that we can assess the potential risks to your welfare and health and safety.

If we feel that we cannot reasonably accommodate your needs, we reserve the right to decline your booking or, if full details are not given at the time of booking or the condition/ disability develops after booking, cancel when we become aware of these details.

When we refer to reduced mobility, this means any material reduction in mobility whether this is permanent or temporary and whether caused by age or by physical or mental disability or impairment or other cause of disability.

INSURANCE We consider comprehensive travel insurance essential for all tours (UK and abroad), including cover for medical expenses, infectious diseases, repatriation and personal liability, as well as cancelled, delayed and missed departure and loss or damage to personal possessions. Whilst accidental damage is a rare occurrence, your insurance should also cover any damage or loss caused by you and cover any resultant claims made against you or us. For overseas tours, you must give us details in writing of your insurance, preferably on your booking form but in any case no later than before the departure date of your tour. If you fail to do so, we reserve the right to cancel your booking.

We recommend that insurance premiums are paid as soon as possible as cover (in particular cancellation cover) will not be effective until you have done so. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs.

We cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of this contract, for example, any additional services or facilities that you agree directly with a local hotel or other supplier. Please make sure you have adequate insurance to cover such services and the acts of other third parties.

CONSIDERATION FOR FELLOW TRAVELLERS One of the great pleasures of ACE tours is meeting other people with shared interests and making new friends. This has always depended on mutual consideration for your fellow travellers. We therefore reserve the right that in the unlikely event you cause danger, upset or distress to any third party, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate your tour without liability for any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

PASSPORTS & VISAS Whilst we will provide guidance for each individual tour and help where we can, your specific passport, visa and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassy or consulate. In particular, if you are not a British Citizen or hold a non-British passport, you must check the requirements for all countries to or through which you are intending to travel. Requirements may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.

For some tours and destinations we will require a copy of the picture page of your passport.

ISSUES If you are unhappy with any element of your tour or the arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can attempt to resolve the issue. If you are on tour you should speak directly to your tour manager or tour director and not wait until you return home, when it may be impossible for us to help. In the unlikely event that we cannot agree a satisfactory outcome between us, we will ask AITO’s Independent Dispute Settlement Service to find an amicable solution.

Our contract with you is subject to English law (and no other) and the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales only.

47

✁

A C E C U LT U R A L T O U R S – B O O K I N G F O R M Tour Information Tour Code Tour Title

Booking Ref.

Deposit/Full Payments

Total First Participant

n Male

Title:............... Surname: ............................................................................ (as shown in passport):

n Female

n Vegetarian

n Single Room

First & Middle Names:....................................................................................... (as shown in passport):

Passport details

(if different from first name and surname in passport)

(required for overseas tours only) We require a copy of the picture page of your passport for long haul tours and destinations requiring a visa.

Address:...........................................................................................................

Nationality:

...........................................................................................................................

Passport Number:

...........................................................................................................................

Date of Issue (D/M/Y):

Tel/Mob:...........................................................................................................

Date of Expiry

Known as:........................................................................................................

Email: ................................................................................................................

Date of Birth

(D/M/Y):

/

/

...................................................................................................

:

(D/M/Y)

/

/

/

/

Place of Birth: ...................................................................................................

Country of issue:................................................................................................

Special dietary requests/allergies: ..................................................................

Second Participant

n Male

Title:............... Surname: ............................................................................ (as shown in passport):

Known as:........................................................................................................ (if different from first name and surname in passport)

Address:...........................................................................................................

n Female

n Vegetarian

n Single Room

First & Middle Names:....................................................................................... (as shown in passport):

Passport details

(required for overseas tours only) We require a copy of the picture page of your passport for long haul tours and destinations requiring a visa.

Nationality:

...................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

Passport Number:

...........................................................................................................................

Date of Issue (D/M/Y):

Tel/Mob:...........................................................................................................

Date of Expiry

Email: ................................................................................................................

Place of Birth: ...................................................................................................

/

Country of issue:................................................................................................

Date of Birth

(D/M/Y):

/

:

(D/M/Y)

/

/

/

/

Special dietary requests/allergies: ..................................................................

Payment Instructions I wish to pay a deposit of £

by: (tick method of payment)

Bank transfer : Sort Code 16 – 15 – 19 Account Number 10410774 Account name ACE CULTURAL TOURS LTD Please quote your family name and tour code/ booking reference.

Cheque: please enclose cheque payable to ACE Cultural Tours Ltd. Card payments: please telephone the ACE reservations team on 01223 841055

Booking Authorisation I agree to accept the booking conditions, including fitness criteria in section 4, on behalf of myself and others included on this form.

Please also see our Privacy Policy for information on how we handle your personal data. This is available on our website but if you require a hard copy please contact the office.

Signature ....................................................................................................................................................

Date....................................................................................

Please return to: ACE Cultural Tours, Stapleford Granary, Bury Road, Stapleford, Cambridge CB22 5BP, England

48

01/22

aceculturaltours.co.uk