The lagoons of the northern Adriatic are guardians of the millennia-old stories of conquests, power-struggles and epic empire-building efforts. The fortunes of the Aquileian patriarchs, Byzantine emperors and Venetian doges are told in fascinating mosaics and frescoes across the region.
Enjoy a glass of superb Friulian white wine in Aquileia, near the Grado lagoon, once among the most important cities of the Roman Empire. Its medieval basilica is the custodian of the largest early Christian mosaic in the West, while its frescoes remind of the crucial role the Franks played in the region.
Cross the Venetian lagoon in a private boat to the island of Torcello to learn about the instrumental roles that Aquileia and Ravenna, ancient lagoon cities, played in the creation of the Venetian Republic and its myths.
In Ravenna’s mosaics, follow the battle of Christian dogmas and witness the classical union of Byzantine state and Church. Stroll through Ferrara, admiring the rational Renaissance of D’Este dukes, and relax on a cruise of the river Po’s delta with its rich birdlife and ancient fishing huts.
From Aquileia to Ravenna, the journey tracks the rise and spread of Christianity and corresponding changes in iconography, dogmatic disputes and changes of powers – from Rome, Ostrogoths and Byzantines to Lombards, Franks and Venetians. Of course, sifting through 1500 years of history can only be done accompanied by not only guides – but wonderful local cuusine and delicacies!
The journey has been organised for the Alumni of Cambridge University but is also open to Alumni of Oxford University and their friends and family. Please note that Distant Horizons has sole responsibility for the operation of this journey. The Universities have no direct control over the operation of any journeys.
Maximum Party Size: 20 Trip Price to be confirmed.
Trip Leader: Mrs Nirvana Romell
Nirvana has been lecturing on the social history of Western art for nearly 25 years and has presented numerous lectures to the Friends of the Whitworth. She has also worked on collection interpretations and museum staff training. Her passion is cultural travel and she has created many unique cultural tours in the Balkans, northern Italy, France, Sweden and South Africa. In her work, she links the past with the present by combining aesthetic, historical and social theoretical approaches to art and culture. Those who travelled with Nirvana have particularly praised her ability to engage the audience and use her solid grasp of the subject matter to impart a lasting understanding of the artists, artefacts and their broader context. She has accompanied six previous journeys for Cambridge University Alumni.