Blog

Academic travel articles, written by our expert tour leaders.

 
Insider’s Venice
Academy Travel Academy Travel

Insider’s Venice

The crowds in Venice are almost as famous as the gondolas. At the cruise port, in the height on the summer season, as many as five large ships can arrive in a day, bringing with them up to 20,000 fun-seeking day-trippers. An equal number can arrive by coach, arriving at the island car-park of Tronchetto and winding their way up the Grand Canal to St Mark’s. The itinerary of these day-trippers is

Read More
Ikara Flinders Ranges
History Dr Chris Carter History Dr Chris Carter

Ikara Flinders Ranges

The Flinders Ranges, as they are today, are the mere stubs of once majestic mountains, which hundreds of millions of years ago would have rivalled the Andes or the Himalayas. The original sediments were laid down over half a billion years ago before uplift, folding and faulting formed a massive mountainous range, followed by the weathering that has left us with the current landform

Read More
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Houses & Gardens Deborah Trentham Houses & Gardens Deborah Trentham

Tresco Abbey Gardens

This 19th-century garden is immersed in history and yet has a botanic twist, holding more than 20,000 plants from over 80 countries. Tresco, one of the Scilly Isles, lies 28 miles off the Cornish coast of England. A subtropical island, blessed with white sand and turquoise sea, it is home to just 150 people. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate is unique in the UK and makes it possible to grow rare and exotic species

Read More
La Foce

La Foce

The estate of La Foce, located in the heart of Tuscany, is a beautiful testament to the creativity and passion of its creator, the British-born writer and historian, Iris Origo. Iris created La Foce as a refuge from the pressures of her busy life, and today it remains a tranquil oasis in the heart of Tuscany, where visitors can experience what is now considered one of Italy’s most beautiful private gardens.

Read More
Alexander Mcqueen at the NGV
Art Architecture & Design, Travel Practicalities Distinguished Professor Peter McNeil Art Architecture & Design, Travel Practicalities Distinguished Professor Peter McNeil

Alexander Mcqueen at the NGV

‘Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse’ is the latest sparkling fashion blockbuster at The National Gallery of Victoria. A collaboration between the NGV and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), it is a striking example of a value-adding fashion and art exhibition, as it combines fashion with a wide range of paintings, textiles, sculptures, porcelain and even furniture, including many masterpiece-gems

Read More
Morocco’s bustling Fes el-Bali
History Ben Churcher History Ben Churcher

Morocco’s bustling Fes el-Bali

Fes is one of the more authentic oriental cities; not only in Morocco but within the Islamic world. While Marrakesh has its maze of shops and the incomparable Djemaa el-Fna, Rabat its white washed houses framed by the Atlantic and Meknes its imposing adobe walls, Fes is a

Read More

 Listen to ‘The Thinking Traveller’

Catch up on the latest episodes on our podcast - The Thinking Traveller - a series that draws on the passions, expertise and interests of Academy Travel's academic tour leaders, to bring a wealth of additional knowledge to your travels, one topic at a time.