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Academic travel articles, written by our expert tour leaders.
The Academy Journal
Written by our specialist tour leaders, these articles explore hidden gems, historical events and artistic masterpieces, enriching your upcoming travels with their unique perspectives.
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- Academy Travel 13
- Ben Churcher 1
- Bernadette Drabsch 2
- Chris Carter 3
- Christopher Bradley 1
- Deborah Trentham 1
- Eireann Marshall 3
- Garth Gilmour 1
- Jeni Ryde 2
- John Tidmarsh 1
- Kate Bolton-Porciatti 1
- Lauren Mackay 2
- Matthew Dal Santo 1
- Michael Adcock 1
- Mike Turner 2
- Mindy MacLeod 1
- Neil Moore 2
- Peter McNeil 2
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- Sophie Oosterwijk 1
- Stephen Wilkinson 1
- Stuart Barrie 2
Palermo’s Splendid Cappella Palatina
Few cities in Europe are as cosmopolitan as the wonderful, vibrant city of Palermo, largely because, throughout its long history, it has been ruled by a number of different people. It was founded by the early lords of the Mediterranean, the Phoenicians, in the 8th century BCE, and was conquered by first Rome and later by Muslim Aghlabids, coming from Tunisia, only to be ruled by Spain
Cosmopolis Crete
Due to Crete’s fortunate position at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea, the large mountainous island with its fertile valleys and safe harbours, became a strategic trading hub between Europe, Asia and Africa from the earliest days. In its heyday, the island was a melting pot, home to approximately 250,000 people and, despite its multiculturalism, or perhaps due to it, the thriving country developed
Georgia’s Election: A referendum on a country’s place in the world
Last weekend, the small, former Soviet Republic of Georgia—a country of 3.7m people whose territory lies within the tectonic folds between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains—held parliamentary elections. The result was victory for the ruling “Georgian Dream” party founded by the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012,
Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva: Heart of the Silk Road
The great cities of Samarkand and Bukhara flaunt their magnificent Timurid architecture, whilst remote Khiva beguiles the Silk Road traveller. For many travellers, Uzbekistan holds the very heart of the Central Asian Silk Road. Its three main historical centres – Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva – all resonate deeply with the weight of history
Unveiling the Enigma
Nestled in the heart of Italy, the Etruscans created Italy’s most fascinating and enigmatic culture prior to the emergence of Rome. Flourishing from the 9th down to the 3rd century BCE, they played a pivotal role in mediating the arrival of Greek and Eastern Mediterranean influence in the Italian peninsular and it was, above all, to them that the Romans looked in the early stages of their emergence as a
José Martí – Cuba’s Hero
Every visitor to Cuba who lands in Havana arrives at José Martí International Airport. If the visitor is observant, as they walk through the streets, they will notice that outside the entrance to every school stands a bust of a moustachioed slightly balding man. That, too, is José Martí, and when the visitor takes the tour to Revolution Square, where all the great rallies are held
The heart of Christmas
In this season we love to tell again the Christmas story, remembering the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem all those years ago. But the story has grown with the telling, and we cannot always determine what is original, and what has been added. There are two versions of the nativity story in the Gospels, in Matthew and Luke, which nicely complement one another.
The Flinders Ranges
The undeniable rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges attracts visitors for a myriad of reasons. In this article, archaeologist Dr Chris Carter explores the marvels of the Flinders, from its unique geology and evidence of the earliest life on earth, to 49,000 years of indigenous settlement, and the difficulties this arid land posed for early European settlers.
Top Ten Cultural things to do in Vienna
The once imperial city of Vienna, often described as Europe's cultural capital, is steeped in history and a wealth of experiences for the cultural traveller. Vienna is city of palaces and gardens, museums, tradition and modernity. For more than 400 years it was the jewel in the glittering imperial crown of the
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