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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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Runic writing in Medieval Bergen
As it turns out, it’s not too difficult to set yourself up as an expert in runic inscriptions, particularly if you’re concentrating on the raised runestones of the Viking Age. Nearly all of the thousands of Viking-Age memorial stones erected all over Sweden, and to a lesser extent Denmark and Norway
Beyond Botticelli - 10 things to also do in Florence
You’ve waited in line to see Michelangelo’s David and you’ve sighed over Botticelli’s Birth of Venus – so what else shouldn’t you miss in Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance? Here’s 10 things to add to your to-list next time you’re in Florence
The private museums of Palermo & Naples
One of the great benefits of making an extended stay in a city is that you don’t just visit the ‘must-see’ sites that every tourist knows about. Europe’s capitals are brimming with fascinating small museums, many of them privately owned and operated. Historian Robert Veel introduces four of them.
Sicily’s Top 10 Archaeological Sites
The Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish have all left extensive remains in Sicily, whose strategic geography has long made it a vibrant and intriguing destination. Subsequent centuries of neglect ensured that these sites were preserved,
The Dutch Golden Age – reality & illusion
Even before you have ever visited Holland, you feel you know the place. After all, paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and their contemporaries from the seventeenth century – the Dutch Golden Age – are found all over the world. They have provided the inspiration for films as well as novels in recent years,
Packing tips from Academy Travel
A recent article in the New York Times has us thinking about packing again, a subject that’s never far from our minds here at Academy Travel. We’ve canvassed for opinions, learnt from your on-tour suggestions, and without further ado offer our top ten tips for efficient packing.
Single Supplements: Fair or Unfair?
There are few things more annoying than paying for something, thinking that other people are paying less for exactly the same thing. The single supplement, an additional payment that single travellers pay for joining a group tour, seems designed to penalise those who choose to travel on their own.
How To Decide If Group Travel Is Right For You
No frills or uber-luxury? Five days or five weeks? Group of fifteen or group of 50? Once spurned for their bland ‘one size fits all’ approach, many group tours are today increasingly tailored towards specific kinds of travellers with specific interests. But the fundamental questions remain – is group travel right for you?