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Academic travel articles, written by our expert tour leaders.
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Small is beautiful
Hasn’t travel had some ups and downs in the past few years? It’s no wonder that, as the world reopens for exploration, that we’re increasingly interested in quality over quantity, small instead of crowded, and putting safety first. We’ve looked forward to the 2023 travel year (and beyond) and identified five trends to consider when planning your next adventure. How many of the five fit for you?
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.
Some delightful suggestions for Paris
French historian Dr Michael Adcock remembers ten of his favourite places in Paris that he enjoys sharing with travellers… One of the greatest of touring rewards occurs when a traveller comments that they had just been introduced to an aspect of Paris they did not know about, and would never have discovered
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
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,
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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.