The highlight of this 3-day tour is to visit Glyndebourne and join the audience for a performance of Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, part of the Autumn season at the world-leading opera house in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

Please read the Booking Notice at the foot of this page

Day 1
Depart by coach from Ram Meadow car park, Bury St Edmunds, for the Hydro Hotel Eastbourne, for a 2-night stay. En route a guided tour of Farley Farm House, formerly occupied by the photographer Lee Miller, and Roland Penrose, the painter and biographer of Picasso. The house became a meeting place for leading figures in the world of Modern Art, including

Picasso, Max Ernst and Joan Miro. Works by a number of these artists are on display.

A choice 3-course dinner at the Hydro, without drinks, is included this evening.

Day 2
With a Blue Badge guide, a morning visit to Charleston House, the home of the artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf) that became the country meeting place for the group of writers, artists and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group.

This afternoon, a visit to Glyndebourne for the Opera.
After the performance, a set 2-course dinner, without drinks, at a restaurant in the opera complex, is included.

Day 3
A morning visit to the church of St Michael and All Angels, Berwick for a guided introductory talk. The church is best known for the extensive 20th century murals, commissioned by Bishop Bell of Chichester during the Second World War and painted by Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and Quentin Bell. “Critically, the only example in the country of the complete decoration of the interior of an ancient rural parish church by twentieth century artists of repute" (Sir Nicholas Serota).
Afterwards, a visit to Chartwell in Kent. Now a National Trust property, it was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until the end of his life, in 1965. The rooms and gardens remain much as they were when he lived there and contain personal memorabilia, books and family photographs.
The tour ends with the evening return to Bury St Edmunds.

For further information and a booking form, click here

Booking Notice
Booking is now closed for this tour. However, to enquire whether there are any late-availability tickets, please contact Rosie Varley whose details are on the Booking Form.

Priority is given to members. Members may be accompanied by their partner or a friend, as a guest, if sharing a double/twin room.

Non-members travelling independently are expected to apply for membership of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds.

Picture: The Glyndebourne Opera House

Please take note of the Booking Notice at the foot of this page

Stand out features in the History and Art of Spain are Madrid and the Prado; Toledo where Christian, Jewish and Muslim lived and built alongside one another for centuries; Avila which enjoys the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Europe; Salamanca and its ancient university; Segovia with its soaring Roman aqueduct and famed roast lamb!

There are so many treasures to be explored in this 6-day tour

Day 1
Meet at Ram Meadow car park, Bury St Edmunds and travel by coach to Stansted airport for the flight to Madrid, where the manager for the tour will join the group. Transfer to the centrally-located 4-star Claridge Hotel for a three-night stay. A welcome dinner in the hotel is included.

Day 2
In the morning, a guided tour of the Museo del Prado to see some of the greatest paintings by Spanish painters, and some by Italian and Flemish masters.
In the afternoon, a visit to the Museo Sorolla, the former studio mansion of Valencian Impressionist painter Joaquín Sorolla. Now a museum housing his paintings, the property exists virtually as it was when he died in 1923. Dine at leisure, this evening.

Day 3
Coach to Toledo, which, in its churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues, preserves the legacy of its multicultural past. A guided tour will include the magnificent 13th century Cathedral, principally High Gothic in design.

There will be free time in Toledo before returning to Madrid. Dine at leisure, this evening.

Day 4
Check out of the hotel, then a visit to the Palacio de Villahermosa, which houses the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, for a guided tour of masterpieces which include Titian, Goya, Van Gogh and Picasso, widely regarded as the most important privately assembled art collection in the world.

En route to Salamanca, a stop at Avila, a beautiful, medieval city, enclosed by dramatic medieval walls in an amazing state of preservation.

On arrival in Salamanca, check in at the 4-star Abba Fonseca Hotel for a two-night stay. Dinner in the hotel is included, this evening.

Day 5
A guided tour this morning of Salamanca’s historic centre - a World Heritage site. The tour includes the 12th century cathedral and the 16th century ‘new’ one, and the fine Plaza Mayor. The university, which dates from 1218, has a façade in a transitional style between late Gothic and early Renaissance. Some of the rooms are historic, for example, the library with 15th century ‘Cielo de Salamanca’, painted by Fernando Gallego.

There will be free time in Salamanca; a farewell dinner in the hotel is included, this evening.

Day 6
Check out of the hotel and travel to Segovia, to spend some free time exploring the City’s landmarks, for example, the fairy-tale Alcazar castle, Roman aqueduct and Gothic cathedral.

Perhaps find time to try the famed roast lamb, Lechado Asado, before continuing the journey to Madrid airport for the flight home. The tour concludes with the return journey from Stansted to Ram Meadow, Bury St Edmunds.

For further information and a booking form, click here

Picture: Toledo

BOOKING NOTICE

Priority will be given to members of the Arts Society Bury St Edmunds. Members may be accompanied by their partner or a friend, as a guest, if sharing a double/twin room.

A completed booking form and non-refundable deposit of £200 per person should be sent to the address given on the booking form.

The tour is subject to minimum numbers. In the event of these not being reached within The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds it will be opened to members of neighbouring Arts Societies and then to non-members.

Non-members travelling independently will be expected to apply for membership of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds.