The Guard at Windsor Castle

It’s just so different

It doesn’t matter where you live: the suburbs of Sydney, the centre of San Francisco, the middle of Manchester or the outskirts of Oslo: nothing can help you imagine what life must have been like for the residents of a place like Versailles, Vaux-Le-Vicomte, Cesky Krumlov, Linderhof or Windsor… to name only a few. Each of these superb “residences” — a word that strains under the weight of any of these places — has a magic and grandeur that sets it completely apart from our everyday existence.

Not the view from your office window…

It’s not just the buildings: after all, some of the architecture is decidedly stodgy (Windsor?) while some (Versailles?) can be just a little over the top. The interior design, furnishings, scale, gardens and surrounding villages all add to the realization that this is not your life, never was, probably* won’t ever be!

No matter how hard-bitten, cynical or world-weary you may have become, a day-trip to these destinations provides a chance to travel back to those days of princes, princesses and fairy tales that were part of your childhood. That’s not a bad thing, and it certainly provides a partial explanation for the wildly enthusiastic reviews we often see for these tours. But that can’t be the only reason, can it?

Away from the City

Buckingham Palace, you say, is right smack in the middle of London! I concede this point… let’s move on! Because most castles and chateaux are anything but central; they demand you leave the city and all its pressures and people behind, immersing you instead in the countryside, in tiny villages and rural surroundings where your mind turns to crops and wines and local cheese and the simpler things of life.

Don’t worry; it’s only for a day. But what a release, to escape the built-up for a moment, to breathe the fresh air of the Loire Valley, enjoy the serenity of a Bavarian lake, or feel the wind as it blows through the Blansky Forest. You can’t experience any of these things in your day to day life, and that’s exactly what makes these tours so precious. A change — even if just for a day  — is as good as a rest.

We make it easy

Viator iPhone Application

Listening to our customers talk about why they like these day trips so much, another one of the consistent messages is that Viator makes it all so easy. So, some patting of our own back is necessary here:

• Our mobile app means you can relax at a Left Bank cafe, browse tour choices, find special deals and discounts, and travel in the following days. If you’re the type who doesn’t plan ahead, Viator’s a lifesaver!
• You can drive to any of these places, or take the train in some cases, but it’s usually easier to let an air-conditioned coach pick you up at your hotel and do all the work for you. Depending on how snobbish you are, we offer small-group tours in mini-vans and limos as well.
• Skip the line, skip the hassles: our tours allow you to skip the long entrance lines that are a feature of popular destinations like Windsor and Versailles, and not just throughout the summer. That’s a benefit that will make you feel a little snobbish!

I could go on, but I think that’s a good enough wrap up of my investigation. Next time you’re in Europe, take the chance to escape the city and submerge yourself in another time and place. We’ll help make it a great experience; it’s what we do best.

- Rod Cuthbert

* Probably? Well, consider the case of Mary Donaldson, account director at an advertising firm in Sydney, Australia, who went for drinks with friends one night in 2000, met a nice young man, and was married to him in early 2004. Now, as Crown Princess of Denmark, she has a number of rather grand residences, too numerous to mention here. For the hopeful dreamers out there: fairy tales do happen.

Egyptian Antiquities

This is the home of more than 50,000 items kept in over 20 rooms, which are naturally of the Nile settlements dating back from 4,000 BC up to 4th century A.D. This exhibition is regarded as one of the largest in the world providing an insight in the life of the ancient Egypt including the new as well as the middle kingdoms and the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine era. Check out for the big Sphinx as the guard, mummies, papyrus scrolls, jewelry, clothing, tools, musical instruments, games, and weapons. Specifically, spot the Gebel-el Arak knife, the Head of King Djedefre, The Seated Scribe, the statue of Amenemhatankhm, the statue of the goddess Nephthys, and the goddess Hathor’s limestone depiction.

Near Eastern Antiquities

Since 1881, this one gives a general ideal of the early civilization of the Near Eastern until the Islam conquest. Within its three geographic zones known as the Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Persia (present Iran), you will come across the displays from Sumer and Akkad cities along with the structures like the Prince of Lagash’s Stele of the Vultures as well as the stele made by the King of Akkad for commemorating the triumph over barbarians, huge Code of Hammurabi describing the Babylonian Laws, works of the archaic era such as the Archers of Darius I and the Funerary Head, and the rare Persepolis items.

Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

In the Louvre Museum, this is where you can see the items of the Mediterranean Basin, which start from the Neolithic times until the 6th century AD. The main highlights here are the jewelry, limestone Lady of Auxerre, the cylindrical Hera of Samos, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo, Roman portraits of Agrippa and Annius Verus, and Greek Apollo of Piombino.

Sculpture

In contrast to the previous department stated here, this department holds the works prior to 1850. There are two exhibitions namely, the French display in the Richelieu wing and the foreign collection in the Denon wing. In the former, there are Romanesque items like the Daniel in the Lions’ Den of the 11th century, the Virgin of Auvergne of the 12th century, bas reliefs of the Jean Goujon, Descent from the Cross as well as the Resurrection of Christ by Germain Pilon, Woman Bathing, and obelisks.

Islamic Art

This is the most latest collection of the Louvre Museum, which is related to 3 continents and 13 centuries. You will find many types of glasses, ceramics, wood, metal ware, carpets, ivory, miniatures, and textiles making up for over 5,000 pieces. Look for the 10th-century Pyxide d’al-Mughira that is an ivory box, Iran’s Shroud of Josse, the Baptistery of Saint-Louis, a carved basin of brass of the Mamluk era, three pages of the Persian epic book called the Shahnameh, and Barberini Vase of the Syrian style.

Decorative Arts

Including arts from the Middle era until the 19th century, this area houses the most valuable works such as bronzes, pietre dure vases, enamels, ceramics, stained glass, gold jewelry, and maiolicas. The collection is on the first floor of the Richelieu Wing as well as in the Apollo Gallery. Look for the coronation crown of Louis XIV, porphyry vase of the 12th century, Charles V’s scepter, bronze Nessus and Deianira, Maximillian’s Hunt (tapestry), Napoleon III’s apartments, Madame de Pompadour’s Sèvres vases, the Mona Lisa, oil on panel, and Chagoury’s tapestry collection wherein the six-part one in gold and silver threads is worth a look indicating the sea divinities.

Painting

Housing over 13th-century 6,000 works of French as well as Northern European artists, this department is worth a look. The Richelieu wing as well as the Cour Carree holds the French and Northern European works, while the first floor of the Denon wing houses the Spanish and Italian paintings. The main highlights here are Avignon Pieta of Enguerrand Quarton, Hyacinthe Rigaud’s Louis XIV, the painting of King Jean le Bon that is most ancient independent portrait to live since the postclassical time, The Coronation of Napoleon, The Lacemaker and Astronomer, the Tree of Crows, Bathsheba at Her Bath, Slaughtered Ox, The Supper at Emmaus, Italian Calvarys, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, St. John the Baptist, Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and Madonna of the Rocks.

Prints and drawings

This the zone of paper works and the display is split into three sections namely, the 14,000 royal copper printing-plates, core Cabinet du Roi, and the donations of Edmond de Rothschild. There are some 3000 drawings, 40,000 prints, and 5,000 books seen in the Pavillon de Flore.

The Egyptian Museum is composed of two floors that encompass a total of 107 halls. On the ground floor, you will come across a vast display of papyrus as well as coins all of which date back to the ancient times. These countless small fragments of papyrus were actually big in size, but all credit goes to their rotting over the time of two millennia. When you look at these fragments, also look for the inscribed text in several languages such as Arabic, Latin, Greek, and the hieroglyphs writing language. Coming to the coins, they are made up of various metals such as silver, gold, and bronze. Not all of them are Egyptian; some are Greek, while a few are Roman as well as Islamic. Spotting this difference is important as it is the proof that reveals about the trade of Egypt with these cults on the planet in those days. Apart from these coins and papyrus fragments, you can also spot the New Kingdom’s artifacts that date back to somewhat around 1550 B.C, which include coffins, big statues, and tables.

Talking about the first floor, this is the venue of the artifacts that are from the final two dynasties who ruled over the ancient Egypt. Check out for the items that were discovered from the tombs of the Pharaohs namely, Amenophis II, Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Maherpen, and Queen Hatshepsut. In this area of the Egyptian Museum, a majority of items are those which were discovered from the Valley of the Kings, the hilly section of Egypt where all the pharaohs were cremated in their burial chambers. It is only on this floor where you surely get a chance to gaze at the Tutankhamun treasures, ornaments, and mummies. For the last one, head towards the Royal Mummy Room where more than 25 imperial mummies reside, each one dedicated to a pharaoh of some dynasty. After remaining closed for some four years due to the order of the President, it today houses fewer mummies that are dedicated to the kings as well as queens of the New Kingdom. In number, only 9 mummies are on display of which the most recently found mummy of Queen Hatshepsut forms the center of attraction. Also, explore the next room where you can marvel at a few mummified birds as well as animals.

If you want to explore the Egyptian Museum section wise, you can do so by visiting each of the seven sections. The First Section is dedicated to the treasures of the most famous pharaoh who is known for its curse, Tutankhamun; while the second section holds the monuments that are from the Old Kingdom as well as pre-dynasty times. In the Third Section, there are monuments belonging to the intermediate as well as the Middle Kingdom eras. The Forth Section is totally the home of the Modern Kingdom’s artifacts, whereas the Fifth Section is devoted to the monuments of the Roman as well as Greek times. Coins and papyrus exhibition adorns the Sixth Section, while the Seventh Section houses the scrabs as well as sarcophagi of the pharaohs.

An entry to the Egyptian Museum is allowed daily from morning 9 to evening 4:30 with the admission fee of £e50. However, if you want to also visit the Mummy Room, then you need to pay an additional £e100.

Siena is called one of the most beautiful cities of Italy. It is famous for the “Palio”, a traditional horse race at the “Piazza del Campo” in the heart of the city which takes place two times a year.

Florence is the capital and fashion metropolis of Tuscany. Tourist should allow extra time if they want to visit all attractions. Besides the known sights such as Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi gallery and Palazzo Pitti Florence also has many museums for the culturally interested traveller.

The Medieval city of Lucca with its long Renaissance city wall invites to strolling through the twisted alleys of the picturesque historical old town and relaxing in one of the numerous cafes, bars or restaurants afterwards.

The small town of Montepulciano served as film location for several celebrated movies such “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Heaven” and “The English Patient”. Furthermore, Montepul- ciano is world-renowned for its wine which is produced from the grape sort of the same name. The history of the town reaches back to prehistoric times, but the Etruscans are regarded as the actual founders of the city. In the Middle Age, Montepulciano became the pawn of the city states of Florence and Siena. Finally, Florence annexed not only Montepulciano but also its protecting power Siena. The town has largely preserved its historical city centre and its Medieval character. Most of the houses in the historical old town are built in Italian Renaissance style which is so typical for Tuscany.

Located at an altitude of 324 metres above sea level and dominating the Val d’Elsa, the city of San Gimignano has retained its unique Medieval appearance. Most of its architecture dates back to the 13th Century when it was an important trading post along the Via Francigena. Outlining the characteristic skyline of San Gimignano to the present day, the numerous tall towers were a symbol of the merchants´ wealth and testified the city´s prosperity in the Middle Ages. Gothic city gates lead to the historical old town where the visitor finds himself in a labyrinth of streets, twisted alleys, outside staircases, churches, tower houses and villas. The picturesque “Piazza della Cisterna” is a further worthwhile sight of the city. Besides the famous Vernaccia (amber-colored wine from different regions of Italy), the typical Tuscan craftsmanship can also be found in San Gimignano. Travellers shouldn´t miss the oppor-tunity to purchase high-class pottery or leather goods.

Due to its central location, San Gimignano is a good starting point for excursions to destinations in the near surroundings. Siena and Volterra are a 30 minutes drive away, Florenz, Pisa, Montepul-ciano, Montecatini and the sea are an hour´s drive away.

Further Medieval cities such as Massa Marittima and Pitigliano are also worthwhile day trip destinations.

The city of Massa Carrara is famous for its marble. Travellers should visit Cave di Marmor (the caves where marble is excavated) and do a sightseeing tour of the special kind.

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which was opened in 1992, is considered the museum for 20th century art. Many art connoisseurs consider it the most prestigious art collections in Europe. One of the highlights of the museum is the famous Pablo Picasso piece, Guernica. This 1937 painting got its inspiration from Picasso’s feelings on surrealism and the Nazi bombing of the town of Guernica. If you are a fan of Picasso, and I don’t know who wouldn’t be, there are many pieces of his work from a young age right up to maturity.

The museum is in a building designed in the 18th that was once a hospital. It was scheduled to be demolished when they decided to turn it into a house of art. Renovations and additions were added to the original building to make it what they needed to become a museum. Some thought it odd that an old building would be used to house modern art, but the plans proved to be exactly what they wanted. It was declared a national museum in 1988.

Queen Sofia offers the art lover a variety from the late 19th century right up to the most recent contemporary and modern works of art. If Solana pieces are what you are interested in, you’ll get a glimpse of The Chorus Girls, Café Pombo, and don’t forget The Meeting of the Pharmacy.

Most famous artists are represented by more than one piece of work, such as Miro whose work Man with a Pipe, Fleur, Toile and Escargot are all on display. They may have been painted in the 20s or 30s, but still manage to interest art lovers. The same can be said for Dalí, whose works spans fro his 1927 Still Life by the Light of the Moon to his 1945 Galarina portrait. You will be amazed at his realistic 1951 and 1955 paintings of the Crucifixion.

Paintings are not the only objects of interest to the tourists and visitors. The 46,000 square yard exhibit space is filled with many art objects as well as pottery and porcelain. They also have a library there in case you wish to look up some of the paintings or artists. You can find interesting reading and take it to the cafeteria they also have for your dining pleasure. If you happen to be traveling during the holiday, spend the perfect holiday in Madrid.