CORSICA    13 – 20 April 2015    /     THE IRELAND OF YEATS    9 – 15 June 2015    /    THE VIKINGS      1 – 10 July 2015   SOUTH EAST SICILY   17 – 24 October 2015    /     ALONG THE VIA AEMILIA     28 October – 2 November 2015

Armenia: Ancient Nation, Modern Republic 

Monday 27 April to Tuesday 5 May 2015

spaces remain

 CLARE FORD-WILLE AND PETER SHAHBENDARIAN

To honour the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Art Historian Clare Ford-Wille and her husband, Armenian expert Peter Shahbendarian, lead a journey through the many rich layers of Armenia’s ancient and exotic heritage. Balanced between East and West, fought over by empires, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Seljuks, Mongols, Russians and Ottomans, the Armenians nevertheless preserved their Christian identity, having been the first country to establish Christianity as a state religion in A.D 301. They contributed significantly to the infrastructure and finances of the Ottoman Empire, but were eventually persecuted. An independent Republic was established in 1991.

With its rocky landscape, situated on a central plateau around 5,500 feet above sea-level, with views of Mount Ararat and the beautiful Lake Sevan, the scenery is both dramatic and spectacular. During the tour, Armenia’s magnificent early Hellenistic temple, monastic architecture, rock-hewn churches and stone crosses, together with priceless manuscripts and works of art, will present wonders to behold.

COST £3355 members, £3415 non-members, £400 single room supplement, £300 deposit, includes flights London-Yerevan-London (with short stopovers), eight nights accommodation, all breakfasts, all lunches, all dinners with wine, all lectures, all entrance fees, all private minibus travel during the tour, all gratuities, VAT.

FULL ITINERARY

BOOK HERE

OR JUMP TO:

CORSICA    13 – 20 April 2015

THE IRELAND OF YEATS    9 – 15 June 2015

 THE VIKINGS      1 – 10 July 2015

SOUTH EAST SICILY   17 – 24 October 2015

 ALONG THE VIA AEMILIA     28 October – 2 November 2015