Art

Whatever the focus of your proposed Art tour, the world is most definitely your oyster! With a wide range of fantastic art galleries, museums and excursions available across Europe and beyond, one of our unforgettable tailor-made art tours is sure to bring learning to life and inspire the creative side of your students. Whether it’s a shorter day trip to visit some of London’s many world-class art galleries or a longer tour to discover Impressionism in Paris or Normandy, Modernisme in Barcelona or Renaissance in Florence, there will be something to appeal to all tastes. Our Art tours can also be combined with the Humanities or Modern Foreign Languages departments in your school to create an interdisciplinary tour, giving pupils the opportunity to learn more about another country’s history and culture.

We can tailor-make your Art tour to any destination, but if you need a little inspiration, why not click on the links below to look at some of our most popular destination pages? Please note that the following pages are just a sample; please contact us for more topic specific information.

Rich in culture and history, the French capital has attracted artistic and bohemian types for centuries, which is reflected today in the city’s architecture and world-class art galleries. Of course no Art tour to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Louvre to see the iconic Mona Lisa; why not also include visits to Musée d’Orsay or Centre Pompidou, the Picasso Museum or the Rodin Museum, the opulent Château de Versailles or the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral, before sketching in the Jardins des Tuileries or strolling around the artists’ square at Place du Tertre? Please click here to visit our Paris page.

The magical Loire Valley is one of the most picturesque areas of France. Steeped in history and with grand royal chateaux at every turn, a school trip to the Loire Valley will allow students to explore the pretty towns of Amboise, Tours and Blois to name but a few, taking in the beautiful landscape and impressive architecture of the castles and cathedrals, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Da Vinci’s connection with Château Clos Lucé makes this excursion a must for Art or Design students; tours to the Loire Valley can equally share a French or History focus.

Closely linked with the Impressionist movement, Normandy has so much to offer in addition to the iconic Landing Beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry. Monet’s House and Gardens are a must for all Art tours, where school groups can wander through the beautiful gardens and see the water lilies that inspired so many of Monet’s masterpieces. MuMa in Le Havre claims to have the greatest Impressionist collection after Musée d’Orsay, including works by Monet, Manet and Renoir to name but a few. These, combined with visits to picturesque local towns of interest, such as Honfleur, Rouen, or Bayeux, are sure to inspire your pupils. Please click here to visit our Normandy page.

The home of Modernisme, Barcelona is our first-choice destination for Art tours in Spain. Marvell at Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces throughout the city; the breath taking Sagrada Familia, the undulating Casa Milà and the reptile-like Casa Batlló to name but a few; view some of Picasso’s earlier works at the ever-popular Picasso Museum, or wonder at the surrealist works of Dali at his Theatre Museum in Figueres. With a variety of lesser-known museums dedicated to Joan Miró, modern art and Catalonian art, plus the opportunity to sketch in Parc Güell, an Art tour to Barcelona will be an unforgettable experience for your students. Please click here to visit our Barcelona page.

An excellent choice for Art tours with a Spanish focus, Valencia is home to a long list of excellent galleries. From photography, pop art and contemporary art at the Valencian Institute of Modern Art, pre-nineteenth century masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts, or ceramics and porcelain at the city’s Ceramics Museum, we will be able to tailor your itinerary to include the most relevant excursions to meet your learning objectives. Perhaps the most eccentric museum of all is the Fallas Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of whimsical papier maché models from Valencia’s most famous festival, Las Fallas – not to be missed! Please click here to visit our Valencia page.

Location of the world-class art galleries of the ‘Golden Triangle’, Madrid is a highly recommended destination for Art tours. The Prado Museum, with its royal art collection and masterpieces by El Greco, Goya and Velázquez; the Reina Sofia Museum, with its contemporary works by Picasso, Dalí, Miró and Tàpies; and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which displays works by Cézanne, Van Gogh and Monet, are all must-see visits. In addition, sketching time at Parque del Retiro or at one of Madrid’s many plazas will give students the perfect opportunity to hone their artistic skills. Madrid is also ideal as a Spanish focus destination. Please click here to visit our Madrid page.

Northern Italy is so rich in artistic history and culture; it could make choosing the exact destination of your Art tour a difficult task! Why not combine two or three cities during a multi-centre tour, which will offer students a broader learning experience? The possibilities are endless: Milan, home of Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper and the imposing Duomo; beautiful Venice and the Galleria dell’Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Museum and Ca d’Oro to name but a few highlights; or Florence, birthplace of Italian Renaissance and home of the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell’Accademia, and Pitti Palace. A guaranteed unforgettable experience for all students of art. Please click here to visit our Northern Italy page.

It is said that a lifetime is not long enough for Rome; so rich is Italy’s capital in history, religion and art. One of our tailor-made Art tours will offer students an introduction to Rome’s most famous sights and museums, including the National Galleries of Ancient and Modern Art, the Borghese Gallery, and of course the Vatican Museums, including the iconic Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s world famous frescoes. Our Art tours to Rome can also be combined with another Southern Italian region, for example Naples and the Amalfi Coast; a popular destination for Italian, Geography and Classics tours. Why not contact us today to find out more? Please click here to visit our Rome page, and here to visit our Southern Italy page.

London is the perfect destination for schools considering an Art tour a little closer to home. The city’s rich history, diverse architecture, and over 200 museums offer a unique cultural experience. Schools wishing to focus on fine art may be interested in the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery, while groups favouring contemporary art may prefer the Tate Modern or Whitechapel Gallery. The Victoria and Albert Museum and British Museum are also highly recommended, with exhibitions including ancient art, costume design and fashion. Whatever the focus of your Art tour to London, we will be able to tailor-make your itinerary to suit your requirements. Please click here to visit our London page.

The art galleries of the recently developed Museumplein have contributed to Amsterdam’s growing popularity as a destination for Art tours. The fantastic Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of the artist’s works, and the recently renovated Rijksmuseum boasts the Netherlands’ largest collection of fine art from the fifteenth century onwards. With a variety of other interesting excursions in and around the city, including Rembrandt’s former home, boat trips, a theme park, and of course, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam is a great choice, not only for Art tours, but for cross-curriculum tours too.