Christie’s Travel has once again paired up with luxury travel aficionados Abercrombie & Kent in order to put together an inspiring collection of tours for art lovers.
The expert-led itineraries will take small groups throughout Europe, Egypt and China, in order to combine the best of art, culture and travel. The handpicked destinations will venture from the Côte D’Azur, Venice, Florence, and London, to Cairo and Beijing – with each package offering a signature “insider access” element for a truly exclusive experience.
The behind-the-scenes entrées into the world of art will include personal insights from a Christie’s specialist, who have all acquired deep expertise in their specialty academic preparation and real-world experience.
The new 2015 collection offers two options. The ‘Experience Tours’ are designed to focus on the holistic cultural experience of a destination, and appeal to art and culture lovers. Customised ‘signature moments’ are woven into each itinerary to offer one-off art-focused experiences, led by the Christie’s specialists. Aspirational art connoisseurs will find these special experiences the perfect preview for a Collector Tour.
Then there’s the ‘Collector Tours’ that are designed for “art enthusiasts, aspiring collectors and connoisseurs”, according to Christie’s Travel. These tours are more in-depth and focus on the educational elements of each destination, where travellers can meet leading artists, collectors and curators of world-class art institutions.
The Experience Tours
Florence: The Art and Literature of the Renaissance
Journey through the birthplace of the Renaissance and once the inspiration for masters, including Brunelleschi, Bernini and Michelangelo. "The city itself is a masterpiece," says Christie's Travel, "where history pours from every corner, and the volume of magnificent art and architecture at every turn makes the fashionable city one of the world’s finest open-air museums." It is a compact city of cobbled streets and hidden piazzas that tell a story of historic daily life, and is best explored on foot. Art specialist Marco Riccomini will be on hand with personal insights and expertise on the Pitti Palace and will also offer guests private access to the Vasari Corridor.
Venice: From Renaissance to the Biennale
Wind through the canals and hidden passages in search of some of the city’s most magnificent works of art. Discover Venice’s vibrant contemporary art scene at the 56th Art Biennale, the city’s renowned arts festival with its tours, laboratories and creative workshops. Guests can also explore the islands around Venice, including Murano and Mazzorbo, where they will have lunch and a wine tasting led by a sommelier. Then it's off to the Guggenheim Museum for a private tour.
France: The Art of Southern France
Travel through the lavender fields of Provence and glittering coastline of the Côte d’Azur, punctuated by medieval villages overlooking the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It was the light and landscapes of the region that attracted Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and Renoir to the Riviera, and on this trip we’ll take a step back in time to retrace their footsteps and discover the inspiration behind such a significant period in art. The itinerary offers a privately guided tour of the Matisse Museum, which boasts the largest collection of the artist’s work in one place.
Egypt: Pharaohs and Feluccas
Uncover the secrets of Giza's monolithic pyramids, the treasures housed in the Museum of Antiquities and The Valley of the Kings, as well as iconic temples that stretch along the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. A&K has been offering luxury holidays to Egypt for over 30 years, employing over 400 staff on the ground. Our expert Egyptologists will bring the ancient civilisation back to life, with exclusive insider access to the private tomb opening of Queen Nefertari, a special opening of the pyramid of Cheops and the exclusive charter of the Sun Boat III, the Nile’s most luxurious river cruise, escorted by two Egyptologists. The package also includes four nights accommodation at the Four Seasons First Residence.
Collector Tours
China: Ancient to Contemporary China
You’ll explore four cities in ten days when you discover the best of Beijing, X’ian, Jingdezhen and Shanghai. Journey through the history of China’s rich dynastic heritage to the fast-paced contemporary art scene. Nixi Cura, programme director of the arts of China at Christie’s Education, offers a personal and in-depth insight into the newest and the oldest Chinese art, including some of the most eminent artists producing world-class contemporary works of art, sold at Christie’s auction house today. In the spirit of Christie’s Travel’s mission to create extraordinary ‘signature moments’ throughout its Collector Tours, this itinerary is packed with special access to the inaccessible and the undiscovered enclaves of the art world. While you’re there, you can also enjoy a champagne picnic on the Great Wall of China followed by specialist insight into the 6th Century Ming Tombs and Imperial Mausoleums.
London: The Jewels of London
Get up close with some of the most iconic jewels in the world, with this four-day tour is designed to dazzle and explores London’s most important jewels that are both historically significant and world-renowned. Like all Christie’s Collector Tours, this is led by one of the world’s most knowledgeable experts, in this case the senior international jewellery director at Christie’s, David Warren. The tour is a collection of sights and experiences that includes a private viewing of the magnificent Crown Jewels at the Tower of London and dinner in the White Tower with the jewellery experts - a rare and regal experience. A private tour of the jewellery collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum and world-famous jewellery ateliers on Bond Street will be among the tour’s extraordinary experiences. Guests are invited to a unique dinner at the Christie’s boardroom, where the dress code is strictly “no jewels,” so that they may be “bejewelled” by exquisite pieces from the upcoming Magnificent Jewels sale.
The packages don't include flights, but further details and prices can be found via www.abercrombiekent.ae or by contacting uae@abercrombiekent.com.