(A cultural exploration)

During the 18^th century it was considered a necessary adjunct to a good education to visit places of classical antiquity. It was seen as an important rite of passage for the young aristocrat to travel through Europe by carriage lasting for as long as a year. Typically they would travel through France to Paris visit Switzerland to see the Alps and travel around Italy. This would include Venice, Florence, Rome, and Milan. Some would travel further into Sicily or onto Greece.

It was in effect a finishing school, and many would have a tutor as a travelling companion. The visitors would have received an education grounded in the ‘Classics’ and the Grand Tour was an opportunity to take in the culture. To some extent the Grand Tour was regarded as their completion and independence or coming of age at 21years.

Bound up with the idea of independence was the need to collect souvenirs for display in their homes. It seems that the French Revolution in 1789 brought the ‘Grand Tour’, as an expectation, to an end.

NOTE. The origins of the expression ‘Grand Tour’ comes from the 17^th century travel writer and Roman Catholic priest Richard Lassels, in his guidebook ‘The Voyage of Italy’ published in 1670. It became ‘fashionable’ for wealthy young men (and later accompanied women) to ‘take the Grand Tour’ to complete their education.

For many centuries, the British monarchy have sent their princes to appreciate the religion and culture of Rome, this includes prince later King Alfred the Great who visited more than once. And certainly princes before him were sent to Rome. It would have been apparent that the remaining relics of the Roman Empire inspire the ambitions of Civilization.