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Liverpool Tate & Museum of Liverpool

A stimulating day of art and history in Liverpool

Thursday 23 February 2012

 

***** THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL *****

Tate Liverpool

Liverpool is seeped in maritime, cultural, musical and sporting history, and in 2008 was named as the European Capital of Culture. It offers more museums and galleries than anywhere outside London. On arrival in Liverpool our first venue is St George’s Hall. Described as the finest neo-classical Grade 1 listed building in Europe, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A guided tour of this building is included in this visit. In this magnificent building are cells and court rooms, the Great Hall with its great organ and Minton tile floor, and the beautiful concert room, where visitors in days gone by could enjoy music and hear readings from such literary mentors as Charles Dickens.

After leaving the Hall we will travel to the Albert Dock to explore the largest collection of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK. Lunch can be purchased here at any of the many venues in the area. While here you can also visit Tate Liverpool, an art gallery and museum, which was created to display work from the national Tate Collection of British art from 1500 to the present day. International modern and contemporary art is also on display in this converted warehouse within the Albert Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.

From the Albert Dock, a footbridge takes you to the new Museum of Liverpool. Opened in July 2011, the Museum of Liverpool is housed in a stunning new building on Mann Island at Pier Head and tells the story of Liverpool and its people, reflecting the city’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture. Visitors can explore the how the port, its people, their creative and sporting history have shaped the city. This new building with its spectacular views from the enormous picture windows is well worth seeing.

If the weather is kind the Mersey Ferry Terminal is on the waterfront just past the Museum of Liverpool and in front of the Liver Building. You can take a 50 minute cruise of the waterfront (with commentary) for £5. Ferries run from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm and leave on the hour. Return to the Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock, which focuses on some of the key events in Liverpool’s maritime history. This building also houses the International Slavery Museum. Entry is free at all these venues.

Of course if you prefer to indulge in some retail therapy, the Liverpool One Shopping Centre is just across the Strand from Albert Dock.

At 3.30 pm you will make your way to the Maritime Museum Dining Room on the 4th floor, where refreshments will be provided before leaving for the journey home, departing at 4.30 pm.

The cost is £21 per person. Cheques should be made payable to Fylde DFAS. Places are limited to 53, so please book as early as possible.

You can download a booking form here



The Georgian Country House At Home and Abroad

Social Evening and Lecture, Wednesday 21 March 2012 at 7.30 pm

Lytham Hall

 

Roger Mitchell

Image copyright Keith Burroughs

Roger Mitchell, an extremely popular lecturer with our members, has generously agreed to donate his time to raise money for the Lytham Hall Appeal at this fundraising event facilitated by Fylde DFAS. His lecture will focus mainly on English country houses but will also touch on Irish, Australian and American houses of the same period.

As this lecture is being advertised widely to other organisations and the general public, we suggest you book your tickets now to avoid disappointment. The event will include wine, canapes and a hot supper.

Tickets cost £14.50 per person, with all proceeds going to the Lytham Hall Appeal Fund.

A booking form is available here.

 



Anne Boleyn – theatre trip

Theatre trip to Grand Theatre, Blackpool

28 March 2012

Anne Boleyn

 

Following two sell-out London seasons, the English Touring Theatre (ETT) and Shakespeare’s Globe join forces to stage this vivid and vibrant production of Anne Boleyn, by English playwright Howard Brenton, at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Compelling, witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, this celebration of a great English heroine, Anne Boleyn leaps cunningly between generations to reveal the debt the outrageous yet scholarly James I owed to Anne when he reconciled England’s religious factions by creating his common, ‘authorised’ Bible. Hunting through an old chest, the newly crowned James discovers the controversial legacy of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s notorious second wife. Time jumps back 70 years, when the witty and flirtatious Anne was in love with Henry, but also with the most dangerous ideas of her day. Conspiring with the exiled William Tyndale, she plots to make England Protestant. For ever.

Fifty seats have been reserved in the middle stalls (rows H-K on both sides of the aisle). The coach will start collecting theatregoers at the Assembly Rooms, Lytham with various pick-up points along Clifton Drive and will drop you off at the same pick-up points on the return trip.

You can download a booking form here.

 

Theatre tickets will be handed out on the coach.

Please support your local theatre and this new venture for Fylde DFAS!

 



The Art & Palaces of Bologna, Ravenna, Padova & Parma

Fylde DFAS Presents our exciting new tour for 2012

Departing 26th May 2012

 

Details
  • 4* Bologna hotel
  • All excursions & guided tours included
  • Direct flights from Liverpool
  • Welcome dinner included
  • Professional tour manager
  • Executive coach
What We Will See
Optional
  • Guided tour of a Parma cheese and ham producer
Extras
  • Insurance £36
  • Single room supplement £99
  • Entrance fees to places visited as part of this itinerary (State run museums free to over 65s)  Gratuities
  • Optional Excursion

 

PINACOTECA NAZIONALE, BOLOGNA

The National Art Gallery of Bologna is well known for its collection of Emilian paintings from the 13-18 centuries and other works by artists who were connected to the city.

http://www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/

 

 

 

 

SCROVEGNI CHAPEL, PADUA

The Scrovegni Chapel is famous for its series of  frescoes by Giotto, which were completed in 1305.  The frescoes follow three main themes: episodes in the lives of Joachim and Anna (1-6); .episodes in the Virgin Mary’s life (7-13); and episodes recounting Christ’s life and death. The lower parts of the walls contain a series of frescoes illustrating vices and virtues in allegory.

http://www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it/eng/index_e.htm

 

 

 

 

MOSAICS OF ST VITALE, RAVENNA

The Basilica di San Vitale is one of Italy’s most important monuments of early Christian art. Built in 548, it’s famous for its Byzantine mosaics and is one of eight Ravenna structures listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/788

 

 

MUSEO MORANDI

Bologna also has plenty to offer modern art lovers. The Museo Morandi is dedicated to to local artist Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964), famous for his still life paintings. Eleven halls house Morandi’s paintings, watercolours, drawings, etchings and sculptures. At the time of our visit, the museum will also be hosting an exhibition of works by the American artist
Wayne Thiebaud.

http://www.mambo-bologna.org/museomorandi/

 

ACCOMMODATION

Five nights at the 4* Golden Tulip Aemilia Hotel in Bologna.

The hotel is located within easy walking distance of the San Vitale Arch and then it’s a flat walk to the famous Two Towers. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, wine bar and a gymnasium and all rooms are ensuite and feature television, telephone, safe, mini bar and a hairdryer. A welcome dinner is served at a restaurant close to our hotel on the first evening and the remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis.

 

 

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity. Last year’s holiday sold out fast and was a great success with our members!

Click here for further details and booking form

 



Bowes Museum, County of Durham

Day trip to Northeast, including Bowes Museum

14 June 2012

Bowes Museum

 

This one-day trip to the Northeast, takes in the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Bowes Museum, built in the style of a French chateau, is a beautiful piece of architecture set against stunning Engliash countryside. The collection presents a comprehensive view of European art from the 15th-19th centuries. The collections are vast. As wll as paintings and ceramics, there are collections of costume, textiles, sculpture, miniature prints, glass, metalwork, clocks, objets d’art, books and manuscripts, and more.

If time permits, it may also be possible to explore the lovely old market town of Barnard Castle and the ruined 12th century Norman Castle (English Heritage) in the centre of town.



Three-day tour of Northumbria

Two-night break to Durham & Northumbria

11-13 October 2012

Durham Cathedral

 

Northumbria, England’s Border Country and thought by many to be England’s best kept secret, is a region of outstanding natural beauty and includes many castles and gardens which is the theme of this tour of the North East.

Day 1
We meet at pre-arranged pick up points for our journey to Raby Castle.  On arrival at Raby light refreshments will be provided, followed by a guided tour.  Raby was home to Lord Barnard’s family since 1626, and is one of the finest medieval castles in England.  Built by the mighty Nevill family in the 14th Century, Raby remained in the ownership of the same family until 1569 when after the failure of the Rising of the North, the Castle and its lands were forfeited to the Crown. In 1626, Sir Henry Vane the Elder purchased Raby and the Castle has remained in the Vane family ever since.

After our tour of Raby, we continue our journey to the 4* Radisson Blu Hotel, in the heart of historic Durham, on a bed and breakfast basis, for a two night stay.  The rest of the day is at leisure for you to visit the Cathedral, the Castle or just get to know the city!

Day 2
This morning we have a guided tour of Alnwick Castle, one of the largest inhabited castles in England, and proudly known as ‘The Windsor of the North’, home to the Percy family for 700 years.  There are many state rooms packed with a stunning array of art and furniture collected over the years by the Percy family.   Alnwick Garden – step into the unexpected.  Alnwick is the only place to see a public garden on this scale from internationally celebrated garden designer Jacques Wirtz.  See the classic touches from his style in the strong green architecture and contrasting spaces and atmospheres.  There is so much to explore and water brings the landscape to life – it tumbles down the Grand Cascade, erupting, splashing and jetting high into the air.  The garden is beautiful all year around.

We will also visit Wallington House, a National Trust property.  Wallington was home to many generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families, who all left their marks. The result is an impressive, yet friendly house with a magnificent  interior and fine collections. The remarkable Pre-Raphaelite central hall was decorated to look like an Italian courtyard and features a series of paintings of Northumbrian history by William Bell Scott. The formality of the house is offset by the tranquil beauty of the surrounding landscape- a miscellany of lawns, lakes, parkland and woodland. The delightful walled garden, with its varied plant collection and charming conservatory, is an enchanting must-see.

Day 3
Tullie House is our destination today before our journey home.  It has an extensive and important art collection including Fine Art, Decorative Art and Textiles. This collection consists of around 2000 items including ceramics, textiles, metalwork, musical instruments and furniture dating from around 1564 to the present day. The new Roman Gallery must not be missed!

The cost per person is £205 sharing a double room – single room supplement £30 per person. For non-National Trust Members there is an additional cost of £10.80. At present Tullie House is free to NADFAS Members, but there could be a charge of £3.60 from April 2012.

Booking forms can be downloaded here.   (Booking Conditions)

 

Cheques should be made payable to Fylde DFASPlease enclose a stamped addressed envelope for your receipted booking form to:
Elaine Wolstencroft,
Tour Organiser,
5 The Breakers,
Victory Boulevard,
Lytham FY8 5TQ

 



One Man, Two Guvnors – theatre trip

Theatre trip to Grand Theatre, Blackpool

29th November 2012

 

The National Theatre is bringing its smash play ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ to Blackpool Grand! Written by Richard Bean and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the play has enjoyed sell-out seasons at the National  and Adelphi Theatres, as well as a sell-out tour. The Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, Metro, The Sun and The Times all awarded the play five stars.

Fyde DFAS has booked a number of seats for 29 November. Further details and booking forms will be made available shortly.