Eat. Drink. Memory.

Context Florence goes behind scenes at major restorations

Ever wonder what goes on behind closed doors in Florence?

Context Florence is brushing away the shrouded mystery by teaming with Friends of Florence to give visitors a peek at several of the nonprofit's ongoing restoration projects, including the Tribuna of the Uffizi Gallery and the San’Antonio cloister at San Marco.

Context, the network of scholars who lead critically acclaimed walking tours in several major world cities, is partnering with esteemed non-profit organization Friends of Florence on this  unique collaboration, "Salvaging Art."

The walk will take place on July 8^th, 2009 at 9:30AM and is part of the biannual Out of Context series, which offers special lectures, site openings and events in our cities, providing unique and exclusive experiences far off the beaten track. This event marks the first collaboration between Context Florence and Friends of Florence, founded in 2002 by Simonetta Brandolini D’Adda, organizations both widely regarded for their dedication to mitigating the negative affects of mass tourism on Florence’s precious landmarks and artwork.

The walking seminar will first start at the Tribuna of the Uffizi, the octagonal display room that has held many of the masterpieces of the Medici ducal collection for over 400 years. The group will then move on the San’Antonio cloister, nestled in the placid San Marco complex, which boasts some imperiled Renaissance-era frescoes.

At both spaces, we will discuss not only the history behind the structures but the science and technique behind their current endangered states and their ongoing restoration.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and graphic designer Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals – including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes – who organize and lead didactic walking seminars in several world cities: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, New York and Istanbul.

 To learn more about Context, visit its website at: www.contexttravel.com

Celebrate Dad's Day in Philly with Context tours

Context Travel is offering a discount on its newly launched walking seminars in Philadelphia over the Father’s Day weekend. The Philly city tours lead by scholars, known for their in-depth walks of museums, monuments, and historic neighborhoods in such cities as Paris, London, and Istanbul. will offer a selection of American history and art history walks in Philadelphia. Group sizes are strictly limited to no more than six people, and the walks are led by Ph.D.-level scholars. Over the Father's Day weekend, Context is offering the following walks:

Saturday, June 20 at 10 am Franklin Seminar, a 3-hr walk of Old City north of Market St., looking at the figure of Benjamin Franklin and his relationship to the city.

Saturday, June 20 at 2 pm American Art in Philadelphia, a 3-hr survey of the birth of American art with visits to the Second Bank, PAFA, and other works in the city.

Sunday, June 21 at 10 am – Colonial City in Context, a 3-hr walk of Old City south of Market St. that traces the development of Philadelphia from its founding.

Sunday, June 21 at 10 am – Temple on the Hill, a 3-hr visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art with a curator.

Participants on small-group walks will receive a 20% discount (normal price: $65), while those booking privately will receive a 30% discount (normal price: $300).

“It’s wonderful to find yourself in such rich settings as, say, the Second Bank where Charles Wilson Peale’s wonderful portraits of the founders hang, with a scholar of art history who can weave in all the threads of meaning and context,” says Context co-founder Paul Bennett. “Every time I attend one of these walks I learn something new.”

Half off Scott's Pizza Tours with Groupon

Wondering about which Ray's Original is the original?  Curious about how to properly eat a New York slice?

Scott's historic walking tour delves into the mystery and magic of the mythical NY meal on the go.

Groupon offers the tour at a 50% discount - good for six months - so if you're traveling to Gotham, the slice of Americana is perfect for your vacation too. 

Buy it today only and get the serious goods about the NY pie.

Context Tours do Canada.

  

Context , the tour for intellectually curious travelers, is taking on Canada. 

Look for tours that detail food history, art and architecture, photography, and gastronomic delights. 

The network of scholars and professors who organize in-depth walking tours of European and American cities, most notably Rome,Paris, London and New York - is now being represented by Exclusive Tour (http://www.exclusivetours.ca), experts in small ship cruising.

"Exclusive has great resources in Canada,” says Context co-founder Paul Bennett. “They’ve built a solid reputation in the travel business." 

What does this mean for the walking public?

Context’s inventory of scholar-led half-day “walking seminars” will be rolled into Exclusive's portfolio of tours and other travel services supplied to the Canadian travel market. The travel group will also represent Context’s newly launched multi-day tour packages.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of scholars and experts in such fields as art history, archaeology, gastronomy, and architecture who organize and lead thematic walking seminars in eight cities: Rome, Paris, New York, London, Naples, Florence, Venice, and Istanbul.

Travel + Leisure named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context visit its website at: www.contexttravel.com.