10 August 2024
Am now getting around to taking the OU OpenLearn free courses that I've stockpiled whilst concentrating on this year's studies.
I've just finished 'Travelling for culture: the Grand Tour', which explores the different kinds of cultural encounters to be found on the 'Tour'. I found the analysis of texts and portraits interesting, though it was largely confined to dealing with the Colosseum in Rome.
Some background information about the other major cities that comprised the 'Tour' would have been useful. What did travellers say about those places? Why was Paris, Geneva, Turin, Venice, Florence and Naples considered to be worthy of inclusion on the circuit? Why the predominance of Italy with 5 of those destinations? Is there an in-depth study that suggests art, architecture, historical significance, snobbishness, or some other characteristic made the Grand Tour feature on many a bucket list during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?