Road Scholar has been offering educational travel since 1975 and used to operate under the name Elderhostel, Inc. The company offers an abundance of tours to more than 90 countries all over the world and focuses on educating participants beyond just traditional sightseeing. The Italian Classics tour takes travelers to significant historical and architectural sites in Rome, Florence and Venice. Some of the tour activities include visiting the National Museum at Palazzo Massimo and Museo delle Teme di Diocleiano. While there, guests will enjoy lectures about architects Bramante, Bemini and Borromini. Florence activities include visits to churches to examine their impressive architecture. Venice attractions include St. Mark's Cathedral and the Ducal Palace as well as workshops with master-craftsmen. Instructor Marco Ceccarani, who holds a Ph.D. from the Universita di Perugia, accompanies tour participants on this 13-night tour which starts at $4,000 per person, as of late 2010. The tour cost includes meals, lodging and attraction costs.
Architectural Dialogue organizes tours of London that are led by architects and which focus specifically on contemporary architecture and historical buildings. One tour currently offered is a 2012 Olympics Tour which provides an architect-led guided tour to areas that offer good views of the structures being built for the 2012 Olympics in London. The tour also takes participants to other architectural sites on London's East End and explores the significance of adding Olympic structures to the legacy of the area. The tour is half a day long and costs $770 for a tour that accommodates up to 25 people. Because Architectural Dialogue's tour prices are offered for groups, it is best to have a group of people in mind and when considering this organization.
For more than 20 years, Jean Renoux has created and led tours for people fascinated with art, architecture and culture. Renoux offers lectures and tours year round for groups interested in experiencing European architecture. Renoux's tour to France and Germany is next offered in April 2011 and visits nine buildings whose builders have received the Pritzker Prize for architecture, including a building by 2010 winner Kazuyo Sejima. Other architectural attractions on the seven night tour include Le Corbusier's Ronchamp Chapel, the Vitra Design Museum, Goetheanum and the Thermal Baths in Vals. The cost for the tour is $5,287 per person and includes all accommodations, breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners and entrance fees. Also included are guide and lecture fees, and books and maps of areas visited.
