The History of Science Tour

A tour for the Royal Society of NSW in conjunction with the State Library of NSW Foundation.

Explore the history of science from Vesalius in Padua, to Galileo in Florence and the flourishing of modern science in Paris and London. This 16-day private tour for the Royal Society of NSW in conjunction with The State Library of NSW Foundation includes guided visits to many exceptional museums, rare access to collections, libraries and archival material, and the expert guidance of specialists and curators. It follows the great story of modern science, taking you from Padua, to Florence, Paris and London and includes day trips to Bologna, Siena and Cambridge. A four-night pre-tour extension to Venice is also available.

Discover
The birth of modern science, from Galileo’s telescopes to Darwin’s theory of evolution
The history of medicine: Vesalius in Padua, Pasteur in Paris and the medical collections of London
The transmission of knowledge, from rare books and manuscripts to the modern museum
The history of the university at Padua, Bologna, Paris and Cambridge
Interaction between the arts and sciences in moments of great change from the Renaissance to the modern world
HIGHLIGHTS

Special access to library collections in Florence, Paris and London
Private tour of the Pompidou Centre, Paris’ modern art museum
Day trips to Siena, Bologna, Cambridge and Greenwich
Specialist museums dedicated to Pasteur, Curie and Galileo
London science: from the manuscripts of the Wellcome Library to the National Science Museum
Down House in Kent, the home of Charles Darwin
Paris’ Ars at Metiers – an exceptional museum with Foucault’s Pendulum and Lavosier’s laboratoryReturn international/domestic air travel unless those flights take place during the tour
Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart
Costs involved in obtaining visas for countries visited, where required
Travel insurance. We require all participants to have comprehensive travel insurance. A typical policy for one of our tours will cost from $160 upwards, depending on your age, pre-existing medical conditions, the countries you are visiting and the overall length of your trip
Lunches and dinners not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
Costs associated with any activity mentioned as “optional” in the itinerary, or any suggested free time activity