Non Solo Luce takes you on a discovery of the Grand Tour
Starting from the XVII century the young people of the European aristocracy began to undertake a long journey, which took the name of Grand Tour, through the main European nations in order to improve their knowledge and culture.
Non Solo Luce has decided today to accompany a young British aristocrat. Starting from London he will cross the Channel arriving at the port of Calais, then he will go to Paris and then to Vienna at the Austrian court, ending his journey in Italy, destination par excellence of the Grand Tour.
The best way to try and understand the world is to see it from as many angles as possible.
England
The Enlightenment brought with it a new way of understanding travel, which became an educational experience in its own right: no longer something to be undertaken to satisfy often commercial ends, but something that was an end in itself and whose sole purpose became the traveller’s cultural and human enrichment.
Travelling in the 18th century, however, presented various dangers, which is why the preparation of the trip had to be meticulous and could take a long time: itineraries, timings, places not to be missed and those to be avoided were studied. This is how the first “tourist guides” were born, travel diaries that could help those who were still facing the “Grand Tour”, including our young British friend who is now ready to leave from London.
Pictured is our London wall lamp.
FRANCE
France at that time was a symbol of style, elegance and sophistication, which is why the young British aristocracy considered it a compulsory stop on their Grand Tour.
After recovering from the Channel crossing, which could have been traumatic for those unaccustomed to sea travel, our young man disembarked in Calais and went to Paris without delay.
In the French capital, the first step was to completely overhaul his wardrobe, getting rid of his coarse English clothes and buying clothes in pure French style.
Dressed fashionably and having taken his first lessons in bon ton from French tutors, our young man is now ready to enter sophisticated Parisian society.
Pictured is our Paris table lamp.
AUSTRIA
Having finished his stay in Paris, it was time to set off again.
The natural destination of the Grand Tour is Italy, but our young man has time on his hands and does not want to arrive in Venice before its carnival.
He decided to continue his journey towards Vienna, stopping first in the beautiful Alsace and then in Munich.
When he arrived in Vienna, and with his stay in Paris behind him, which had taught him so much about elegance and behaviour, our young man had no trouble making a name for himself in Viennese society, and was thus introduced into the Austrian court.
After a few months of receptions, balls and new acquaintances, it was finally time to leave for Italy.
Pictured is our Wien pendant lamp.
ITALY
Having left behind his life at the Austrian court, the young aristocrat travelled to Italy, which with its splendid cities, art and monuments had soon become the main stop on the Grand Tour.
After crossing the Brenner Pass and making intermediate stops in Verona and Padua, our young man finally arrived in Venice, one of the most important cities on the Grand Tour, often visited during its famous carnival.
Then we descended along the Apennine ridge, stopping in Florence, before finally arriving in Rome, the main destination of the trip.
People would stay in Rome for months at a time, walking the streets, stopping to buy ancient Roman relics or to have portraits commissioned.
Pictured is our Rome ceiling lamp.
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