Neoclassical Berlin - the dicamillo companion

Neoclassical Berlin
Monday, May 16 – Sunday, May 22, 2016
7 Days – 6 Nights
$6,700 per person, based on double occupancy.
Neue Wache (New Guardhouse), Berlin
Photo by Beek100
Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Bio of Tour Leader
Curt DiCamillo
Mr. DiCamillo is an American architectural historian and a recognized authority on the
British country house. He has written and lectured extensively in the U.S. and abroad on the
subject and has taught classes on British culture and art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston,
and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Curt regularly leads scholarly tours that
focus on the architectural and artistic heritage of Britain and its influence around the world.
Since 1999 he has maintained an award-winning database on the web, The DiCamillo
Companion to British & Irish Country Houses (TheDiCamillo.com). The database seeks to
document every English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish country house ever built, standing or
demolished, together with a history of the families who lived in the houses, the architects who
designed them, and the history of the houses’ collections and gardens.
In recognition of his work, Curt has been presented to the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen
Mother and The Prince of Wales. He is a member of The Society of Architectural Historians
of Great Britain and is an alumnus of both the Royal Collection Studies program and The
Attingham Summer School for the Study of Historic Houses and Collections. In addition, he
is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the
World, is a Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a member of the Collections
Committee for the Great House at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts,
and a member of the Council of the American Museum in Britain.
Before going into private practice, Curt served for eight years (2004-12) as Executive Director
of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, based in Boston, where he was
responsible for raising over $7 million for the Trust (he currently holds the position of
Executive Director Emeritus). Previously he worked for 13 years for the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston. A native of the Philadelphia area, Curt grew up in Central Florida with his
sister, the award-winning children’s book author Kate DiCamillo.
Curt at the iconic Attingham Park, Shropshire, May 2012.
Page 2
Meet the Inspiration for the Tour!
That would be the divine Karl Friedrich
Schinkel (1781-1841), one of the chief
European proponents of Neoclassicism.
We think of Britain today as one of the
leading lights of the Neoclassical
movement, but it’s arguable that Germany
was even more advanced in the
development of this style, and none
practiced it more sublimely or purely than
the Prussian-born Schinkel.
Painting by Franz Ludwig Catel showing
Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Naples, 1824
In the collection of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin,
Nationalgalerie
This image was published in the US before 1923 and is in
the public domain in the US
This amazing man was not only one of the
most prominent architects of 19th century
Germany, but also a noted city planner, a
designer of furniture and decorative arts, an
interior decorator, a painter, and a designer
of stage sets (his famous 1815 star-spangled
set for the entrance of the Queen of the
Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute is still a
resource for modern productions of the
opera).
After Napoleon’s defeat, Schinkel oversaw the Prussian Building Commission, where he was
responsible for reshaping the ordinary and pedestrian city of Berlin into a spectacular capital
for Prussia. His preferred style was Greek, rather than Imperial Roman architecture, which
was seen as the style of the recent French occupiers.
Many of the grandest buildings in Berlin
came into existence because of Schinkel.
However, he is almost equally famous for a
project he designed, but which was never
built: the transformation of the Athenian
Acropolis into a royal palace for the new
Kingdom of Greece.
2006 Deutsche Post stamp honoring Schinkel that
shows his Altes Museum on Museum Island, Berlin.
Page 3
ITINERARY
Neoclassical Berlin
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch
T = Tea & Coffee; R = Reception / Drinks; D = Dinner
Sunday, May 15
DEPART U.S.
Depart the United States no later than today.
DAY 1
Monday, May 16
R, D
Arrive on your own at one of the German capital’s finest hotels – the five-star Regent Berlin
overlooking the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square, the Concert Hall, and two 18th century
cathedrals. After checking in, there will be time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Our program begins at 3:30 PM with an afternoon reception at the hotel, followed by an
orientation tour by coach led by architectural historian Michael Cullen. We will also be
joined by Anna Schultz and Evelin Morgenstern, our specialist guides who will accompany us
throughout the tour.
Michael will introduce us to the layout and key sites of the former East and West Berlin,
beginning with the Forum Fridericianum, the ensemble of buildings along Unter den Linden
boulevard that illustrate Frederick the Great’s ideal of unification of kingship, art, and science
and which today still exemplifies the center of Berlin. Michael will point out Bebelplatz, with
its stunning Memorial of the Burnt Book; the monumental Socialist boulevard, Karl-Marx-
Page 4
Allee; the section of the Berlin Wall known as East Side Gallery, considered an international
memorial for freedom; Checkpoint Charlie; and, crossing into the former West Berlin, its
main boulevard, the Kurfürstendamm (Kudamm); the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church; and
the Victory Column. We will also see the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, better
known simply as the Holocaust Memorial.
Forum Fridericianum
Photo by WeeHaggis / Grant from Oslo, Norway
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license
We will celebrate our first evening together with a welcome dinner at the renowned Käfer
Restaurant in the roof garden atop the Reichstag, famously designed by Lord Norman Foster.
The Reichstag
Photo by Selbst geschossenes Bild
Photo used under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
Page 5
DAY 2
Tuesday, May 17
B, L, T
This morning our guide, Anna Schultz, will briefly introduce us to the architectural history of
the Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin’s elegant French-inspired square opposite our hotel.
Then we meet Dr. Jörg Trempler, art historian and author of a recent Schinkel biography,
who will begin our coach tour with a look at three iconic buildings designed by Schinkel that
highlight how versatile and influential his architecture was: the Neo-Gothic
Friedrichwerdersche Kirche (sadly closed due to renovation); the partly-reconstructed
Bauakademie, with its uncommon use of red brick and its streamlined facade; and the
Neue Wache, or New Guardhouse, a stunning example of German Neoclassicism.
Gendarmenmarkt
Photo by Thomas Huntke, Germany
This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Next Jörg will take us to the Alte Nationalgalerie, a state museum showcasing Neoclassical,
Romantic, Biedermeier, Impressionist, and early Modernist artwork. Here we will focus on
Schinkel as an artist, and his influence on the work of the famous Caspar David Friedrich,
whose paintings will also be on display. We will also meet Kristina Mösl, Head of
Conservation, who has examined a number of Schinkel paintings using the latest and most
sophisticated technology. She will show us infrared images and share additional information
on Schinkel’s work.
Then we’re on to the recently-restored Altes Museum on Museum Island, designed by
Schinkel in the Neoclassical style to house the Prussian royal family’s art collection (today
home to the national antiquities collection). Considered a high point of Schinkel’s career, its
design has provided a much-copied blueprint for museum designs around the world.
Page 6
We’ll stop for a lovely
café lunch at the
Deutsches Historisches
Museum, on the shore of
the River Spree with
spectacular views
overlooking the Berlin
Dom (Berlin Cathedral).
Alte Nationalgalerie
Photo by Manfred Brückels
This photo is in the public domain
This afternoon we will visit Schloss Charlottenburg, built by the Elector Friederich III in
1699 as a summer palace for his wife, Sophie Charlotte. This regal estate, the largest palace in
Berlin, is framed by a famous Baroque-style garden, which we will stroll through, walking past
the Mausoleum of Queen Luise (designed by Schinkel) to the recently reopened Neuer
Pavillon (often called the Schinkel-Pavillon), an architectural gem that houses a beautiful
interior with an impressive combination of decorative arts and painting reflecting the spirit of
Schinkel’s time.
Schloss Charlottenburg
This photo is in the public domain
Page 7
We’ll then walk to the Theaterbau (Theatre Building of 1788), home of the KPM Archive
(the archives of the Royal Porcelain Factory, Berlin), where Curator Eva Wollschläger will take
us on a private tour of this world-class collection. The Archive has extremely rich holdings
that include drawings and studies for vases and bowls, decorations of the orders of the Prussian
royal family, the original designs of porcelain vases, rare engravings, more than 6,000 photos
of different motifs, and 50,000 prints that were used to inspire the design and decoration of
the factory’s output. The KPM Archive will also provide an introduction to and context for
our visit to the KPM factory later in the week.
KPM porcelain pâte-sur-pâte plate, circa 1900
This photo is in the public domain
Nearby we will also see the Schlossbrücke, an elegant bridge designed by Schinkel to connect
the city with the palace, and adorned with impressive sculptures.
Next we will make the short journey to the Villa Oppenheim for coffee at the famous
Frau Bäckerin. Here we’ll be joined by Wolf-Borwin Wendland, an architect, buildings
conservator, and eminent collector of 19th century decorative and applied art.
Then it’s back to the hotel, where you’ll have an evening on your own.
Page 8
DAY 3
Wednesday, May 18
B, D
Page 9
We begin the day at Potsdamer Platz, where Michael Cullen will show us how the area,
completely rebuilt since the end of the Cold War, has been transformed from a “no man’s
land” into a futuristic commercial center that is a showcase for some of the greatest
contemporary architects.
Next we’ll tour the Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings), a world-class
collection of prints and drawings which houses 4,000 drawings from Schinkel’s bequest.
The Museum’s Director, Professor Schulze Altcappenberg, curator of the recent Schinkel
exhibition, will share with us some of his personal favorites.
Schinkel’s famous 1815 drawing of the stage set he designed for Mozart’s The Magic Flute
This image was published in the US before 1923 and is in the public domain in the US
Then on to the Gemäldegalerie, one of the world’s most important collections of European
paintings, where we’ll have a highlights tour of the museum, with time to view frames that
Schinkel designed for Old Master paintings.
A Schinkel design for a Berlin salon
This image is in the public domain
Next we will visit the Kunstgewerbemuseum, where curator Dr. Achim Stiegel will show us a
selection of furniture designed by Schinkel and explain the construction and the beginnings of
serial production manufacture, which has been a model of efficiency ever since. We will also
be joined by other Schinkel experts: Dr. Jan Mende, a specialist in Schinkel, and Birgit
Kropmanns, an expert on Schinkel’s designs for lighting features and chandeliers.
Lunch and the remainder of the afternoon are on your own.
This evening we’ll gather for dinner at one of Berlin’s finest restaurants.
Page 10
DAY 4
Thursday, May 19
B, L
We begin the day by meeting our local guide, Stefan Albrecht, who will lead a walking tour of
the United Nations World Heritage Site of Spandauer Vorstadt (often called
Scheunenviertel, or the Jewish Quarter). Formerly situated directly in front of the medieval
fortification walls of old Berlin, this charming area is noted for narrow streets, 17th century
Baroque houses, and romantic courtyards. Compared to the center of Berlin, Spandauer
Vorstadt survived World War II with relatively little damage.
Next, we are privileged to visit the private apartment of Christoph Müller, a passionate
collector of Dutch, Flemish, and Danish Old Master paintings and drawings. He recently
donated over 150 important 17th century paintings to the Schwerin Museum. Christoph will
share with us many other works still in his collection.
The Knoblauchhaus Museum
© Stadtmuseum Berlin | Photo: Michael Setzpfandt
We’ll enjoy a light lunch in a local restaurant before we arrive at the Knoblauchhaus for a
guided tour of this house museum dedicated to the Biedermeier era in Berlin, a transitional
period between Neoclassicism and Romanticism (roughly 1815-48). The tour will end with
Schinkel as an Interior Designer, a presentation by Jan Mende and his colleagues.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Page 11
DAY 5
Friday, May 20
B, L, D
Today we travel by coach to the city of Potsdam. En route we will see Schloss Glienicke, an
architectural masterpiece, and the Große Neugier viewing platform, built by Schinkel for
supervising incoming traffic across the Glienicker Brücke.
We’ll begin our Potsdam tour in the picturesque Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel).
Beginning in 1722, the “Soldier King,” Frederick William I, had 134 brick houses with curved
gables built for Dutch settlers. Today these charming houses are home to galleries, boutiques,
restaurants, and cafés.
We will stop for lunch on Neuer Markt, where we’ll be joined by Dr. Samuel Wittwer,
Director of the Foundation of Prussian Castles and Gardens in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Schloss Charlottenhof
Photo by Rictor Norton
This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
After lunch Dr. Wittwer will lead us on a magical tour of nearby palaces, all located within a
stunning landscape park. Schloss Charlottenhof, our first stop, is an intimate Neoclassical
ensemble built for Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm. Upon departing Schloss Charlottenhof
we’ll walk past the Gärtnerhaus, Römische Bäder, and the Chinesisches Teehaus, famous
for its dazzling gilt roof.
Page 12
Next we will pass the Neues Palais, which was modelled on Castle Howard in Yorkshire.
This grand building was begun by Frederick the Great in 1763 to celebrate Prussia’s success in
the Seven Years’ War. We’ll see many famous sites from the coach before we arrive at the
Belvedere on Pfingstberg, the grand vantage point that looks over the park of Sanssouci.
Page 13
Today’s piece-de-resistance will be our tour of Frederick the Great’s famous Schloss
Sanssouci, a Rococo dream palace heavily inspired by the French fashion, for which Frederick
had a particular passion.
Schloss Sanssouci
Photo by Suse
This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Following the tour we’ll have a private organ concert in the beautiful setting of St. Peter
und Paul auf Nikolskoe, followed by time on your own to enjoy the park.
After time to relax and unwind at the hotel, tonight’s dinner will be at Schloss Glienicke –
Remise, a restaurant located in the coach house of the Glienicke Palace and set in beautiful
grounds on the River Havel landscaped by Schinkel and Peter Joseph Lenné.
DAY 6
Saturday, May 21
B, T, D
Page 14
We begin today with a tour of the well-preserved rooms of Schloss Tegel, the 16th century
lakeside residence of the naturalist Wilhelm von Humboldt. After his retirement from the
civil service in 1819, von Humboldt moved into his parents’ home, where he had the interior
and exterior of the Renaissance building renovated in a classical style by Schinkel. The
vestibule was designed as an ancient Roman atrium with a fountain at its center, while the
salons were designed to house antique sculptures and casts that Wilhelm and Caroline von
Humboldt had collected during their years in Rome. In 1829 Schinkel also designed the
family tomb in the park.
Schloss Tegel in the 19th century
This image was published in the US before 1923 and is in the public domain in the US
On our way to our next visit we’ll pass by Elisabethkirche, the largest of the four Berlin
suburban churches that Schinkel designed in the 1830s. The Church suffered heavy damage
during World War II and was only restored in the 1990s.
We arrive at KPM – The
Royal Porcelain Factory in
Berlin (Königliche PorzellanManufaktur Berlin) for a
guided tour of the workshops
of this beautifully preserved
facility where the craft of fine
porcelain manufacturing is
alive and thriving (classical
vases designed by Schinkel are
among the company’s
bestsellers!). KPM was
founded in 1763 by Frederick
the Great to consolidate earlier
German companies that had
been trying to establish the
production of “white gold,”
i.e., porcelain.
We’ll end our visit with a
short stop at the KPM Cafe,
where coffee and tea will be
served on KPM porcelain!
Our festive farewell dinner
tonight will be at one of
Berlin’s most prominent
restaurants.
DAY 7
Sunday, May 22
B
The tour ends after breakfast.
Page 15
A circa 1860 hard-paste white porcelain KPM vase
depicting the Kronprinzenpalais
Photo by Sean Pathasema/Birmingham Museum of Art
This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution
3.0 Unported license
Neoclassical Berlin
May 16 – 22, 2016
Page 16
Program Prices
Land-Only Tour Cost
$6,700 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement
$995
Includes: Six nights’ deluxe accommodation; breakfast daily, three lunches, and four dinners,
including pre-dinner drinks; wine at most lunches and at all dinners; private organ concert;
transportation by private deluxe coach; entrances to sites featured in the itinerary; tips and
taxes for included services; Tour Lecturer, specialists, and step-in guides to provide
commentary. Tour Director to manage logistics; and gratuities for the coach driver.
Excludes: Round-trip airfare to and from Berlin; airport transfers; porterage at the hotel
upon arrival and departure; meals and beverages not otherwise included; items for personal
use, including phone, fax, and email charges, minibar, and laundry services; passport fees.
General Information
This tour is operated by Travel Muse for The DiCamillo Companion, Ltd.
AIR TRAVEL
The tour cost excludes airfare. Travel Muse recommends booking online or through Ann
Barassi at agency affiliate The Travel Collaborative. Ann can be reached at 617-497-8184, or
[email protected]. If you wish to travel using frequent flyer miles, you can make
arrangements directly with the card members’ travel center, or Ann will assist for a fee of $50
for a mileage-award booking. Ann can also assist with any pre- or post-tour arrangements.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers are at additional cost. Information will be provided about independent and prearranged transfers closer to the tour.
HOTEL
The Regent Berlin is a five-star hotel in the historic heart of Berlin. We have reserved Deluxe
rooms for both doubles and singles, situated on the hotel’s higher floors (6th to 8th), with either
views of the historic Gendarmenmarkt Square or the tranquil inner courtyard. Rooms average
40 square meters (about 430 square feet), with a choice of king-size bed or two separate beds;
each room has a luxurious marble bathroom with deep soaking tub, walk-in shower, and
separate WC. All rooms feature a DVD player, flat screen TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Luxurious textiles and classic Biedermeier-style furniture – including a large writing desk and
armchair -- create a welcoming ambiance.
Extra nights are available at the group-discounted rate of $375, single; $395, double. Upgrades
are available upon request, including Executive Suites, which are 60 square meters (about 645
square feet).
MEALS
Only those meals indicated are included in the cost of the tour:
B = Breakfast; T = Tea & Coffee; L = Lunch; R = Reception / Drinks; D = Dinner
ITINERARY
Although Travel Muse and ground operators will make every effort to adhere to the itinerary,
on rare occasions it may be necessary to adjust arrangements due to circumstances beyond our
control. Should any activities not be available, substitution will be made to the best of our
ability and no refund will be made. Any additional costs necessitated by such changes are the
responsibility of the tour member. Please note that there will be significant walking and
standing, as well as tight staircases to navigate. The tour is not handicap accessible. Casual dress is
recommended, particularly comfortable shoes. And always be prepared for weather.
TOUR COSTS
Prices are based on a minimum of 12 paying participants and a currency exchange rate at an
average of $1.10 to the Euro. At the time of final payment, Travel Muse reserves the right to
add any increased amounts arising from changes in foreign exchange rates and taxes and from
changes instituted by suppliers or caused by market conditions. All local/government taxes on
hotels, meals, and services in the itinerary are included, in addition to normal gratuities to
porters, waiters, and local guides. Rates are based on group participation, and there can be no
refund for services or portions of the tour not taken. It is also understood and agreed that all
excursions are optional and refunds cannot be made to tour members who do not participate or
complete the tour, for any reason.
For questions, please call Meg MacDonald at Travel Muse: 617-480-0250,
or toll-free at 1-877-716-1776. Or send an email to: [email protected].
Page 17
Terms & Conditions
LIMIT OF LIABILITY
Travel Muse and all its agents act only as agents for the passenger with respect to
transportation, hotels, and other arrangements of this tour, and exercise every care possible.
However, we cannot assume liability for accident, illness or injury, delay, loss, damage or
expenses incurred, of or by clients and/or tour members and their property, alleged to have
occurred as a result of strikes, riots, public disturbances, terrorism, war, quarantine, acts of
God, or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by
the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. Travel Muse
disclaims any and all responsibility for changes in air, coach, boat, and other transport services
and for any consequences of such changes. Travel Muse also reserves the right to cancel any
tour prior to departure in which event the entire payment will be refunded with no further
obligation or liability on its part, though exceptions may be made for unforeseen
circumstances, such as acts of terrorism, in which case refunds will be made based on monies
recovered from suppliers. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person or
group, without any liability either to such person or group or agent/organizer/client or any
other party connected to this service. The right is reserved to substitute accommodations,
carriers, or any other qualified leader; or to alter the itinerary of the program at any time when
deemed appropriate or advisable without penalty or liability. The sole responsibility of any
airline used for this tour is limited to that set out in the passenger contract evidenced by the
ticket.
PAYMENTS
Deposits will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. An invoice will be sent to you
upon receipt for a final balance, which will be due on March 18, 2016.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be made in writing to:
Travel Muse, 369 Montezuma Avenue, #319, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Cancellation Penalty
•
•
•
Cancellations received prior to February 18, 2016:
Cancellations received February 18 to March 18, 2016:
Cancellations received on or after March 19, 2016
and up until the day of departure:
$300 *
$600 *
Total tour cost **
* Cancellation fee covers administrative and operational costs and any penalties assessed by
suppliers.
** Travel insurance information will be sent to you upon receipt of your deposit
Page 18
Neoclassical Berlin
Page 19
May 16 – 22, 2016
Reservation Form
Please complete this Reservation Form and send it with your deposit of $1,000 per person (by
check payable to Travel Muse) to: TRAVEL MUSE, 369 Montezuma Avenue, #319,
Santa Fe, NM 87501. You can also call Meg MacDonald at Travel Muse with your credit
card number. A signed Reservation Form must be received to confirm your reservation.
Name(s):
(Include preferred titles: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Lord, Lady)
Address:
City/Town:
State/Province/County:
Zip/Post Code:
Cell/Mobile Phone:
Day Telephone: (
Fax: (____)
)
Evening Telephone: (
Email:
)
ACCOMMODATION
____
We would like to share a room: ______ Two beds
______ King bed
____
I would like to have a single room at the supplemental cost of $995
____
Please assist me in finding a roommate (If none can be found,
I will pay the single supplement)
DIETARY
Are there any foods you cannot or DO NOT WANT to eat?
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
I (we) have read the details of this brochure, including the Terms and Conditions, and agree
to abide by all stipulations contained therein.
Signature:
Date:
Signature:
Date:
Tour operated by Travel Muse for
The DiCamillo Companion, Ltd.
a corporation registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
76 Elm Street, No. 310, Boston, MA 02130-2999 USA
www.TheDiCamillo.com
This itinerary and its content is © Copyright 2015-16 by The DiCamillo Companion, Ltd.
Page 20