See things in the context of the age in which they were created. France paid a fortune so long ago to build the most magnificent room in all of Europe to adequately house this relic, you will be taken back. Standing in a radiant shower of colored light filtering through this glass and knowing that King Louis IX. As you climb the dark spiral staircase in Paris’s Sainte-Chapelle, you suddenly emerge into the most beautifully lit medieval chapel in Europe… a virtual lantern made of 800-year-old stained glass, built to house what people thought of the crown of thorns held Jesus. And if you appreciate the context in which things were made, paintings and statues are the closest thing to a time machine in your travels.įind out who paid for what you’re watching and why. If you bring understanding, you will enjoy art and architecture much more. And while you can save a little here and there, a better budget tip is to make these experiences more rewarding. People ask me if I can save money on museum tickets. I thought, “How can anyone enjoy this stuff?” A few years later, after a course in classical art history, the same museum was a fascinating journey into the world of Pericles and Socrates, given some background knowledge. When I toured places like the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, I was surrounded by people who looked like they were having a good time – and I was convinced they were just pretending. And our challenge is to enjoy it.Īs a child, on family trips to Europe, I dutifully went to the great galleries because my mother said it would be a crime not to.

As the lean spire rises into the sky and the supporting skeleton stands strong, all involved will forever better understand the medieval Gothic genius.Įurope is a treasure trove of great art and history.

Imagine the scene: arms raised forming pointed arches, plenty of room between the columns for stained glass, and the buttresses stepping back to become flying buttresses… it’s perfect. It only needs 13 bodies: six columns, six buttresses and a spire. One of my favorite teaching tricks of my job as a tour guide in Europe is to build a gothic cathedral out of tourists.

Last supper stained glass