Product Description

In this acclaimed 10 part series, Brian Sewell follows in the footsteps of young 18th century English artistocrats whose education was incomplete without a Grand Tour of Italy. His epic journey takes him by various means to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Pompeii, Turin, Milan, Cremona, Siena, Bologna, Vicenza, Paestum, Urbino and Tivoli, via Michelangelo, Raphael, Vesuvius and much else besides.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7675 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-09-04
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 390 minutes

Synopsis
An extraordinary travelogue, starring Brian Sewell, Britain's most famous art critic and historian. Brian's GRAND TOUR invites viewers to join him in some of the world's most romantic destinations including Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples and Venice.

Review
'Sewell is in danger of becoming a national treasure. It is his unpredictability that makes him such an arresting presenter.' --The Times

Review
'Splendidly eccentric and thoroughly endearing.' --Daily Mail

Customer Reviews

elucidating virtual time spent in Italy
I can only say that this is an excellent travel series, as good as Francesco's Italy or any other similar series. Thank you Brian Sewell for showing me around Turin and some sites I didn't visit when I was in Turin. You didn't do the most predictable sight-seeing. No mention of the egyptology museum but instead San Lorenzo's church. Never heard of it before. You've helped me understand Turin's history and everything about the grand tourists from our country to theirs, 300 years ago, and it's amazing how things have developed. From people scrabbling up snowy mountains if they couldn't handle being carried on a stretcher thing by peasants, to the cable car. From playing footsie and flirting to the point of "rolling around on the floor together" at the opera, to obvious and available "sex", today. So much has changed. Turin used to be the most modern city in Europe. Very revelatory. Buildings were knocked down to make wider roads which is amazing! I am looking forward to discovering other parts that I thought I knew, too! All from the comfort of my chair! It is a very modern luxury. Thanks Brian!

Excellent art history and travel - marred by a bad transfer
I would have given this 5 stars, but have to take one away for the poor DVD transfer. The video has been compressed so much in order to fit 10 episodes on 2 discs that sometimes it's like watching a YouTube video: blurry pixellated artefacts all over.

Get over that though and the series is excellent. Sewell mixes the sacred and the profane in the right measure, and his final, tearful farewell to Italy is heartbreaking.

A plain good travel story
An intelligent, perceptive and at times mischievous look at the paintings and architecture as seen by 18th century Grand Tourists. Brian Sewell is witty and fastidious in his treatment of the subject matter, an eloquent and slow-paced delivery making every work of art seem all the more fascinating. At times emotional but never patronising, I can't think of a nicer way to experience Italian culture from the comfort of your sofa.