The Italian architect, Andrea Palladio, was born in Padua in 1508. His work was based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Palladianism became popular during the mid 17th century but its flowering was cut short by the onset of the Civil War and the austerity which followed.

The Lecturer: Tom Duncan

Tom Duncan was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied History of Art and Classical Archaeology. He then studied in the United States and moved to England in 1984 to complete his PhD. He taught at University level and now lectures widely to heritage and artistic organisations such as The Art Fund and NADFAS. He began to lead tours sixteen years ago and founded CICERONI Travel in 1998.

After a generation in University life, he has now retired from teaching to concentrate on lecturing to a wider public, and to leading tours to his major areas of interest: the architecture and archaeology of Ireland, and the Mediterranean basin.