Lacquerware is one of our favorite crafts from Japan, where is it known as urushi (lacquer), shikki (lacquerware) or nurimono (coated things). Ishikawa Prefecture is among the most famous of the many regions in Japan where lacquerware is produced. Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa and historically one of the most powerful castle towns in Japan, […]

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Italy is adding another must-see destination to its already long list with the Milan Expo, which runs May 1–Oct 31, 2015. This World’s Fair explores the theme of “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” in individual country pavilions, as well as group pavilions with displays related to cacao, coffee, rice, spices and other foods. In […]

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Travelers who appreciate the finest craftsmanship will be happy to know that Artisans of Leisure arranges tours of the outstanding Faberge Museum, which recently opened inside the restored 18th-century Shuvalov Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. The museum contains more than 1,500 objects crafted by the legendary Faberge workshop, including the nine imperial eggs once owned […]

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Many travelers on Artisans of Leisure tours like to shop for items that are unique to the destinations they are visiting. Myanmar, a.k.a. Burma, is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to find high-quality crafts, decorative items, and traditional objects that are used for everyday use. We are particularly fond of Burmese lacquerware, […]

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The Alhambra is one of Europe’s “must visit” attractions, especially for travelers interested in Moorish architecture, design and gardens. Located on a hilltop above the town of Granada in Andalusia (southern Spain), the Alhambra is a fortress-palace-garden complex built from the ninth through the 14th centuries by the Moors who ruled over much of the […]

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Luis Barragan (1902-1988) is considered one of the greatest architects of the 20th century, and his buildings in Mexico City are a must-see for aficionados of art, architecture and design. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Barragan studied engineering in his youth, but soon gravitated toward architecture. While traveling in Europe, he was inspired by […]

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Porticos are as essential to Bologna as gourmet food and university students. The distinctive covered walkways course 38 kilometers (more than 23 miles) through this attractive and very walkable city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, sheltering pedestrians and window-shoppers from the elements while providing access to daylight and fresh air. Porticos typically flow […]

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Classical music is the enduring soundtrack of Central Europe and one of the many compelling reasons to visit the region. Some of the world’s greatest composers were born here—including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and Dvorak—and their musical masterpieces are a legacy treasured by locals and visitors alike. One of our favorite ways to immerse […]

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