Be treated to a view of Dublin's finest works of art and the fun of antiquing in this vibrant Irish city on this excellent tour.
As you travel by coach from the pier, you will soon pass The Customs House, located on the north bank of the River Liffey. It was designed by James Gandon and completed in 1791. Crossing the River Liffey to Dublin's south side, you will next pass The Old Parliament House, now the Bank of Ireland, and Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Over 400 years old, Trinity is Ireland's oldest college and is located in a prime 40-acre city center site.
Continue on to your first stop, the famous National Gallery of Ireland. This impressive gallery contains many fine works by such painters as Michelangelo, Rubens, El Greco, Goya, Gainsborough and Caravaggio. In the Irish room there are works of the greatest of modern portrait painters, John Butler Yeats, father of the poet W.B. Yeats.
Following your visit to the National Gallery, you will rejoin your coach and follow a route that takes you past Dublin Castle, City Hall, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Founded in 1190, St. Patrick's is perhaps best known for its association with Jonathan Swift, who was Dean from 1713 to 1745.
Just a block away from the famous Cathedral is Francis Street. At the heart of the city's antiques trade, this street is lined from top to bottom and on both sides with small, welcoming shops crammed with antiques of varying historical, aesthetic and monetary value. Dealing mainly in later-period furnishings and ornamentation, the shops here exude a dusty, dreamy atmosphere, but don't be fooled - the easygoing façade hides a world of experienced dealers running a big business with a brisk turnover. You will have plenty of free time here to explore the shops on your own and browse through decades of Irish history, and perhaps purchase a piece telling its own tale of days gone by.
Rejoin your coach and guide for your return journey to the pier.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2 1/2 hours of walking and standing. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who are able to make their way on and off the coach and who are accompanied by a companion. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Weather appropriate clothing and flat, comfortable walking shoes are suggested. Guests should be prepared for the possibility of rain. The order of sites visited may vary.