2016 - Art & Architecture In Scotland
2016 is all about Art & Architecture here in Scotland!
And to celebrate, we're taking tourists to some of Scotland's most famous galleries as well as to some incredibly quaint private galleries that are tucked away in the crannies of Scotland's highlands and islands. And throughout the tour, visitors will be seeing some incredible architecture dating from anywhere as old as the iron age, through the 12th century and to some incredible 21st century architectural styles!
Here's a break-down of some of the places you can incorporate into your tours to satisfy the art lover in you. Visitors flying in to Glasgow or Edinburgh can start their tours by selecting some or all of the following.
GLASGOW
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Home to Salvador Dali's famous 'Christ of Saint John of the Cross', you can also find paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, Rennie MacIntosh and many of Scotland's prized artists. Also packed into Kelvingrove's many rooms, you will find hundreds of archaeological artefacts from digs around the world dating back more than 2,000 years and the museum plays host to one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world. As well as its resident collections, The Kelvingrove hosts travelling exhibits of some of the world's most loved and cherished art and artefacts.
It certainly takes more than one visit to experience all the Kelvingrove has to offer, so you'll want to dedicate a good few hours to look around with time to sip a latte or two in the cafe. At 1pm (Mon-Saturday and 3pm on Sundays) there is a recital on the museum's beautiful Pipe Organ which was built by Lewis & Co and installed by them in 1901.
The museum itself is an architectural masterpiece. Built with red sandstone in the Spanish Baroque style, the museum opened in 1901 and was designed by Sir John W. Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen. Urban Myth has it that the museum was accidentally constructed back-to-front and that one of the architects leapt to his death from one of the buildings towers upon realising his mistake. However, this has been proven false by the fact that intentions were always for the Grand Entrance to face Kelvingrove Park.
ARCHITECTURE SUBWAY RIDE
After exploring the Kelvingrove Museum, we suggest a lovely stroll through the park to Kelvinbridge Subway station. For a few pounds you can grab a ticket to ride and head over to St. Enoch Square. Emerging from the underground you'll be wide-eyed at the site of the original St Enoch Subway Station building which was built in 1886 by James Miller. Using the same red sand-stone as the Kelvingrove it was constructed in the Jacobean, late Victorian style. It now hosts a Costa Coffee with the ticket office being located underground. But it does mean you can grab a coffee to go as you head through the square and over the road to see the beautiful and ornate Central Station.
Central Station is a Victorian Train station built in the 1870s. It is grand in design but spooky in history. Built over the village of Grahamston in 1879, there are tours one can take to explore the immaculate glass roof (which architecture fanatics will notice is free standing without support of pillars.) Once on the roof, you will be able to see what remains of Grahamston village. In depth tours of the station can be booked here: https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/
Take a lovely stroll along the River Clyde down to Finnieston Street to check out the famous Finnieston Crane which is an architectural wonder and one of the last remaining cranes of its type in the world.
Commissioned in 1928 and completed in 1931, the Finnieston Crane is one of only 11 remaining cantilever cranes worldwide. Though it is no longer in operation it has been kept as a symbol of Glasgow's engineering heritage having played a huge part in the city's industrial hay day.
Standing here you can also see the Clyde Auditorium. Although a relatively young building (constructed in the 1990's) the building has been given the nickname 'The Armadillo' based on its similarity to the animal.
Many have likened the architectural design to that of the Sydney Opera House, however architects Foster and Partners stated that this was not the inspiration for the design.
Clyde Auditorium has become one of Glasgow's most iconic images.
Other Must See Sites
While in Glasgow, make sure to visit the famous Gallery of Modern Art. Located on Glasgow's Queen street you will know you are there by the famous sculpture of the Duke of Wellington who dawns a traffic cone as a hat. This began as a practical joke and had been continually removed by police only to be replaced time and time again. This now stands as a symbol for Glasgow's humorous approach to authority and often times the cone will change with the various goings on in the city. (During the 2015 Independence Referendum a Saltire was attached to the cone. The road cone was also painted gold during the 2012 Olympics.)
Inside the Gallery you will find an amazing collection of contemporary art and the building itself is a site to see. Having been built in 1778 it was once the town house of tobacco lord, William Cunninghame but has switched hands over the years to the Royal Bank of Scotland, The Royal Exchange and Glasgow District Libraries.
Glasgow Cross is a district also in the city centre and is well worth a visit. One of the most famous architectural sites here is the Tolbooth Steeple. The seven-story steeple is all that remains of a once much larger building that used to house the town's Clerks' Office, the Council hall and the city prison.
It was here at the Tolbooth that one could have witnessed witches and criminals' executions by hanging, Important proclamations being read out to the city's people as well as the rich tobacco lords parading their finery.
EDINBURGH
If you've trained into Edinburgh you're likely to step off at Waverley Station. Certainly an architectural wonder, Waverley was founded in 1866 but can be dated back to 1846 when construction was finished on the railway station that originally stood in its place. Looking around the platforms you'll notice the popular Victorian style that is repeated in the the architecture of the surrounding buildings. This style of architecture is famous throughout the United Kingdom and celebrates the reign of Queen Victoria with the mixture of medieval gothic influence and the symmetry of Palladianism. The station has under gone many renovations over the years but still features some of the beauties travellers in the 19th century would have marvelled at, such as the domed ceiling in the station's booking hall.
Following the hustle and bustle of tourists and commuters up the Waverley steps, you'll emerge onto Princes street where directly in front of you you'll notice a long street lined with Victorian and Edwardian architecture sitting parallel from Princes Street Gardens. These gardens are well worth strolling through if only to take in the views of the Scott Monument. Built in honour of Sir Walter Scott, this Victorian gothic spire is the largest monument to a writer in the world. Standing over 200 feet tall, visitors can climb the spiral stair cases inside to peek out of the monuments many viewing points to take in panoramic Edinburgh. And if you can climb to the very top, you'll be able to receive a certificate of achievement for mastering the nearly 300 steps climbed.
You're likely to need a coffee after such a feat so heading back out into the gardens you'll find a charming cafe next to a string of benches over-looking the gardens which were once the site of the noxious Nor Loch. Having had a nice rest, you can continue through the gardens to the Scottish National Gallery.
This museum hosts many of the country and the world's finest art including work by Monet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, William Blake, Robert Burns and many others. The gallery also features travelling exhibits and offers a bus service to its sister galleries, The Modern Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Hours could be spent here taking in the many glorious paintings, sculptures and furniture.
From the National Gallery you'll surely want to head upwards towards the Royal Mile where the haunting castle that looks out over the vast city sits atop the hill known as Castle Rock. Archaeologists have dated back occupation of castle rock to the 2nd century and the area has been the home of a royal castle since the 12th century. The castle that stands here today is made up of many parts of older buildings that have existed over the centuries, the oldest being Saint Margaret's Chapel which was built in the 12th century as a private chapel to the royal family. The chapel along with the 16th century Great Hall and the Royal Palace are the exceptional survivors of the original build after the castle underwent many attacks. The Scottish War on Independence in the 14th century, The Lang Siege of the 16th century as well as the Jacobite rising in the 1700s all wreaked their own havoc on the castle and today visitors can walk through the Castle court yards and buildings to experience its incredible tale.
Inside the castle, one will be able to set eyes upon the Honours of Scotland. The Crown jewels, sceptre and sword all date back from the 15th century and have been used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs since the 1500s. Mary Queen of Scots had this honour. Being the oldest set of crown jewels in the British isles, many moves were made to protect the Honours throughout the years, during the many attempts by the English New Model Army and Oliver Cromwell to collect all regalia and melt it down as an affirmation of English power.
It takes quite a while to get around the castle and take in all the wondrous art and architecture it has to offer, but once done its worth heading down the Royal Mile to Holyrood. Sitting at the opposite end of the Mile to Edinburgh Castle is the Scottish residence of the British monarch. The 10 acre gardens surrounding the palace also have many historical surprises of their own. The ruins of Holyrood Abbey dating back to the 12th century can be seen today. Built by King David I in 1128, legend has it that the King had been thrown from his horse after the horse got a fright from a hart. The large hart charged the King and was either scared off by the sudden appearance of a crucifix in the sky, or by the reflection of the sun upon a crucifix which appeared between its antlers. Either way, the King built the abbey here as a gesture of thanks for being spared from a certain death. The Abbey stood over the years as both Royal residence, Church and meeting place and managed to survive through many bombardments and fires but it was in 1768 that the roof of the abbey caved in due to neglect. What was left is what visitors can see today.
In the 16th century King James IV constructed the palace of Holyrood in the Gothic architectural style. The palace played host and home to many of Scotland's Kings and Queens including Mary Queen of Scots after her abdication and King James VI (James I of England). The palace has undergone many refurbishments and redecorations throughout the centuries but it was the current Queen's grandfather, King George V who installed central heating and electricity in the palace.
Also on the ground of Holyrood Palace is the Queen's Gallery which is a collection of art owned by Queen Elizabeth II and the monarchy. Well worth a visit.
Across the road from Holyrood Palace stands the modern Scottish Parliament Building. The complex which houses the debating chamber, several towers and the MSP building was constructed in the late 1990s and was designed by Enric Miralles. Many have criticised the architecture and the building's abstract design, but it is also celebrated by architectural critics as a genuine representation of Scottish art and culture. The Parliament building is open 6 days a week and has many pieces of art and more beautiful architecture to see inside.
There's a lot more to see in Edinburgh than what we have listed here. The city is full of Gothic architecture and buildings and sites dating back to the early 12th century. Visitors spending more than a day in the city can experience art and architecture through all of the century's just by walking around and discovering the hidden wonders of Edinburgh.