York - From Roman to Viking

This morning we will venture to the world class Jorvik Centre built in order to recreate the Viking city on the basis of the incredible excavations carried out in the 1970s, which uncovered a section of the city, along with a plethora of artefacts, including organic materials preserved in the wet clay. We will are privileged to have a behind the scenes visit here, including a handling session. After lunch, we will have a walking tour of the city, starting with the ancient city walls and the 15^th century Church of St Cuthbert located in Peaseholme Green. We continue to the wonderful Church of St Denys, built on the site of a Saxon church and possibly a Roman temple, which contains the oldest stained glass windows in the city, as a wonderful Norman portal. The walking tour ends with York Castle, whose keep, commonly known as Clifford’s Tower, was the site of the massacre of 150 Jews in 1190.

We spend the morning in the fantastic Yorkshire Museum which houses the most important artefacts from the region, including the York Helmet and the Ormside Bowl. We will have a special access visit in which guests are given in depth talks about some museum’s items. After lunch, we have another walking tour of the city, starting with St Mary’s Church in Castle, built in the 11^th century and renovated in the 15^th century. We proceed to the Church of St Marys Bishophill Junior, an 11^th century church built using Roman spolia. The walking tour continues to Holy Trinity, a medieval church with a 15^th century stained glass window and to Tanner Row, named after the artisans who plied their trade here, before ending in the historic North Street.