The Scottish Highlands and Skye: An Introduction with Irene Mariani
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Join us for a visit to the wildest part of Scotland. Discover breathtaking glens and glittering lochs, learn about royal settings and romantic castles, and listen to the Scottish Highlands’ myths and legends in this seminar.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, considered the boundary between the Lowlands and the Highlands, will be the starting point to discuss the area’s geography and physical aspects. Moving west, we will travel through iconic places such as the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glen Coe, famously captured as backdrops to well-known movies. After a brief stop to Loch Ness (and perhaps a visit to its resident monster), we will learn the history of Eilean Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed buildings.
A visit to the west of Scotland would not be complete without Skye, an island known for its dramatic scenery and legends of fairies and giants. The North Coast 500 will take us east through Inverness and Culloden, the battlefield where the Jacobite cause came to its end. Leaving the Cairngorms National Park behind us, we will descend south and explore the Perthshire lochs, hills, and waterfalls. Our tour will end at the Scone Palace, the crowning-place of Scottish kings, and once the home of the Stone of Destiny.
Led by art historian Irene Mariani, this interactive seminar will introduce you to the Scottish Highlands through photographs, videos, and maps. Designed to inform curiosity and future travels, participants will come away with an understanding of the history, landscape features, and legends that shape the wildest parts of Scotland and useful travel tips for future in-person visits to the area.
Irene specialized in Italian Renaissance Art and her doctoral thesis looked at the artistic patronage of the Vespucci family in fifteenth-century Florence. She was an intern at the Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and collaborated with the Education Department of the National Galleries of Scotland. Irene currently teaches History of Art at the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh stole her heart and it is now her second home.
This conversation is suitable for all ages
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
Loved the overview provided with pictures and video. Presentation was well organized. I really liked the additional materials recommended as well.
This was a detailed and informative introduction to Scotland. I appreciated the geological review of how Scotland formed and how it affects the landscape today. There was lots of history throughout the presentation. Irene is a good presenter who knows her subject, and she had a lot of personal experience with the areas she talked about. It was very enjoyable and the time flew by!
This was an enjoyable “arm chair adventure” with Irene Mariani. She presented the information clearly and the visuals were helpful. She truly enjoyed her time in Scotland and it showed! I learned quite a bit about Scotland from her lecture.