Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were quite the famous royal couple in their time; and Kensington has been rather advantageously blessed with multiple monuments, projects, and museums that are a lasting testament to Victoria's period of mourning following Albert's death. Nearby Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens boast the gilt Albert Memorial, the formidable Royal Albert Hall stands nearby, Imperial College London has the Queen's Tower, and the massive Victoria and Albert Museum (the V&A) is within easy walking distance.
The V&A has recently finished a three-year refurbishment project on its Medieval and Renaissance collection wing, and the results are inspiring. Particularly for the "Heretics, Mystics, and Historians" class (pictured above inside an Italian chapel reconstructed within the museum), the new exhibition space houses lots of promising displays to pair with their coursework. There are numerous illuminated manuscripts, choir books, reliquaries (gilded statues for displaying saints' relics), and massive tapestries to be explored. The V&A's textiles, fashion, and jewelry collection is also second to none, and the tea room and cafe offer delicious treats in a breathtaking series of decorated rooms (complete with a grand piano player!).
Well worth several visits. And it's free, with a low suggested donation.
Helpful English Hint of the Post: If someone in the UK asks you "are you all right?" take it as a greeting. It's equivalent to "how are you doing?" and doesn't actually mean they think you might not be all right...
No comments:
Post a Comment