Tate offers art holidays

The Tate is to expand into the travel business with a series of art-inspired city breaks.

The organisation, which runs the Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London, has joined forces with the Magic Travel Group.

Having already announced trips to Venice, Tate is now offering breaks in cultural centres such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome and Madrid. There are also escorted tours to Catalonia in Spain, to Sicily and to Lanzarote.

Holidaymakers can choose between exploring under their own steam using the Tate Holiday itinerary packs or, on certain dates, be accompaniedby a Tate expert. Escorted tours will always be accompanied by a travel guide and on certain dates a gallery expert will also be available.

Deputy director Alex Beard said: "Tate can draw upon a vast range of knowledge and experience of cultural centres throughout Europe. Our curators and art historians travel extensively, viewing art and visiting collections around the world."

A seven-night Catalonia tour starts at £750, while city breaks cost from £360 for two nights in Barcelona.