Bath is one of the oldest cities in England, known for its Roman baths (ancient spa), built in 60 CE. For centuries, people came from far and wide to bathe in the supposedly healing powers of the waters. During the eighteenth century, Bath became a hot spot for the wealthy and fashionable, with many upper-class families and political figures making annual trips for months' long vacations. The city remains a popular tourist destination, hosting nearly 4 million tourists a year, not only for its connections to history, Jane Austen, and other literary figures, but also for its beautiful Georgian architecture.
We will be staying at the YMCA in the Bath city centre, from which we will depart for a literary-historical ramble. In addition to the ramble, we will take an evening tour of the Roman Baths; attend a lecture on ecological tourism by Professor Kate Rigby at Bath Spa University; and visit the Jane Austen Centre and Regency Tea Room. |