6 holiday ideas for art and architecture lovers

We look at the holidays that can inject a little beauty and culture into your trip, and allow you to wander in the footsteps of some of the greatest artists and architects in the world.

Bilbao in northern Spain is home to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a striking building designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 1997. It’s one of the largest museums in Spain - and one of the most famous galleries in the world. Discover over 250 pieces of modern and contemporary art, with fine examples from contemporary artists such as Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons and Anish Kapoor.

Looking for a taste of more traditional art? The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is just a 15 minute walk from the Guggenheim. It’s one of the richest Spanish museums outside Madrid and includes work by prominent artists such as El Greco, Goya and Van Dyck, as well as more recent artists including works by Francis Bacon, Paul Gauguin, Peter Blake and Gustave Doré.

On Saga's San Sebastian and Bilbao holiday you can visit these fabulous galleries and also take a guided tour of Gernika, whose attack in 1937 inspired Picasso's most famous work.

For more unique sights in Bilbao, take a trip across the world’s oldest transporter bridge, the Puente Colgante, or enjoy a ride up Artxanda Mountain on the funicular railway – which is over 100 years old.

Great Temple of Abu Simbel

Cruise the winding Nile and marvel at the awe-inspiring archaeology of ancient Egypt and the country's most stunning sights, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Abu Simbel, the Temples of Karnak and Luxor and Valleys of the Kings and Queens.

Start in Cairo where you can immerse yourself in Egyptian culture and enjoy all this vibrant city has to offer, or enjoy a gentle cruise along the Nile to take in the many sights of this magnificent landscape.

Feel the dry desert breeze from the Sahara and contemplate 5,000 years of human history in the magical land of the pharaohs.

Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

The home of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Dante, Italy was the centre from which the Renaissance emanated. Art, literature and music flourished here, so it’s the perfect place to holiday. See the Uffizi and Accademia galleries in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence or step inside the legacy of the Roman Empire, its architecture, history and art, in Rome, before witnessing the Vatican City and its murals. Whatever your interest in art and culture, Italy is bound to satisfy.

Saga's Grand Tour of Italy serves up every flavour of Italian culture. Wander the streets of Venice under your own steam, perhaps take a gondola ride or visit the Doge's Palace. Visit the enchanting city of Florence, and go back in time 3,000 years to the Colosseum, Pantheon and Roman Forum in Rome.

Manhattan, New York, with the Chrysler Building (left) and Empire State Building (right)

New York is a must-visit location for anyone wanting to admire the city’s famous architectural landmarks, including the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Flatiron Building and, of course, the Empire State Building. It’s also home to some of the best museums and galleries in the world, housing some of the finest artworks.

Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art – the Met – for one of the largest collections of art in the world, from ancient sculptures to contemporary art, as well as fine collections of paintings, photography and prints.

The museum hosts work from some of the world's most celebrated artists, including Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Titian, Johannes Vermeer and Caravaggio. Iconic works on display include Vincent Van Gogh's Self Portrait with Straw Hat, Claude Monet's Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies and Edgar Degas' The Dance Class. Truly, a collection not to be missed.

The Amber Fort in Rajasthan, India.

Lavish, colourful and expressive India wears its art on its sleeve, from the kaleidoscopic saris worn by women, to the semi-precious stones winking in the sunlight on the walls of the country’s temples.

India embraces art down to its roots, making it a great cultural holiday location. In Delhi you will be able to see the Mughal influence of its rulers in the many forts and palaces found in the Golden Triangle.

Agra boasts the most famous of all Indian landmarks, the Taj Mahal, with its eerie symmetry and its dark yet romantic history. Take the time on your holidays to look at the delicate borders and artwork carved into the marble and learn more about how the Taj Mahal was constructed.

With its dazzling breadth of experiences and deep spirituality, India never fails to delight the senses and uplift the soul. Find out about our holidays to India here.

Kakadu has the greatest concentration of rock art in the world

In Australia, Aborigines believe that Ancestor Creators are responsible for the landscape as it is today – every ridge, cave and billabong – as well as responsible for creating all living beings (spiders included) and laying down the laws of the land.

That’s why they feel such a deep spiritual connection with the land and all natural things. It’s an anthropological tradition that can be traced back thousands of years - you only have to go to Kakadu National Park to see for yourself.

Kakadu has the greatest concentration of rock art in the world, some of which dates back 20,000 years. Collectively, these paintings and carvings document the Aboriginal culture, from early prints made with hands or natural objects like bundled grass, through to trade with Macassan fisherman just 300 years ago.

The story goes that the Mimi spirits were the first Ancestor Creators to make cave paintings, teaching a few Aborigines the skill while others copied the art form.

Paintings cover a variety of subjects, such as hunting scenes to help increase the abundance of animals to ensure a successful hunt, stories about the Ancestor Creators, or just for a bit of fun and practice.

Naturally occurring mineral pigments were ground and mixed with water before being painted on with brushes made out of hair, bark strips or feathers.

Alternatively, paint was blown onto a stencil, such as a hand, to create a negative impression. It’s the act of painting though, and not the end result, which is important as it connects the artist with the Dreaming.

This is why much older paintings have been repainted time and time again.

Many rock-painting sites are strictly off limits but two of the most impressive ones have been opened up to the public.

At Ubirr you can see the famous x-ray style paintings which depict the abundant wildlife, such as wallabies, waterfowl, goannas and the now extinct Tasmanian tiger.

Most of these date from within the last 1,500 years. Nourlangie is the other site and where you can visit the Anbangbang Gallery which was repainted as recently as 1964.

The Bininj and Mungguy people, together with the Parks Australia authority, look after Kakadu National Park ensuring it is preserved for future generations.

Meanwhile modern-day Aboriginal artists keep the tradition alive by painting on paper, canvas and sometimes bark. Whilst they might use modern mediums such as acrylic paint, it’s still a spiritual act that connects them with the Dreaming.

This is reflected in the park’s logo, the Rainbow Serpent, a powerful entity believed to have hollowed out the rock passages and water holes. Her presence acts as a reminder of their responsibility to care for the park.