The Fitzwilliam Museum was founded in 1816 by the bequest of the VIIth Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion to the University of Cambridge. It contains magnificent collections of works of art and antiquities of national and international importance spanning centuries and civilisations, displayed in 25 galleries.Highlights include antiquities from Egypt, Greece and Rome, oriental art, Korean ceramics, English and European pottery and glass, sculpture, furniture, armour, illuminated manuscripts, coins and medals, Japanese prints, masterpieces of painting and drawing by Domenico Veneziano, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck..
The University of Cambridge is rich in history - its famous Colleges and University buildings attract visitors from all over the world. But the University's museums and collections also hold many treasures which give an exciting insight into some of the scholarly activities, both past and present, of the University's academics and students.The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.
Denny Abbey was founded in 1159 by Benedictine monks, as a dependent priory of the great cathedral monastery of Ely. At the heart of Denny stands the medieval Franciscan refectory and the church. Adapted by the Templars, the church underwent radical alterations in 1327, eventually becoming a farmhouse. Explore this lovely abbey still featuring superb Norman interiors. At different times, it housed Benedictine monks, the Knights Templars and nuns of the Franciscan order, the Poor Clares. See the Franciscan nuns refectory of the mid 14th Century and the rooms converted for their founder, the Countess of Pembroke. Learn how Denny has evolved through the centuries with our displays and childrens activities.
Audley End House was commissioned by Thomas, first Earl of Suffolk, on the scale of a royal palace, to entertain his monarch, James I. Unfortunately, Suffolk fell out of favour in the 1620s, shortly after the completion of the house, which then became a drain on his and his successors’ resources.Charles II bought the house in 1668 and used it as a base when he attended the races at Newmarket. By the 1680s, Sir Christopher Wren was warning of the need for major repairs. The cost of this caused William III to cancel the mortgage and return Audley End to the Suffolk family.
Cambridge's best view is across the River Cam to the gothic chapel of King's College. Although the town is justly famous for its university, much of it is quite ancient and originated in a celtic settlement around a ford on the river. A bridge and outpost was established here by the romans and Cambridge has been a flourishing regional centre for hundreds of years.The University began at the start of the 13th century when a group of students on the run from townspeople in Oxford arrived in Cambridge. Peterhouse was the first college to be founded in 1281 by the bishop of Ely. Places to see include Trinity College, Magdelene College, St John's College and St Benedict's Church.