"Grand Tour" Backpack
3 reviews
Regular price
$49.00
This casual chic backpack features our exclusive design based on the iconic Grand Tour of Europe, combining comfort and style for your everyday needs. If you were a noble living in the 17th or 18th century, chances are you would have taken the Grand Tour upon turning age 21, as...
Description
This casual chic backpack features our exclusive design based on the iconic Grand Tour of Europe, combining comfort and style for your everyday needs.
If you were a noble living in the 17th or 18th century, chances are you would have taken the Grand Tour upon turning age 21, as a rite of passage. This was not a simple visit to some foreign countries, but an incredible journey that could easily last two years, and that often involved having to disassemble the whole carriage in order to cross the Alps. If the noble was very wealthy, there would also be a troop of servants helping during the journey, who would even carry the aristocrat when the terrain was too bumpy for a comfortable ride in the carriage.
The itinerary of the Grand Tour was subject to innumerable variations, depending on an individual's interests and finances, though Paris and Rome were must-see destinations for most English tourists. In Paris, the traveler might take lessons in French, dancing, fencing, and riding. The appeal of Paris lay in the sophisticated language and manners of French high society, that served as preparation for a leadership position back at home.
After enduring a difficult crossing over the Alps to reach Italy, the Grand Tourist would typically spend a few months in Florence, where there was a considerable Anglo-Italian society accessible to travelling Englishmen "of quality". Then, finally, it was the time to visit Venice, the most desirable destination for young men - for "The shameless women of Venice made it unusual, in its own way." Sir James Hall commented in his diary on seeing "more handsome women this day than I ever saw in my life", also noting "how flattering Venetian dress was - or perhaps the lack of it".
At last, the traveler moved to Rome to study the ancient ruins and the masterpieces, and some travelers also visited Naples to study music.
To create this design, we started with a simple fragment of an antique print that used to decorate leather luggage for the nobles who wanted to travel in style. We restored and reconstructed the fragment, creating a pattern that is a historically accurate reproduction of the original print. Now you too can be part of the fascinating history of the Grand Tour!
Features:
This backpack has a spacious inside compartment (with a pocket for your laptop), and a hidden back pocket for safekeeping your most valuable items.- Dimensions: Height 16⅞" (42cm) - Width 12¼" (31cm)
- Made from 100% polyester
- Water-resistant material
- Capacity: 5.3 gallons (20 l)
- Max weight: 44 lbs (20 kg)
- Large inside pocket with a separate pocket for a 15” laptop, plus a hidden pocket with zipper on the back of the bag
- Top zipper has 2 sliders, and there are zipper pullers attached to each slider
- Silky lining, piped inside hems, and a soft mesh back
- Padded ergonomic bag straps in polyester, with plastic strap regulators
Production and Shipping:
- Manufactured and shipped from USA or Mexico, depending on destination. For European orders, it is produced and shipped from Latvia.
- Packaged in a poly bag
- This product is made-to-order, consistently with our environmental pledge
