Source: Speak Up
Language level: Basic
Standard: American accent
Winchester
Winchester, a beautiful city in the south of England, will host Mayfest 2007 from May 11th to 20th. This is a folk festival with dancing, music and street entertainment. Saturday 19th is a day for the family. You can take part in workshops about Ceildh, a Scottish form of dancing, and learn to write songs, sing and dance. On Saturday there will be a service at the United Church, followed by a Blue session at a pub along the banks of the River Itchen.
SONGS AND FILMS
Winchester’s most famous attraction is the Cathedral. In 1996 the New Vaudeville Band even recorded a hit song, “Winchester Cathedral,” which was later sung by Frank Sinatra and Petula Clark. You can visit the Cathedral’s beautiful gardens, climb the tower for spectacular views, or explore the crypt. Some of the scenes in Ron Howard’s film The Da Vince Code, were shot here, so you can see the Cathedral’s exhibition “Cracking the Code,” were shot here, a tour of images and icons similar to those mentioned in the book.
WRITERS AND PLACES
Next visit the 12th century Great Hall, the last remnant of Winchester Castle, and see its legendary Arthurian Round Table. After that you can follow Keats Walk along the River Itchen past the buildings that inspired his poem “Ode to Autumn:” these include Winchester College, Wolvesey Palace and St Cross Hospital. Another famous writer, Jane Austen, lived at Chawton House, where she wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice. Today it is a museum. You can visit her grave at Winchester Cathedral.
winchester Mayfest:
For more info visit: http://www.winmayfest.co.uk
E-mail: info@winmayfest.co.uk
Tickets available from:
Box Office, The Theatre
Royal Winchester
Tel: 0044(0)1962 84040
Winchester Cathedral
Visit: http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Tel: 0044(0) 1962 857225
Jane Aunten's House
Chawton, Alton, Hampshire
GU341SD, England
Tel: 0044 (0) 1420 83262
