During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was customary for young European men of high social standing and independent financial means to undertake the Grand Tour, a traditional trip through Europe that served as an educational rite of passage. Primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, the Grand Tour followed a standard itinerary that exposed its privileged travelers to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance associated with some of the continent's most desired destinations, cities that included Paris, Geneva, Florence, and Rome. Much of Europe looked very different 300 years ago. But by retracing a typical route that would have been followed by a British aristocrat and comparing destinations then with those of today, you get a good idea of the journey he took and the places he visited.
Click through the following gallery and enjoy your own Grand Tour of Europe.