A leisurely journey through Europe, often lasting several years, made by young Englishmen in the 18th and 19th centuries. The sons of the aristocracy, often accompanied by a tutor, completed their education by enriching their knowledge of classical art and of European society. The eventual destination was Italy, specifically Naples and Rome, where there were well-established colonies of expatriate painters, architects, and connoisseurs. As well as purchasing antique sculpture these patrons bought contemporary Italian paintings, including portraits of themselves, with which to adorn their houses. The wealth of Greek and Roman statuary and Italian drawings and paintings in the country houses and museums of Great Britain are the legacy of the Tour.