Location
  • Italy
    • Florence
    • Naples
    • Venice
    • Pompeii
    • Rome
    • Siena
    • Verona
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
City Exploring Sightseeing Wine Tasting
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hotel
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
24

Pricing

Starting Price
10000
Price Details
Included in the fees: all accommodation, breakfast, tuition in small groups, all transport in Italy when concerned with teaching, all museum entrance fees, notes and reading lists.

Not included in the fees: flights, lunch and dinner, spending money, travel insurance, repatriation insurance and cancellation insurance.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Tour Guide Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Meals Travel Insurance
Mar 15, 2023
Jul 09, 2023
190 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

This course travels through Italy four times a year, exploring all aspects of italian culture, such as history, music, politics, food, literature and philosophy – in addition to art and architecture. Alongside studying some of the greatest masterpieces of Western civilisation, young and passionate tutors will take students off the beaten track to unearth some of the secret wonders of Italy.

The course visits Venice, Verona, Florence, Siena, Naples and Rome as well as many places in between. For example, while in Siena the students will spend a day visiting San Gimignano a town in the middle of Tuscan hills with original medieval towers, and while in Naples some time is spent exploring Pompeii and climbing Mount Vesuvius.

We will be spending at least 5 days in each city and up to 10 in some, to truly explore and understand a city, beyond the realms of usual tourism, leaving with an in depth knowledge of Italy that will remain with them for life.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves with creating a safe and inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds are able to enjoy a life changing travelling experience.

At AHA we know that culture leads to confidence, so every course has two aims: to discover and explore European culture and, in equal measure, the development of young people in a space where they feel secure and integrated.

Any form of discrimation is not accepted on AHA.

LGBTQIA+ Support

AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves with creating a safe and inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds are able to enjoy a life changing travelling experience.

At AHA we know that culture leads to confidence, so every course has two aims: to discover and explore European culture and, in equal measure, the development of young people in a space where they feel secure and integrated.

Further Italy and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and any form of discrimation is not accepted on AHA.

Accessibility Support

AHA has a track record for taking students with varying kinds and levels of disabilities on courses, and we warmly encourage applications from all people.

Since our tutor to student ratio is very small (never more than 1 tutor to 9 students), AHA provides individual support shaped to the needs of each and every student, ensuring excellent care of young people. We therefore make provisions and organise an environment where people with disabilities can safely enjoy their travelling and make the most of their experience.

Impact

Sustainability

Our programs are geared toward environmental education understood in relation to wider themes of history, society and culture.

During our courses we always encourage critical thinking and we take the time to explore the impact that travelling has both at an individual and organisational level. We are also committed to maximising the net positive impact while minimising the carbon footprint of every program- Nick Ross, director of AHA, plants a tree for each flight that is being purchased to attend any of our programs to offset the carbon footprint of our courses.

Program Highlights

  • Enthusiastic and friendly experts for instructors
  • Private viewings to some of Italy's most extraordinary sites
  • Incredible off the beaten track visits to explore authentic Italy
  • Demonstrations and workshops in traditional crafts
  • A focus on the joy of creativity (it's in all of us!)

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 67 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.65
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 4.9
  • Benefits 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Facilities 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 67 reviews
Default avatar
Francesca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AHA review

I absolutely loved Art History Abroad. It was six weeks of learning about the most wonderful art, eating heavily food, and being with the best people. Being in Italy was amazing and it was a very lucky thing to be lead through it by the best tutors. I always felt very at home there because of that. There was a fabulous mix between hilarious evenings/ moments and wonderfully inspiring lessons. I feel I have learnt so much more about the world. I just loved it all and could not recommend it more.

Pros
  • Learning more about art history
  • Meeting great friends
  • Developing more knowledge about the world
18 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Trip of a Lifetime

From start to finish this is a unique and fantastic experience. The tutors are friendly and knowledgeable - supporting you every step of the way. This is a course for people who want to broaden their minds in the most beautiful of countries - La Bella Italia! The course and days are very well paced to enable you to soak up Italian life. From rowing gondolas in Venice to a private tour of the Vatican you will be amazed everyday. This experience made my gap year, I just wish I could do it again! Thank you AHA!

Pros
  • Friendly and knowledgeable tutors
  • Excellent food and convivial experiences
  • Unique insight into Italian culture and art history
Cons
  • None !
20 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Isa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST SUMMER EVER !!

Words cannot accurately express how much I adored these weeks with AHA. I made lifelong friends that I will soon be traveling across seas to visit, vastly expanded my knowledge of the classical arts, truly learned to love and understand my authentic self, and ate some of the best food I have in years. Our lovely tutors became family--with them we were confident asking any kind of question about the imposing architecture or magnificent art, learned the most insanely unhinged historic stories, felt completely safe roaming the most vibrant streets of the world singing at the top of our lungs, and enjoyed good chats over dinner and endless laughter. This course has given me those wholly happy memories you can always look back on whenever the going might get tough, whilst also giving me that undeniable feeling that I am now ready to conquer the next stage of life.

Pros
  • Special, exclusive, early access (and even extra viewing time) to super busy spots
  • Showing us the absolute hidden gems of Italy (never would have seen some of these breathtaking spots without AHA's expertise)
  • The support from tutors and peers was incomparable (the people are the pro!!)
Cons
  • The pacing and feeling of the trip changed depending on the city and the tutors
23 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ilaria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AHA spring course

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who fancies learning about art, whether you’re a complete beginner or have studied Art History before! The tutors were amazing and I made some very close friends!
You shouldn’t worry if you’re a solo traveller - everyone in my group had joined on their own and it encourages you to make new friends! This was one of my favourite trips on my gap year as you get to explore such a wide variety of art (sculpture, buildings, paintings etc.) with unique perspectives from passionate tutors.

Pros
  • Making new friends
  • Accommodation and transport on the course pre-arranged
  • Amazing Italian food!
28 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Abby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AHA Spring Review

AHA was one of the best travelling experiences I have ever had and I recommend it to any gap year student who is willing to give it a go. The trip gave me access to so many places and opportunities I wouldn’t have thought to try and each one was as enriching as the last. The tutorials were fascinating and the small group size meant the support felt very personal and safe. A few cons would be the expense extra to the initial cost that covers food etc. I also think the course could’ve included more foodie aspects. Additionally, although I was grateful for the packed schedule, there were little rest days which meant exhaustion hit quite hard sometimes. You also get very little alone time. Overall it was an incredible opportunity I would recommend to anyone. Met some of my best friends on this course.

Pros
  • Thorough basis knowledge of art history
  • Access to amazing opportunities
  • Visit a variety of cities
Cons
  • Extras are expensive
  • Few rest days
34 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best 6 weeks of my life!!

Going on AHA was the best decision I made during my gap year. The tutors are so wonderful and the teaching was really engaging and interesting. I still can’t believe that we had a private tour of the Vatican and Saint Mark’s Basilica. It was really a once in a lifetime experience.

Some people had studied art history before, some hadn’t, but I think being with a group of people with similar interests really helped us to bond. I was quite nervous at first, especially when committing to a 6 week course with a bunch of strangers, but the way that the course is designed meant we all got to know each other very quickly and it didn’t take long to feel comfortable around one another. I have made some of my best friends for life, who I still talk to every day. Do this programme, you will not regret it!!!!

Pros
  • The people
  • The activities (I will never forget the contrada crawl)
  • Italy!!
Cons
  • Fish and bean pasta
35 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Fiona
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

one of the best experiences of my life

Choosing to go on this 6-week program was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

From the start, I knew I would love the experience as even my chat with Cressida to gather information about this specific program was lovely. Cressida and Nick are some of the kindest people I have met. I haven’t even touched on the tutors.

Something I love about AHA is that the tutors are somewhat around the ages of the students. In my opinion, this allows for greater learning as students can feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts, and the best learning environment is one where you feel at ease, respected, and heard. All the tutors on this trip were wonderful and very caring. For example, Angelica Fenzi (one of the tutors) took me to the clinic when I got sick and the long wait didn’t seem so long with the genuine conversations we had. I appreciate the time and effort put in by each one of the tutors; they really are incredible. Just make sure you are prepared to deal with the playful banter and possible head “pats”/“smacks” (shoutout to Ed Hands). It was just as fun getting to know them as it was getting to know my peers.

Speaking of, my group was great. Everyone got along well and I made some friendships that are irreplaceable. Movie nights and dinners out. Dancing and taking silly videos. What could be better? The only downside was saying goodbye. It’s been two days and I miss them so much, but we keep in touch!

Now, onto the art and history finally. I gained so much knowledge from this trip and my eyes were opened to a different way of looking at art and the history behind artwork, architecture, peoples, etc. There was never a dull moment and the conversation was always flowing. There are no lectures; instead, it’s a constant discussion and sharing of facts, ideas, and general thoughts. The things we saw cannot be put into words. There was so much beauty and history behind everything we passed. Visiting these places is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even if you aren’t planning on doing something in the future related to these subjects, like myself, I really recommend this program regardless. I loved the fact that I was able to explore an interest of mine before going down another path in college.

I feel truly honored to have gone on this trip and am so grateful to AHA for this life-changing experience. Not only did I learn so much, but I gained confidence and relationships that will surely last.

Pros
  • met some great people and made strong friendships
  • ate amazing food and visited breathtaking places
  • always felt cared for and respected by the tutors
Cons
  • went by too fast
38 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Bertie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST PART OF MY GAP YEAR!

I was a student on AHA’s 6 week Early Summer Course from the end of May to early July 2022 and it was without a doubt the BEST aspect of my gap year. Our select group of 11 travelled the length and breadth of Italy discovering the greatest artists, architects, leaders and thinkers from the early Christian church, through the Renaissance, and right up to the 21st century. All the while we bonded as a group to form strong bonds of friendship while sharing knowledge, opinions and laughs (lots of them)! Accompanied by the most inspiring, approachable and easy-going tutors who shared their endless information in the most creative and thought-provoking ways…from Italian language classes in Siena to a private tour unlocking the Vatican…you’ll leave Italy with a rounded knowledge of its culture and an ability to embrace any culture where-ever you go in the future. If you love Italian history, fine art, striking architecture, good food and travelling with friends then this course is the ONE for you! Don’t think twice just sign up - you’ll never look back (except to reminisce on the great times you had in Italy)!

Pros
  • Tutors with expert knowledge and an infectious sense of fun
  • Being surrounded by Italian art, food and language
  • Make friends for life
Cons
  • Always on the go but in an informal atmosphere
  • After 6 weeks you have to leave Italy and say goodbye to your tutors and friends
44 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi, thanks for stopping by! To get a feel for the experience you will have on this trip we recommend reading reviews! You can find a ton of helpful reviews and pictures at the bottom of this page to help you out: https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/italy/art-history-abroa….