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
Jan 31, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
207 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 71 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 4.95
  • Benefits 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Facilities 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 65 - 71 of 71 reviews
Default avatar
James
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Brilliant

The course was fantastic. The tutors were incredibly knowledgable and fun, making the trips to galleries/churches etc very enjoyable whilst also absorbing extensive information. The accommodation was excellent and always in the best locations. The tutors know all the great local restaurants so the food couldn't be better. I have gained lasting friends and I have learned a great deal about art, and a thirst to learn more.

56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Catriona
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Grand Tour!

AHA is an incredible company - great tutors, great local knowledge, great at engaging all the participants.

I went on the 6 week course at the start of my gap year and the experience confirmed in my mind that History of Art was the right degree for me to pursue at university. It really reinforced what is so wonderful about the subject with such a comprehensive and captivating tour of art throughout Italy.

I haven't met a single person who went on AHA that has not absolutely loved it.

52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maddie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Inspiring experience!

The AHA gap year was incredible amounts of fun. The tutors and all who go are wonderful and nearly 3 years on, I still keep in touch with many of them. To see so much of Italy, learn so much about Italian culture and have so much fun all at the same time is a really rare opportunity I think.

Though you are constantly learning new things, the pace is very relaxed. Visits to churches/museums are interspersed with long, delicious lunches.

Had I not done the course, not only would I have missed out on an amazing experience with wonderful people but my academic and career ambitions would be entirely different. The course ignited a real love of History of Art in me, so much so that it has heavily influenced my paper choices for my History degree, subsequent work experience I have undertaken, and I am now about to apply for an MA in Art History.

Regardless of your background, I can't think of anyone who would not enjoy and get something out of the AHA gap year course. It is so different to much of what else is offered by 'gap year' companies in that it is truly inspiring - I really can't think of a better way of describing it. I would recommend it to all!

What would you improve about this program?
Really can't think of any improvements! Great people, great support, wonderful but reasonable accommodation and stunning surroundings everyday. It was an experience of a lifetime and I can't think of a better way to learn and immerse oneself into Italian culture.
54 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rosie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once in a lifetime trip

I genuinely don't know how to put how much I love AHA into words. The 6 weeks I spent with AHA were some of the best weeks of my life. I learnt so much Art Historical knowledge which is already helping me with my university course. The tutors teach in such enthusiastic and inspiring way. I made best friends for life and had memories I will remember forever. Anyone thinking of doing this course I cannot tell you how valuable it was and how much fun I had. I would be more than happy to give further feeback/ answer any questions to any of those thinking of doing this course. Defiantly a once in a lifetime trip!

What would you improve about this program?
There was not one thing I would change about this course - it is so special.
54 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great, once-in-a-lifetime experience

Choosing AHA was one of the best decisions I made for my Gap Year. The group was a perfect size, accomadations were fantastic and we were able to see Italy from a point of view. The trip did not only teach us a significant amoutn about art, architecture and history, but also about Italian culture, travel and independence. Tutors are beyond helpful and extremely knowledgable. They were also incredibly approachable and have stayed in touch even two years later. The trip is perfect for any student who wishes to explore Italy and appreciate its amazing culture and history, while forming incredible bonds with new people!

52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alex
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I Had an Incredible Time

I had an excellent trip to Italy with AHA last Spring. I was taking a gap year and, even though I had not studied art history, thought it would be nice to spend some time learning about it in the best place for art history in the world: Italy! If I could rate AHA's tutors higher than a "10" I would--they were fantastic. Every single one was energetic, knowledgeable, kind, supportive, and so much more. They kept our days engaging and fun and had great suggestions for our free time. They were all experts in the cities that we were in--I wish I could take them with me whenever I visit a new place!

What would you improve about this program?
I honestly can't think of any changes that I would make to the program. Our days were filled with visits to interesting sites, including museums and historical locations. At the sites the tutors did more than lecture--they fielded questions, gave tours (after we skipped all of the lines), and organized activities (I won't mention them so as not to ruin the surprise for anyone that does join AHA). The fact that I still keep in touch with a number of my tutors speaks, I think, to how truly engaged they were during our time there. They love their jobs and it shows.

I would recommend the AHA 6-week Gap Year Course to anyone looking to learn art history from the best tutors in the best place.
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best 6 weeks of my life!

The only downside to this trip, is the walking.. Every day you're out exploring an italian city, seeing masterpieces and learning history that was only ever taught to me through a text book, And after the first couple of weeks you really start to feel it in your legs, or atleast i did. I would recomend bringing some comfortable shoes!
There's really nothing about this trip that i would have them change, everyday you're surrounded by interesting kids from all different backrounds, some interested in an art field, like me, and some just interested in spending 6 weeks in Italy exploring the beautiful country and making friends along the way.
The tutors are awsome, ALL OF THEM, and they really get you involved and interested in the day-to-day lessons. Some of my best memories from the trip, came after the lessons, when the whole group is out for dinner engaged in discussions with some of the most lively people youl meet, the fun never stops when you take this trip, if i could do it again i would sign up in a heartbeat.

(Typed from my iphone, sorry for spelling mistakes)

What would you improve about this program?
If i could change one thing, i would make the "free day" that you have in naples, changed to a day trip to Capri. The free day is a cool idea, basically you can do whatever you want for one day, do laundry, go explore, chill out in the hotel and just relax.. But what i strongly recomend doing is changing that day into a trip out to this paradise island. Its only a 20 or so min. Walk from the hotel to the harbor, and from there a 30-45 min boat ride away, and once there youl know what beauty looks like, and although pretty much everything there is expensive, i say its worth every cent. Right after you get off the boat and step onto the island, there are signs for a tour of the Grotto Azurro, a trip i missed out on, but have been told by others is like no place else in the world. Strongly recomend going, if not just making the trip to Capri part of the AHA schedual.
50 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….