Art History Abroad | Summer Gap Courses in Italy

As a mathematician I never thought that I would find myself on an amazing two week course, meeting new people and seeing the best of Italian art. But thanks to the Trenchard Cox Scholarship and the amazing AHA program that is exactly what I did. The art and architcture I saw was mind blowing but it is the little details like the evening picnics looking over Florence and the Gondola trips through Venice that make it truly special. Also to anyone not so inclined to art I would highly advice you to take a look, as the trip is so much more than just looking at pictures.

When the 'review section' suggest me to share a story, I didn't know where to start. There are so many memories, and they played in my mind just like a movie. Indeed - It is too good to be true, and let me tell you why:
The tutors in the program are all brilliant and extremely experienced. They use simple language and a sense of humour to make hundreds of years' history vivid and exciting. Therefore, if you think that you've never done Art History before and know nothing about it, it shouldn't be the reason to hesitate. It is true that the teachers are trying to give you a lot of knowledge and information throughout the program, but they will make sure that you understand even you started from zero. On the other hand, if you have learned Art history before, that is great! You will be amazed how much more you could learn about that particular area during the trip. For instance, during my two weeks in Northern Italy, I learned things about Renaissance and Baroque that I haven't or couldn't come across in school lessons. It saved me a lot of time and stimulated my interest in this period.
Another point is, being in Italy, having pizza and gelato, enjoying the sunshine while learning the history and art of this country is a whole new level of experience. Trust me it is totally different from sitting down and reading a book about Renaissance! In this trip, you will get to walk around the streets and interact with local people. It will give you a better understanding of why this kind of history happened in that particular place. The tutors will make sure that the amount of studying are balanced out with fun and pleasure. So they will give you free time to explore Italy after a few days of intense academic enrichment. Hanging out with people that you share the interests with while in this romantic country, will be one of the best parts that you have if you go on this trip. You will immerse yourself in this culture and environment.
The most important part of the journey is you will get to see artworks first-handed, also understand them through the language of art. Personally, my favourite theme in Renaissance is the 'Venus'. The moment I see Birth of Venus and Venus of Urbino in Uffizi Museum, I was so emotionally moved by their presence. I've seen so many copies of them, but the real one is so grand and an incarnation of perfection. The feeling is the same as you meeting up with an old friend. You already know so much and heard a lot about them, but seldom get to see them.
Trust me; there are so much more that I want to share with you and tell you how happy I was because of this trip. It's worth it, and you need to explore this. It will not let you down and surely become the highlight of your summer.

My four weeks in Italy this summer were among the best weeks of my life, and by far the best summer I’ve spent abroad. As an international student living in Tokyo, my summers typically consist of quite lengthy trips, and wanting to get the most out of a very long (12 hour) trip to Italy, I took part in the combined Northern and Southern Italy courses, spending two weeks in each respectively, and a grand total of just under four weeks.

As a senior in high school, the trips I’ve participated in in the past have clearly catered to a more ‘high school’ group of students. AHA, on the other hand, is another story completely. I was initially nervous knowing that I would inevitably end up being one of the youngest of the group, as well as being American/Japanese among what would most likely be a group largely consisting of U.K. students. However, age was practically irrelevant and I got on well with everyone in both the Northern and Southern courses. Many of the close friends I made on the trip were also international students, hailing from around the world. AHA attracts a very diverse crowd; something that definitely adds to the experience of studying abroad.

The first two weeks in Northern Italy began in the canals of Venice, stopping in the crowded streets of Florence before ending in the ancient ruins of Rome. A typical day consisted of roughly four coffee breaks, hours on end perusing the paintings decorating halls of museums, eating the most amazing food, fervently discussing an artist’s work, and stopping for a spritz before laughing while you get lost in the tiny side streets of Venice, or stumbling upon the Pantheon on your way back to the hotel. I can’t even describe the certain feeling you get as you wander through each city; it’s just the dream of being in Italy. And the art is incomparable to anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience. From Medieval art influenced by the Byzantine empire to the Berninis adorning the rooms of the Galleria Borghese, Northern Italy is just brimming with the most incredible art. Though I may not have any significant authority on the subject, any history of art student has not been truly fulfilled before seeing the art that is readily available in Venice, Florence and Rome.

My third and fourth week in Southern Italy took me to Sicily, where I travelled with a different group from Palermo all the way back to Naples on the mainland. The south of Italy had a completely different vibe from the north, and the food, people, architecture, and art contrasted drastically to what I had experienced in the first two weeks. Day to day, we would leisurely roam the tiny street markets, drop by small churches hidden in deserted alleyways, satisfy our many mandatory coffee breaks, eat food that could give the North a run for its money, and sip bellinis while the sea breeze and the salt caught in our hair. Among the beautiful places we visited on the Southern trip, I will never forget the night we spent in Porto Palo, where we stayed in an amazing hotel by our own private beach. Some of the other students and I stargazed that night, before coming down in the morning and watching the sun rise over the mountains in the east, Michelangelo and Bernina (we named the hotel’s dogs) sitting beside us in the sand. With the South comes yet another feeling I can’t describe, much like the North, and both are feelings I don’t think I’ll be able to replicate without being in Italy with people I am easily able to call close friends.

The tutors on both the trips constitute a highlight themselves; I can’t stress how essential they were to making this trip as amazing as it was. Every single one of them loves art history, loves Italy, and loves what they do. I honestly think this was a large reason for the extent to which I enjoyed the trip, and I would be lying if I said that the ‘learning part’ of the trip wasn’t another highlight. I remember discussing art pieces with them, chatting over dinner, having celebratory drinks after a transportation mishap coming back from Lago Bracciano. The tutors were absolutely incredible, and I owe them a lot for making this trip what it was: a life-changing experience.

I’d only ever studied art history in relation to my own art, and I’m still unsure about whether it’s a path I want to take in the future, but that definitely did not hinder my time in Italy. I’ve come out of this trip knowing terms and facts I never thought I would know, and yet if asked, I would never say that I endured a draining academic summer.

If I was back at Christmas time last year, deciding what to do for the upcoming summer, I wouldn’t only not change my choice, I would be insisting that I go on this course. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

This two week trip to Italy was honestly the best two weeks of my summer. Venice, Florence and Rome are such amazing and beautiful cities, each offering something different. The tutors were excellent, so knowledgeable and really friendly. Not studying Art History made no difference at all as so many different subjects come into it and it was great to learn so much new and interesting information. We saw so much in each city but we were also given enough free time to do our own thing. The food was incredible and the restaurants the tutors took us to were always fun and good value. The evenings were always fun, going for drinks before supper along the canal in Venice and the beautiful picnic on the roof in Rome. I met some lovely people and the group all got on well, It was also lovely how the tutors integrated within the group. I would highly recommend this trip and would definitely consider going on it again. You are enriched with a whole range of art and culture so there will always be something for everyone.

I had the absolutely pleasure of taking three Art History Abroad courses over the past few years; in 2014 I participated in the Spring Gap Year Course and in 2015 I had the pleasure of going on both the Northern and Southern Italy Summer Courses.

I can honestly say that Art History Abroad changed my life. After struggling with depression and anxiety throughout high school, I decided to take a gap year and focus on what I loved: history of art. I could not have found a program that was more suited for my needs. AHA offers a unique experience full of beautiful education, beautiful places, and beautiful people.

To be fair, my first trip with AHA was a bit rough socially. The group on my six-week gap year course consisted of only 8 people, and we had a tendency to stomp on each other's toes. Yet, there is something magical about AHA programs that keeps social anxiety at bay. Seeing and learning about absolutely stunning art *daily* gave me a new perspective on life--perhaps it allowed me to see the 'bigger picture' and step back from the futile high school drama that had so clouded my world. The program was so delightful that even teenage drama could not make me unhappy. I was constantly educationally stimulated and surrounded by fascinating people; it was a breath of fresh air.

In case you were wondering, the tutors are amazing. Every single one of them. By attending three programs in total I was able to meet the majority of the AHA ensemble and I can say that every tutor hired is capable of eloquently teaching as well as mediating groups of teenagers (which I must say is pretty remarkable). I consider many of them good friends and hope to stay in touch with them in the years to come. The friendships I've made with fellow AHA students have also stayed with me throughout the years. As students who attend the program come from all over the world, AHA connected me with intelligent people and an array of global perspectives.

The trips are seamlessly organized; all museum trips are scheduled in advance and do not require grueling hours of waiting around. AHA also provides students with the occasional free day or afternoon, which allowed us to truly explore and get a feel for Italy (the country I now hope to move to).

Overall, AHA gave me a head start in life. I learned more than I could have by simply sitting in a classroom, I got real-life experience in a foreign country, I became better with conflict-resolution with friends and roommates, and I met absolutely amazing people. Ultimately, AHA prepared me for my first year at NYU and solidified my love for the history of art. I could not recommend it more highly.

I first heard about this course from an old History of Art teacher at my school. Planning to apply to university with this subject, I thought it would be a great course to do during the summer, with exposure to art in-situ - something I would have never been able to do in the classroom.

This whirlwind tour of the greatest (artistic) hits of Venice, Florence and Rome was probably one of the most exciting trips I'd even been on, also confirming History of Art was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. There's something wonderful about seeing a work you've studied in lessons in the flesh (or should I say canvas/marble?), it makes you realise that it isn't simply a grouping of facts you need to learn for your exam, but an actual image with a message that has influenced masses of people over the years. Furthermore, the content of the course is what is in my A2 syllabus, so this helps me consolidate the information for my exams.

I go to boarding school so independence isn't a new concept to me, but this course also helped me develop other skills. I decided to budget my meals (just for the fun of it) and ended up very successful - definitely something I'll put to use in uni! As a person with very bad navigation skills, all the free time we had in foreign cities meant I was going to have to work something out and in the end I'll say I did pretty well in not getting completely lost.

Best of all, the people I've met have made such a huge impact. The tutors were wonderful and I made such good friends. I know it may sound cheesy, but you may meet some of your closest friends on this trip and the memories I've made with them will most likely stay with me for life.

So if you're up for great art, food and company, I'd definitely ask you to check AHA out - I certainly do not regret doing so.

In July 2014, I arrived in Venice for a two-week Art History Tour. To sum up my experience, I have three words-Is this real?

Each tutor-or in American terms-each professional, ideal educator knew how to inspire, fascinate, seduce, and humor my brain all at the same time! I remember being in awe and laughing over conversation at the dinner table-a new restaurant every night designed to fill you up with the richness of Italian food but with the gift of storytelling and unloading the events of the day. My favorite dinner night, hands down, had to be when we each chose/assigned ourselves a respective God or Goddess, and had to act our part for the rest of the night. From then on-jokes and laughs ensued. Or wait-maybe it was my birthday dinner when one of the tutors ordered me the best dish I had ever tasted and surprised me with a delicious chocolate delicacy. I can't decide!

Yes, sometimes you're legs calmly beg you to give them a break after walking around to meet the greats. My body was not used to learning while standing up! It's a small price to pay when the beauty of the AHA experience moves you to awe and wonder. Plus, the tutors are flexible and understanding. You let them know, and they will find a way to accommodate.

I would do this again and for a longer duration of time right this second. After returning to my hometown, and passing by McDonalds after Target after Walmart after another McDonald's, I yearned to return to the passion-filled streets of Florence.

You feel like an insider while traveling in one of the most densely packed destinations in the world. I knew AHA was a leader in the intersection of academics, travel, adventure, and culture, but I had no idea how lucky I was to experience Italy in this way. Besides being taught information with the BBC flair of the British accent, on more than one occasion, people would step out of their own tours and try to shadow ours. It was not rare or unusual for bystanders after a session completed to come up and request a private tour. I think it is a testament to the standard of excellence AHA demands. I think the people who are running this thing are pretty jaw-droppingly awesome.

Upon my return, I found myself encouraging my family to go out to dinner. It was not only a great way to bring a greater degree of connection with my family before flying off to university, but also helped me explore my own city.

It now seems possible to say "Let's go visit my friends in Rome this summer!" Am I referring to Michael Angelo's statue of David, (which I saw on my birthday!!), a church designed by Palladio, or the young couple I met during a quick change of pace from a rich, flavorful lunch to Gallerie dell'Accademia.

Bottom-line: If you have even a hint of desire to experience something beautiful and exciting, please for the love of all the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Florentines, etc... give yourself the opportunity to experience the gift of a lifetime.

On this course not only was I able to see marvelous works of art but I lived, breathed and ate Italy; there were opportunities to experience everything cultural and entertaining on offer, from the Venetian nightlife to the Vatican we did everything humanly possible in two weeks. I did a summer course that took me to Venice, Florence and Rome and it is a part of my life that I not only treasure but think about regularly. The tutors had an incredible amount of knowledge and information available, not a single question went unanswered. Due to the experience that the tutors have, they know where all the best restaurants are and take you to them, in Florence we were taken to the most wonderful steak restaurant where steak fiorentina is a must. The friends that I made on the course were all so enjoyable to be around and came from all over the world- it was so exciting to share knowledge and interest with everyone. The course was incredibly inspiring and to be able to see the art in such a romantic and idyllic fashion is something that I can't possibly recommend enough- it was one of the best experiences that I have had and ignited a passion for art that has remained with me, even now.