6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad

6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad

Location
  • Italy
    • Venice
    • Bologna
    • Florence
    • Siena
    • Rome
    • Pompeii
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 Hotel
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
22

Pricing

$19,000
Price Details
Included: accommodation, breakfast, transport within Italy, tuition, site tickets, workshops and activities, private visits, events (opera, ballet, football), art materials, and curated reading, watching, music, and restaurant lists.

Not included: flights, lunch and dinner.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Some Meals Tour Guide Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Meals Travel Insurance
Feb 12, 2026
Mar 01, 2025
263 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Art History Abroad’s 6-week gap year courses in Italy run each Autumn and Spring, taking students on an inspiring journey through Venice, Castelfranco, Bologna, Florence, Siena, and Rome. Students experience Italy’s extraordinary artistic heritage from the ancient world to the present day, with particular focus on the late 13th to 17th centuries.

All teaching takes place onsite in small seminar groups of no more than 10, allowing students to study masterpieces in the presence of the real thing. Beyond exploring renowned and secret sites, students participate in artist workshops and local activities such as cooking classes and marble sculpting. This course is interactive, social, and hands-on, going far beyond traditional classroom learning. Led by passionate young tutors whose friendly approach and captivating teaching have inspired students for 40 years, AHA offers a unique opportunity to explore, live, and learn in remarkable cities while forming lasting friendships.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This six-week program offers an immersive art history experience across Italy, combining expert, passionate tutors with visits to iconic and lesser-known sites. Participants appreciate the balance of structured learning and free time to explore, alongside opportunities to build lasting friendships and enjoy authentic local food and culture. While the daily walking can be demanding, the supportive community and engaging teaching make it a memorable and enriching gap year option.

Program Highlights

  • Enthusiastic, friendly tutors who teach and inspire
  • Private access to Italy’s major sites, including the Sistine Chapel
  • Off-the-beaten-path excursions to discover authentic Italy
  • Hands-on workshops and activities, from cooking and sculpting to language
  • Build lasting friendships through unique shared experiences

Win our scholarship, worth $7,500!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can enjoy a life-changing travel experience.

At AHA, we believe culture builds confidence. Each course has two equal aims: to explore culture and to support the personal development of young people in a space where they feel secure, valued, and fully integrated.

We have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind on AHA.
AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can enjoy a life-changing travel experience.

At AHA, we believe culture builds confidence. Each course has two equal aims: to explore culture and to support the personal development of young people in a space where they feel secure, valued, and fully integrated.

We have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind on AHA.
AHA welcomes neurodivergent students, including those with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia.

With a small tutor-to-student ratio (1:9), we provide personalised support and a structured, flexible environment, helping students feel confident, included, and able to fully enjoy their course.
AHA has extensive experience supporting students with a wide range of disabilities, and we warmly encourage applications from everyone.

With a small tutor-to-student ratio (never more than 1:9), we provide individual support tailored to each student’s needs, ensuring excellent care throughout the course. We make thoughtful provisions and create an environment in which students with disabilities can travel safely and fully enjoy their experience.

Impact 🌎

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 programme.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 73 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.6
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 4.95
  • Benefits 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Facilities 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 65 - 72 of 73 reviews
Cassia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ideal Gap Course

I will not/cannot ever forget the wonderful experiences I have had with AHA. The tutors are flawless and individual, giving their own perspectives onto the art and architecture of Italy, but also the other aspects of culture that surrounds AHA students, like food, music, religion, and fun! Six weeks of utter joy!

What would you improve about this program?
Accommodation is literally the only thing I could think of. Every hotel was, however, in a fantastic location, perfect for our learning and personal endeavours.
112 people found this review helpful.
Will
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AHA: A-OK!!

Simply put, AHA changed my life! I went into the course with a vague and very shallow interest in the History of Art, but came out 6 weeks later with what I feel will be a lifelong passion for the subject. Everything on the course is, to paraphrase Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way; from the fantastic art and architecture we saw, to the unbelievably delicious meals we ate, to the charming (and sometimes brilliantly eccentric) hotels we stayed in.

However, what really makes Art History Abroad standout is the quality of the tuition and the boundless, infectious enthusiasm and energy that its tutors have for the subject material that they are teaching. One is also treated as a peer, rather than a student, so no question is too stupid to ask, no answer too obvious! As well as being great teachers, all of AHA's tutors are genuinely lovely people and cannot do enough to help you in any way possible. This is so much the case that even 3 years on from the course, I'm still in frequent touch with many of the tutors from my course.

Thanks AHA for the gap year experience of a lifetime.

What would you improve about this program?
I can honestly say that I would change absolutely nothing on the course, save it lasting forever, rather than just 6 weeks!!
116 people found this review helpful.
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.

121 people found this review helpful.
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.

118 people found this review helpful.
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.
126 people found this review helpful.
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.
130 people found this review helpful.
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!

117 people found this review helpful.
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.
116 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….