Location
Multiple Locations +3
  • England
    • London
    • Oxford
  • France
    • Paris
    • Nice
  • Italy
    • Venice
    • Bologna
    • Florence
    • Siena
    • Rome
    • Pompeii
    • Naples
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Program Tags
Arts Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Instructor Language Immersion Music Post-High School Study Abroad
Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
City Exploring Sightseeing
Timeframe
Fall
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hotel
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
23

Pricing

Starting Price
32800
Price Details
Included in the fees - All accommodation and breakfast, tuition in small groups, all travel and air travel between cities on the course, all transport when concerned with teaching, the additional courses in Tuscany (language, cookery, drawing, film), all museum entrance fees, notes and reading lists.

Items not included in the fees - connecting flights from domicile to UK and back, flights to and from Italy, lunch and supper, spending money, travel/repatriation/cancellation insurance.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Some Equipment Some Meals Tour Guide Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Meals Travel Insurance
What's Not Included (Extra)

Flights to and from Italy
Lunch and supper
Travel Insurance, repatriation or cancellation insurance

Dec 13, 2024
Dec 09, 2024
122 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

With decades of experience, we have crafted this kaleidoscope of European culture, showcasing many lights and curiosities of human experience often expressed in art. The Semester Course will forms a cohesive adventure, allowing students to make the best use of their time.

We begin with two weeks in England, discussing art, power and the nature of European politics. Moving onto Paris and the South of France for modernism. Onwards to the beautiful hilltop town of Montepulciano in Tuscany for two weeks of cultural immersion and italian language learning.
The program then joins the Autumn Gap Course for an in depth exploration of Italy, visiting some of the most beautiful places in the world: Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples.

We study the most famous art, but also places off the beaten track exploring alongside politics, literature, food, philosophy.. Students return having experienced and seen wonderful things, refreshed, more confident and ready for the future!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

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.
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.
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 🌎

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

  • Private viewings to some of Italy's most extraordinary sites like the Sistine Chapel!
  • A 2 week intensive Italian Language Course
  • A focus on the joy of creativity (it's in all of us!)
  • Traditional Tuscan cooking classes and marvellous food and wine along the way
  • Visit 3 beautiful countries in 3 months

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 34 reviews
  • 5 rating 97.06%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 2.94%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.8
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 17 - 24 of 34 reviews
Default avatar
Isobel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend 6 weeks on my Gap Year!!

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130 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
William
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing European Tour

The Art History Abroad Autumn European Gap Semester Program is a wonderfully enriching intellectual experience for gap year students. The Program's knowledgeable tutors teach the history of Europe not through dry lectures but through engaging and immersive "sessions" in which students get to interact with history in a first-hand manner through the art and architecture that they encounter. Art History Abroad also teaches students how to navigate life away from home effectively. The Gap Semester fosters a spirit of maturity in all Art History Abroad students. Aside from the appeal of the Gap Semester with respect to the growth of students, the 12 weeks students and tutors spend together in Europe are unbelievably enjoyable.

191 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tessa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Go on this semester trip!

This semester was the best of my life. I had at least one moment every single day for three months where I could not believe where I was or what I was doing. The art and architecture we studied was EPIC and the people are EPIC. You learn how to see on this trip, observe and understand the world around you just a little bit more. It was so informative beyond studying art and history, you learn tons about yourself as well right in time before you head off to college or whatever's in store for you after high school. And the people are a constant source of giggles and inspiration. Go on this semester trip!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Meeting everyone the first day was scary, but those nerves disappear after the first night and you see how awesome everyone is.
162 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anwyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful Program

This program was wonderful and taught me a great deal about art history. All the tutors are immensely knowledgable, and having the opportunity to visit so many significant historical sites in person was an amazing experience. The course was also very fun socially, and provides a great opportunity to make lifelong friends. It is challenging and engaging, and is also a program that will certainly make anyone who takes it change as a person and grow. There were many different aspects of the course, and many different periods of art history were covered, making it quite expansive and informative. The quality of the information delivered by the tutors and the quantity of incredible sites that were in the itinerary, as well as the opportunities for social interaction made this a truly unforgettable program.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be sensible and aware of yourself and your surroundings, and savour the time that you have on the course, as it is an amazing once in a lifetime experience.
161 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lilly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life changing gap year experience!!

I attended the AHA Semester program in 2015. I completed two courses I fell so throughly in love with it. I met some of my closest friends from all over the globe that I still stay in touch with and see regularly. The tutors were extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic about teaching and inspired a life-long passion in art history in me....I am now an art history major going to university in Florence if that's any indication for you. I plan on becoming a Renaissance professor after I get my masters' degree in art history. AHA made me fall in love with art history and find what passion I wanted to follow as a career. The hotels and inns included are charming and quintessentially Italian. The groups and tutors always have engaging conversation over traditional, delicious Italian antipasti. Italy is a dream and AHA is too....don't wait, just GO!!!

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing.not a thing. not a thing nota thing not a thing not a thing not a thing
150 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Grace
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life changing experience

This program was a dream come true. I made friendships that will last a lifetime. The tutors were amazing! I would wake up each day excited to see which new adventure I was going to embark on. This is the program for you if you are into art history and the European culture. Submerging myself into Europe made me fall in love with this continent that was so new to me at the moment. The best part of the trip was being able to take a hands on approach into different art and cultures. This trip made me more worldly and independent. I came back as a stronger person and I could not thank AHA enough. The overall experience made me grow as a person and has made me continue the path of art history into college in Florence, Italy. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life and I can’t wait to share my story with everyone!

What would you improve about this program?
Everything was absolutely amazing! The tutors were friendly, informative and were always there for you! I was happy, comfortable, and most importantly, safe.
144 people found this review helpful.
Will
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Trip!

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What would you improve about this program?
Sometimes the students weren’t always kept in the know about what was going on- but that was a very minor issue.
157 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maayan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Stop what you're doing and sign up for AHA!!!

This was honestly the best three months I've had in a long time!!! I learned so much about art history, being a traveller around Europe, and about myself on this trip! And I made such good friends who cared about my contributions to the course and were simply some of the raddest people i have ever met and were amazingly fun whether we were learning or just hanging! I feel really good about being independent now and I feel like I learned a lot about Art History as well as brushed up on my European history significantly. Even though I've never had any formal training in Art history, I felt like the information was taught in such a great way that my lack of experience didn't negatively impact my overall understanding. Which brings me to the amazing, awesome, rad, super smart, fun, and interesting tutors who absolutely made this experience for me! They work really hard and care about your wellbeing and growth as a student and a friend. I feel like I am a better person for going on this trip and I would recommend it to anyone! Thanks AHA!

155 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers