Program Reviews

Art History Abroad was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience I’m so grateful to have had. In just six jam-packed weeks I traveled to Rome, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Castelfranco, and Venice with a group of like-minded gappers and tutors. Cultural activities included painting Venetian masks, witnessing glass-blowing on Murano island, cooking traditional Italian cuisine, and marbling paper. We explored the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Uffizi, Pompeii, Ravenna Mosaics, and Guggenheim. We studied the magnum opuses of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael, Donatello, Bernini, and Botticelli, among countless others, in situ. We learned to recognize the tell-tale signs of Gothic art—gold leaf, pointed arches—as opposed to that of the High Renaissance—realist muscled figures in complicated compositions—which we in turn could differentiate from the chiaroscuro and dramatic motion of the Baroque. Perhaps most special was when we, still rubbing sleep dust from our eyes in the wee hours of morning before opening time, watched the sunrise over St. Peter’s basilica and took a guided tour of the expansive Vatican museums and fresco-filled Sistine Chapel.

India is a country like no other. The vibrancy in culture, food and landscapes cannot be ignored. AHA offered me the unique opportunity to experience some of this. The itinerary took me from the wild, tranquil settings of Munnar tea plantations in Kerela, to the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, up to the state of Rajasthan and then beyond to Varanasi. The trip gives you enough of a flavour to feel like you have a greater understanding of India at the end of it. Visiting religiously, historically and contemporarily significant architecture artwork across all of India. With India being a fairly different country to the UK, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, under the expertise and vast experience of the tutors, they enable you to experience India and her true beauty. I never felt unsafe or out of my depth. The tutors are brilliant.

Engaging tutors, delicious and authentic local food, diverse array of landscapes, incredible and utterly beautiful sights. It's honestly a no-brainer!

I have never visited India before and I am so pleased that I chose a course like AHA to help me explore and learn whilst having so much fun! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. I felt really immersed into the culture of each place we visited. I especially enjoyed the boat rides we took in Varanasi, which I have included a photo of, we took an early morning ride to a fire ceremony celebrating and thanking the river Ganges. We took another boat in the evening to see the ghats. I found learning about the attitude towards life and death in Hinduism very moving. Such a unique experience.

On the India tour with AHA, I was able to see so many amazing things. The staff were nothing but brilliant, always helpful and making sure we all felt safe and comfortable. The trip was the perfect balance of freedom and teaching, with lots of time to learn and experience in a guided but not pushed environment. Accommodation was clean and comfortable. I came home from this trip with fresh eyes and a new respect for a culture that I previously hadn’t been able to experience.

For anyone thinking about attending this course, you won’t regret it. Would recommend highly.

Where to start with how much I came to adore Art History Abroad during the 12 week course? To begin, I would say that you don’t have to be an art historian or planning on majoring in art history to have a fantastic time in the program. As long as you love learning and are excited by museums and historical sites, you are perfect for this trip! However, as amazing as the tutors were, with their incredibly curated lesson plans and museum tours, I would say that the learning isn’t what makes this experience the best- it was the people I met. I made some of the greatest memories of my life during this program, and met friends I know I will never lose. The experiences you get to be apart of during this trip are life-changing, I don’t think I will ever get over visiting the Vatican on a private tour or being in St. Mark’s Basilica completely alone, and those are just two of the wonderful opportunities AHA offers! The tutors become your best friends, and the fellow students become family. I can’t recommend this program highly enough- it’s a fantastic gap year opportunity I would do a thousand more times if I could.

It was absolutely amazing every single thing we saw everyday was just outstanding from the Michelangelo to Raphael if you’re really into just taking everything in this is the most perfect thing ever, the tutors absolutely lovely Flo, Clemmie, Ed, Celia, Dom, Emma, Angi and Ellie are some of the most knowledgeable people on art history and absolutely amazing! And last but not least I made some of the greatest friends ever on this trip, I would highly highly highly recommend to anyone and everyone!!!

I had a wonderful experience with AhA.

As a non-native English speaker, I was afraid of the language barrier, but this program helped me improve significantly, and I was able to make really special and life-changing contacts with other students. This program really gets you no matter if you’re an expert in art and history or a total beginner like I was. I was able to learn so much and create memorable memories. At first, I didn’t believe it but after these 6 weeks, I can say without hesitation our AhA group became like a family to me.

Coming out of high school, I felt severe academic burnout. I used to love learning but felt anxious whenever I thought about starting college classes. My gap year counselor showed me AHA, and I thought the experiential learning aspect might help me get excited again. I had taken advanced art classes, but history has always been my least favorite subject. I took a leap of faith that art history might be different for me. Art History Abroad ended up being the most amazing trip I have ever and probably will ever experience. The tutors are all incredible humans (Ed, Flo, Scarlett, and Jess, to name a few), and their lessons were more engaging than any teacher I have had. They truly cared about ensuring we were safe, happy, and engaged. I still text and visit my friends from AHA all the time and went on to travel with one of them for the rest of my gap year. I genuinely cannot recommend the semester program enough (or any AHA program). The memories you make are unforgettable. I felt energized and excited to learn when I got to university the following fall. I now minor in art history and still use the lessons I learned on my trip. If you are considering going on an AHA program, DO IT!!!

My experience with AHA’s Gap Year program has been absolutely incredible! As someone who loves art and animals and is about to study veterinary in Italy, I couldn't have asked for a better way to immerse myself in such a rich cultural adventure.

I had always been fascinated by the idea of going to India but I was worried and a little scared about traveling alone. AHA was the perfect solution, I always felt safe and supported and I was able to see and do things that I would have never been able to do by myself.

The way AHA blends art, history, and culture makes is truly incredible. We explored so many breathtaking places and did so many fun activities, plus the food was truly incredible and I loved seeing the changes in the cuisine from North to South and getting used progressively more and more to spicy foods!

I can't recommend this journey enough—it's been an adventure that will stay with me for a lifetime, preparing me for the next chapter and filling me with the most beautiful memories!

Overall, this course was a fantastic opportunity to learn about Italian culture and art. The itinerary was carefully curated to expose students to both highlights of the region and hidden gems I would have never explored on my own, like this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Calabria that ended up being the best meal of my life! The art was stunning, but I would only recommend the Southern Course to those that enjoy archaeology and architecture, as much of the course was focused on those two disciplines. The tutors were extremely knowledgeable and supportive.

I will admit I initially experienced a bit of culture shock due to the differences between British and American/ Hispanic culture, but the tutors took the time to explain the differences in a constructive way. Even if you feel that you won't fit in with the "intellectual" gap-year crowd, I would highly recommend this course as I ended up meeting people from diverse backgrounds that help me both mature and become a more informed person.