Program Reviews

AHA was absolutely amazing and was definitely the highlight of my gap year. Its three years later and I still talk about it all the time because it was so amazing. It was incredible to see so many works of art and architecture and learn about them from really knowledgeable tutors. It also really felt like we got to know the cities we were in like locals because the tutors knew them so well and took us to places off the beaten track. They knew all the best restaurants and the Italian food was definitely a highlight! The tutors were such a great part of the experience as they were all so much fun, enthusiastic and so good at teaching and making us love the works of art they were telling us about. The course was really well organised and the accommodation was all really central. AHA was such a perfect mix of art, incredible food, wine and people. Going on AHA was definitely one of the best decisions I've made and I would highly recommend it.

If you are reading this and not taking a Gap Year, either beg your university for a deferred place and get yourself on this course or join the summer program.

The AHA tutors brought the art and architecture of Italy to life and there is nothing better than learning about the wonders of the Classical and Renaissance world in situ. I came back more knowledgeable than ever. The days were perfectly planned out and relaxing, shared with people who I hope to keep in contact with for many years to come. I can't thank the tutors and the people enough for giving me the best six weeks.

Please do not think you have to study or be interested in Art History to partake in this course. Yes, some people on the autumn program were going to study the subject at university; however, others were studying psychology, geography, graphic design and biology. This just underlines the interdisciplinary nature of Art History- it encompasses everything. Make sure you bring a notebook and pen as you will want to remember everything you learnt. People in my group that didn't hugely regretted that.

All the other reviews below have taken the words out of my mouth for how i want to describe the course, so instead of just repeating myself, anyone is more than welcome to ask me specific questions it.

Whether you are studying history of art at university or just have a passion for the subject, AHA caters for everyone providing a comprehensive education on the arts whilst immersing yourself in the culture of the country that you are in. In your free time one can find themselves wandering through the streets of Florence or Venice and enriching themselves in the Italian lifestyle and culture, in this sense AHA provides a balance between teaching and allowing the students to discover for themselves. In total I had a great experience and would recommend this course to anyone with a passion for the arts or a desire to broaden their horizons.

I could not recommend AHA more. The six week course is perfect for a gap year, and I found it hugely useful when I went on to study History of Art at university.

This is not just any old History of Art course, it is unbelievably special because you get to see every work of art you are learning about at first hand. No lecture theatres, or slides, but the real deal. I was fascinated and inspired to be learning about paintings in situ, it really helped me understand the context in which the paintings were created. One real highlight was when we were given a tour of Saint Mark's in Venice after public hours, we were the only people in there which was such a luxury, and I think we all lay on the floor to look at the glittering mosaics!

The tutors were brilliant- this is one of the key factors of the course. They are so intelligent, enthusiastic, young and fun. They know all the cities like the back of their hand- from hidden away churches, the best-aperitvo-bars, to the most delicious restaurants. There was a lovely mix of people my age on the course, who I am still in touch with.

I never ate more / better gelati, pasta, or papperdelle. The food was a real highlight!

Such a fantastic combination of history of art, fantastic tutors and teaching, wonderful food, and great fun!

It is now nearly three years since I participated in AHA's six week course in Italy and yet it continues to stand out as the most fun, rewarding and invigorating experience I have been privileged to have. The course is exceptionally well organised, the tutors are unsurpassed and the other participants continue to be life long friends. AHA manage to combine the most famous important works and key sights with those that are off the beaten track. I left each city feeling like a local and the tutors' knowledge of the best bars, restaurants or scenic views make the experience completely unique. The enthusiasm for art, literature, sculpture, architecture, history and so much more is infectious. You are immersed in so much but AHA has a way of committing what you learn to knowledge. I joined the course with very little knowledge of history of art and left being able to recite names of various Popes and give a criticism of Caravaggio's major works!! My only criticism is that six weeks doesn't feel like long enough! AHA inspired more in that short time than my fourteen years of schooling and I am still so grateful that I was able to be involved. AHA is for anyone who is curious, energetic, ready for adventure and a fan of Italian food and wine!

Whilst planning my gap year, I toyed with the idea of travelling alone around Italy for copious amounts of time. My main purpose being to visit the art I had learned about and loved whilst studying Art History A Level. When hearing about Art History Abroad, I was absolutely fascinated with what they had to offer - from a private candlelit tour of St. Marks in Venice, to climbing Mount Vesuvius in Naples. Having spoken to a handful of the tutors, each as enthusiastic as the other, I decided to sign all forms and enrol in the course. Having experienced those six weeks now, I still cannot begin to emphasise how much the trip exceeded all expectations. I joined the course not knowing anybody but from day one I was fully immersed with the 19 other like-minded students and fantastic tutors. Starting in Rome and ending in Venice, passing places including, Naples, Siena, Florence and Verona, we were able to skip queues of the Academia , eat where only locals would eat and continuously develop such an enthusiasm and appreciation for the profuse amount of art Italy has to offer. The difference between going alone and with AHA is that, due to the company's vast experience with the trip, they know what works. They know how much time should be allowed to admire Giotto's frescoes in the Musei Civici Eremitani in Padua, or which little café does the best cappuccinos in Florence. Each day is filled with something new and exciting, with all the teaching located on site. The tutors are of exceptional standard whilst being accessible and fun, with a passion for the arts that is inevitably contagious. The beauty of the trip is that you don't need any previous knowledge of Art, and you are guaranteed to experience something that you have never experienced before. The variety that you experience stretches far further than Renaissance paintings, with sessions observing the work of Jackson Pollock in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, to visiting the Jewish Ghetto of Venice. I could not stress more how much I recommend Art History Abroad as a course. Whatever age, whatever you are studying, if you have an interest in Art, this course will open your eyes to so much more than what you read in books.

AHA is an amazing and enriching course.
Throughout the six weeks, you are able to enrich your knowledge of not only art history but also mythology, literature, politics and gastronomy; experience Italian culture and, meet extraordinary people.

Tutors are the motor and heart of this programme. They are incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about art and Italian culture and this makes every visit to museums, churches, streets, villas and cemeteries amazing and unique. Their explanations and the discussions they bring up can definitely transport you to other times and places.
Moreover, they become great friends with whom to go out on a Monday morning jog; with whom to walk with along Rome's beuatiful and magical streets to find a lavanderia where to remove the wine off your clothes; share some pesto, cheese and dried tomatoes wile listening to a friend reading Keats and, help and support you with any struggle or concern you may have.

Furthermore, I met beautiful and kind-hearted people that I am lucky to consider now as 'friends'. Six months have passed and we can still recall wake up calls, nights out, entertaining visits and funny moments when we meet up.

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.

I went on this course in the summer after my first year studying History of Art at university and it was everything I hoped it would be. However the fantastic thing about this course is that it is beneficial to anyone who chooses to go on it- whether they are studying the subject, still at school or have already graduated. I learnt an incredible amount that has come in useful already in my second year studies, thanks to the constant attention of the tutors and the fact that almost every day was organised down to the last detail. We also had the opportunity to see the cities we visited for ourselves, with days set aside in each place for exploring as well as during the days in breaks. We ate together as a big group every evening which was really nice, and it gave everyone a chance to catch up if they had been in different groups. I had so much fun and really wish I had been able to do a longer gap year course, but two weeks spent in Florence, Rome and Venice is hardly a tough alternative. I would recommend it to anyone 100%.

I went on on the AHA Northern and Southern courses in two consecutive summers, and they were probably the best 4 weeks of my life! From knowing nothing about Art History or Italy, I came away with not only a fantastic insight and understanding of the Italian culture, art and history, but I've been totally inspired since to learn more and visit the cities. I think the thing that AHA offers (which no other tourist or educational experience does) is that although you learn such a lot in such a short space of time, it's made so interesting by being totally immersed in the culture, and the fact that the tutors are such great fun!

In terms of the social side, I've made so many friends (both people on the course and the tutors) who I still keep in touch with and we all know and value what an amazing experience we shared together.

I have recommended this experience to all of my friends (Art historians or not). It really is worth every single penny!