Italy with AHA: Razzle dazzle them!
When thinking of art history, some make the rookie mistake of imagining dusty textbooks, drowsy museums, and endless lectures on ancient brushstrokes. WRONG!
At Art History Abroad (AHA) we strongly believe that art should come alive!
Forget the crusty books and stuffy classrooms: we will discuss Michelangelo’s David, his frown and pose in front of THE David.
exhibity A:
You will visit the Sistine Chapel by yourself, no crowds, no queues, just you and the keymasters turning on the lights and opening the doors of the Vatican museums at sunrise. The same goes for St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, where we’ll sit in darkness until the golden mosaics shimmer to life when the light turns back on.
This could be you with the keys that open the Vatican!
But it is more than that. AHA isn’t just about looking at art and learning about it; we aim to do as much as we see!
This is why we fill our courses with activities, workshops and everyday creativity:
Learning Venetian Rowing
Why limit yourself to riding in a gondola when you can learn how to row one yourself?
Guided by local experts you will learn what it’s like to glide through Venice’s canals like a true Venetian. You will master the traditional voga alla veneta—the unique standing rowing technique, experiencing Venice from a whole new perspective.
Bevilacqua: the world of venetian textiles
Step into the world of luxury at Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua, one of the oldest textile factories in the world. You’ll see master weavers at work on original 18th-century looms, creating sumptuous velvets, silks, damasks, and brocatelles.
You will discover how top designers like Dior and Dolce & Gabbana collaborate with this iconic factory—and how their textiles even reached the Oval Office!
Gold Leaf Painting in Siena
All that glitters ain’t gold – apart from when you visit Marco’s studio in Siena. He will teach the centuries-old techniques of gold leaf painting used by masters like Giotto, Duccio Cimabue. You’ll use authentic materials—yes, even rabbit-skin glue!—to create your own golden masterpiece to take home.
Wine Tasting with Angi
Our tutor Angi lives in a vineyard in the rolling hills of Tuscany (We know, wow!) and with her Master in Philosophy of food and wine she will teach you all about wine tasting. You’ll be sipping, swirling and savouring your way through Italy!
If you’re lucky, you might even get to visit her vineyard where together with being wined and dined you’ll visit her cellar and have a relaxing walk in the vineyard!
Cooking class
Is any trip to Italy ever complete if you don’t learn how to make pasta from scratch? We’d say not! That’s why an Italian chef will take you to a local market and then teach you how to make a traditional Tuscan meal from antipasti to dessert!
You’ll eat, learn, and then eat some more. You’ll thank us once you get back home!
Buon appetito!
Sculpting marble
Ever wondered how those iconic marble statues are made? You’ll get to visit an artist’s studio in Florence and try your hand at sculpting real marble. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your curiosity—and potentially even let off some steam while chiseling away!
Paper marbling
From marble to marbled paper, you’ll join Riccardo Lucci, a fourth-generation paper marbler, in a hands-on workshop. Your chance to get truly creative: swirling colours and patterns using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations.
Creative Writing Exercises
Unleash your inner writer with our creative writing sessions. Whether you’re inspired by the landscapes around you or the art you’ve seen, our exercises will help you craft stories, poems, or even just expressive reflections. Let your creativity flow in some of the most inspiring settings imaginable.
Lots and Lots of Drawing and Sketching
You should never see an AHA student without a sketchbook—because with us, there’s always something to draw! Whether you’re captured by the rolling hills of Tuscany, a detail in a Raphael painting or a Corinthian column in the bustling streets of Rome, you’ll never know when inspiration strikes so you better be prepared.
Plus, with guidance from our tutors, you’ll sharpen your skills and create memories on every page.
So, if you are ready to see—and do—art history like never before, join us!
We’ll be waiting in Italy, eating, making, sipping and creating!
Read “A day in the life of an AHA student” to get a better idea of what an AHA day looks like!
