European Art & Architecture: Itinerary

AIFS Flight Dates
Program codeOutboundInboundCourse dates
EAA/4June 17 to LondonJuly 15 from RomeJune 20 - July 14

European Art and Architecture Itinerary
Sunday, June 17 Optional overnight flight from U.S. to London.*
Monday, June 18 Arrive London. Transfer to accommodations.* Rest of day free. Overnight in London.
Tuesday, June 19 Morning orientation followed by a sightseeing tour with a professional guide. See London’s famous sights including Piccadilly Circus in the heart of the West End, the Houses of Parliament on the banks of the Thames, Buckingham Palace plus an inside visit to Westminster Abbey.
Wednesday, June 20 Morning lecture: “Overall introduction to the trip: English and European Art.” Afternoon visit to the National Gallery. Overnight in London.
Thursday, June 21 Morning lecture: “The Englishness of English Art.” Afternoon architecture tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London with the services of a professional guide.
Friday, June 22 Morning visit to the Tate Modern, followed by free time for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum with the instructor. Overnight in London.
Saturday, June 23 Free day in London.
Sunday, June 24 Morning departure to Harwich to board the cross-channel ferry to Hoek in Holland. Transfer to your hotel in Amsterdam, cultural capital of the Netherlands. Overnight in Amsterdam.
Monday, June 25 Morning lecture: “Dutch Art in the Golden Age (17th Century).” Afternoon visit to the Rijksmuseum to see the impressive collection of Dutch paintings including some of the greatest works by artists such as Vermeer and Rembrandt. Overnight in Amsterdam.
Tuesday, June 26 Morning lecture: “Flemish Painting and the Northern Renaissance.” Visit to the Van Gogh museum. Overnight in Amsterdam.
Wednesday, June 27 Departure by bus to Paris, via Bruges in Belgium which is known as the “Venice of the North” with its medieval buildings, fairytale squares and streets. Overnight in Paris.
Thursday, June 28 Morning sightseeing tour of Paris, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. Free afternoon. Overnight in Paris.
Friday, June 29 Morning excursion to the Palace of Versailles to visit the majestic palace of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Continue to Chartres with a tour of the medieval Cathedral. Overnight in Paris.
Saturday, June 30 Morning lecture: “Impressionists and Post Impressionists” on site at the Musee D’Orsay. Afternoon visit to Giverny, with visit to Monet’s house. Overnight in Paris.
Sunday, July 1 Morning lecture: “Rococo Art in France.” Afternoon visit to the Louvre. Overnight in Paris.
Monday, July 2 Morning transfer to Lucerne, Switzerland. Balance of the day free. Overnight in Lucerne.
Tuesday, July 3 Morning sightseeing tour of Lucerne and visit to the Rosengart Collection. Afternoon free. Overnight in Lucerne.
Wednesday, July 4 Transfer to Venice via train. Overnight in Venice.
Thursday, July 5 Morning sightseeing tour including sights such as the Bridge of Sighs and entrances to the Doge’s Palace and Church of Frari. Afternoon lecture: “The power of the past and the everlasting myth”. Overnight in Venice.
Friday, July 6 Morning visit to Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Venetian art. Afternoon lecture: “Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto: The Venetian School of Color.” Overnight in Venice.
Saturday, July 7 Morning visit to the Guggenheim Museum, which holds an important collection of modern art, including works by Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky and Pollock. Afternoon transfer to Florence by private bus. Overnight in Florence.
Sunday, July 8 Morning visit to the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s David. Afternoon visit to the Uffizi Gallery. Rest of the day free. Overnight in Florence.
Monday, July 9 Morning lecture: “Florence and the early Renaissance.” Afternoon walking tour of the city including entrance to the Santa Croce Church where Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli are buried. Overnight in Florence.
Tuesday, July 10 Free day in Florence. Overnight in Florence.
Wednesday, July 11 Morning transfer by bus to Rome with a stopover en route to visit Siena. Afternoon arrival in Rome. Overnight in Rome.
Thursday, July 12 Morning visit to the Vatican and its museums, culminating in a visit to the Sistine Chapel with its paintings by Michelangelo. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christian church in the world. Balance of the day free. Overnight in Rome.
Friday, July 13 Morning lecture: “Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo.” Afternoon visit to the Colosseum. Overnight in Rome.
Saturday, July 14 Morning final assessment of the academic program. Free afternoon. Overnight in Rome.
Sunday, July 15 Optional return flight from Rome to the U.S.*
AIFS reserves the right to modify the itinerary.
* Included for students on the AIFS Flight Package only.