History Study Course to Florence & Rome

Our History Study Tour aims to make the most of two of the most fascinating centres of European culture - Florence & Rome. Targeted for students at AS and A2, they explore the intriguing history and art of these Italian cities, focussing especially on the Italian Renaissance.

Our Study Guides

A visit to Florence and Rome can transform students’ understanding of History. Both cities are awash with monuments, museums and historic buildings. Our study guides ensure that a rich diet combination of the celebrated highlights as well as some of the lesser-known attractions of these cities.

Key Historical Questions

We ensure that students engage with key historical questions. These include: questioning what we mean by the ‘Renaissance’; the nature of power in the period; the role of the artist and patron; and the making and meaning(s) of art.

Students Work Independently

Students are encouraged to work independently, with a wide range of tasks. Many are open-ended questions, others are more simple challenges - quizzes, picture hunts etc. Sketching is encouraged too. Certain tasks call for preparation before the trip, take responsibility for their own learning. Collectively, students’ powers of observation, analysis and flexible thinking will be developed.

Back-up material

Additional material is provided to help students including: timelines; glossaries; brief biographies; family trees; maps and plans. Primary documents are incorporated to stimulate thought, plus reading lists for additional inspiration. Teachers are given suggested itineraries, clearly-defined task aims and potted histories of sites and collections. In addition there are pointers and reminders to some of the more tricky questions set.

Historic Excursions in Florence

• The Big Sights - The Duomo and Baptistery, the Uffizi and the Accademia.
• The Early Renaissance - Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito, the Bargello, the Brancacci Chapel.
• The Renaissance and The Medici - San Marco, the Palazzo Medici-Ricardi, San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels.
• Pisa - The Duomo, Campo

Historic Excursions in Rome

• Roman Rome - The Colosseum, The Forum, The Capitoline Museum, The Pantheon
• Churches of Rome - San Clemente, Santa Maria in Cosmedin (The Mouth of Truth), Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Santa Maria del Popolo, Il Gesu.
• The Vatican - The Vatican Museums: The Pinacoteca and Sculpture Collections. The Vatican Palace: The Raphael Apartments and The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica.