Location

Athens, Sicily, Florence, Nice, Greece, Italy, France

Program Description

This program immerses you in most iconic cities of Europe and their art and culture. We will learn about the achievements of Ancient Greece and Rome, explore Sicily's cross-cultural heritage, and end the program in Nice on the French Riviera. In our explorations of the Mediterranean world, we will consider the lives and histories of the peoples who lived in and traveled through these places.You will earn 6 credits of general education credit in the critical thinking and humanities categories.

In Athens, we will visit the world heritage site of the Acropolis and its famous and well-preserved ancient Greek temples. We will learn about Greek theater in an ancient stadium that is over 2600 years old. We will read Homer's poetry standing at the mythic site where Hades kidnapped Persephone and drug her in the underworld. Also in Greece, we will visit explore a beautiful island and take a boat tour to several beaches and hidden coves for swimming and snorkeling in the sparkling Mediterranean sea.

In Florence, we will visit the treasures of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries, including Michelangelo's David, the city's late medieval cathedral, and the Renaissance Pitti Palace.

In Sicily, we will visit golden Medieval cathedrals and elaborate Baroque palaces.

The program ends in Nice where we will explore the French Riviera and its unique appeal to modern artists such as Picasso and Matisse.

There will be no classroom time in this program, rather we will spend our time on-site, visiting important monuments and sites in these 4 amazing cities. Through these explorations, we will understand the history and experiences that define the art, architecture, and culture of these locations. We will have guest lecturers who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm while standing in front of important cultural icons. Program director, Dr. Beth Hinderliter is an associate professor of art history at James Madison. One of her goals in this program is to make history come alive while immersed in these amazing locations.

Location Description

Athens, Greece; Sicily, Italy; Florence, Italy; and Nice, France

Director

Beth Hinderliter | hindersb@jmu.edu | School of Art, Design and Art History

Accommodations

Students will be housed in centrally located hotels or apartments.

Students will be allocated a weekly meal stipend that will cover approximately 14 meals per week.

Additional Items to Consider

Asynchronous online work required before departure.

Projected Itinerary:

May 27-June 3: Athens, Greece
June 3- June 9: Sicily, Italy
June 10-June 16: Florence, Italy
June 16- 22: Nice, France

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to all majors and class levels

Open to non-JMU students