Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome

Explore Paris with a licensed local guide on a sightseeing tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Admire the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, stroll the grand boulevard lined with shops and cafés, and see the ornate 19th-century Opera House. Look up at the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair, and visit Les Invalides, Napoleon’s military refuge, along with other historic sites.

The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is housed in a former medieval fortress and entered through I.M. Pei’s striking glass pyramid. Inside, discover masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, along with vast collections of Egyptian antiquities, Greek ceramics, and works spanning seven departments. Please note: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.

Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.

Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s famed Gates of Paradise that inspired generations of artists. Visit Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, once the seat of Florentine power, and step inside Dante’s House to learn about the poet’s legacy. At Santa Croce, see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Conclude your day by crossing the Ponte Vecchio and visiting a leather workshop to see one of Florence’s most famous crafts.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of art education at Europe’s first school dedicated to drawing, painting, and sculpting. Students will engage with iconic masterpieces, including Michelangelo's "David," fostering a deeper understanding of artistic techniques and historical context. This experiential journey connects directly to curriculum standards in art history, providing measurable learning outcomes through hands-on exploration and critical analysis.

Imagine you’re a Medici. Suppose you’re a Sforza. Use this innovative activity to explore the motives of the patrons of the Renaissance.

Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces.

Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.