Art Exploration in Italy

Days 1-2

Your group will take an overnight flight to Rome, where you will meet your Joshua Expeditions tour director at the airport after moving through security. Traveling by private coach, your group will transfer to Florence in the beautiful Tuscany region of Italy then begin a tour of the city by visiting the massive church called the Duomo. You will have a chance to view Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise and Giotto's Bell Tower then later your group will stop for dinner and enjoy an atmosphere only Florence can provide. During the evening your group will spend some time discussing the influence of art on culture, specifically in regards to Florence and Rome, and there will be some time for a stroll through Ponte Vecchio and other famous shopping areas of Florence. The day will conclude with a time of devotion.

Day 3

This morning your group will make its way to tour the Galleria dell'Accademia, where you will see the towering statue of Michaelangelo's David. You will then head back to the Duomo for an interior tour where you will have the option to climb the tower leading to the top and a spectacular view of Florence. (Optional activities are not included in the price of the trip.) During the afternoon there will be time set aside to create in your preferred medium at assigned areas of the city. Your group will come together in the evening to share individual works with one another and provide feedback. Dinner and a night-time tour of the city will conclude the day.

Day 4

Following breakfast your group will depart for Rome, stopping along the way in one of the beautiful Tuscan villages where you will be able to capture your surroundings in your chosen medium. Later in the day your group will arrive in Rome, check into your hotel, then enjoy dinner together in the city. An evening tour will provide opportunity to view the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel for a time of discussion and devotions.

Day 5

Today your group will tour the ancient city of Rome! You will visit the 2000-year-old Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Arch of Titus, and the ancient Roman Forum, as well as Mamertine Prison, known as the traditional site of Apostle Paul's imprisonment while in Rome. In the afternoon you will have time to indulge your creativity in the medium of your choice while spending time in central Rome. Later, the day will continue at Piazza Navona, which is known as a congregating area for local artists. In the evening you will enjoy dinner with your group and then close the day with a time of devotion.

Day 6

On this morning you will have the opportunity to participate in a service project with a local ministry, allowing you to experience Rome in a very unique way. Your group will assist in providing resources and assistance to the many refugees that call Rome their home. Afterward, your group will enjoy lunch in the city and then head over to Vatican City for the afternoon. You will be able to visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum, and a highlight of the day will surely be the Sistine Chapel, home of Michelangelo's Last Judgment and other masterful works. This time at the Vatican will also provide a perfect opportunity for your group to discuss Catholicism and its impact on Christianity. The evening will provide one last chance to enjoy an authentic Italian meal before concluding this final night with devotions and a time to reflect on all that you experienced throughout the week.

Day 7

Your group will depart from Rome on a flight back home.


Art Element of This Trip:
While in Florence, a Tuscan village, and the city of Rome, students will have designated opportunities to spend time creating in their preferred mediums of painting, drawing, photography, etc. You will be offered suggested exercises as a way of being intentional with your artwork, and each night your group will come together to share individual work and to discuss what was observed while attempting to capture moments in the daily lives of the Italians. Prior to the trip, teachers and students should work together in preparation to make the most of the scheduled times for artistic endeavors.