In the center of southern Tuscany, the city of Siena rises up on the ridges of three hills. Enclosed within high protective walls, the city has almost perfectly preserved its medieval character.

Our program commences here, allowing students to trace developments of the Italo-Byzantine and Gothic eras. By studying pictorial and sculptural pieces in the Pinacoteca, Palazzo Pubblico and Siena's cathedral, students will trace advances that influenced artists of following generations.

Florence, referred to as a virtual "city-shrine" of the world's most famous coveted masterpieces, introduces the group to art and architecture that defines the Renaissance.

Included in our course of study are visits to the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries, the Churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella and the many public and private palazzos that adorn Florence.

In Rome, we will study the archaeological remains of the Republican and Imperial eras. We will tour such well-known architectural triumphs as the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon and Markets of Trajan.

Students will explore the many neighborhoods of the Eternal City - Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto and the open-air markets of Campo dei Fiori.

Day trips take students far from the beaten path. Such trips include Assisi, home of Giotto's famous fresco cycle of St. Francis. Another is the celebrated 'Piero della Francesca Trail,' a journey that follows the evolution of Piero's career.

No study of the Roman Empire would be complete without an understanding of daily life, a pursuit that will lead the group to the archaeological site of Pompeii.