UA in Italy: Art and Art History 2026
The UA Department of Art and Art History is hosting a study abroad experience in Italy scheduled for May 9 – May 24, 2026. Through stops in four historic cities, our well-established program exposes students of all disciplines to one of the world’s richest art cultures.
Sixteen days. Four cities. One unforgettable summer.
We’ll see you in Rome.
Note: The 2026 program has filled and applications are no longer being accepted. Stay tuned for information about the department’s Spain program in 2027!
Study Art.
See the World.
UA’s Department of Art and Art History is already preparing for its study abroad trip to Italy in Summer 2026. This faculty-led program, designed for students of all disciplines, is scheduled to run from May 9 – May 24. The program offers students up to six credit hours in studio art and art history courses.
The trip includes numerous museum visits and excursions within four of Italy’s most iconic cities. Through five days in Rome, the cohort will visit the Forum, the Capitoline Museum, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Borghese Villa, and the Vatican Museums. In Florence, students tour major monuments like the Uffizi Museum, the Galleria dell’ Academia, and the Cathedral Complex. Stops in Venice include Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, and the Doge’s Palace.
Free days, built in throughout the trip, allow students to draw, paint, and explore the country. The program offers an ideal balance of guided and self-directed experiences.
University of Alabama professors Tanja Jones and Jason Guynes will teach courses and guide this year’s program. Up to six credit hours may be earned in studio art and/or art history courses with some work required prior to and after the trip.
For additional information, please contact Chairperson Jason Guynes at jguynes@ua.edu or 205-348-9944.
Start Your Application
Note: The 2026 Art & Art History program has filled and applications are no longer being accepted. Stay tuned for information about the department’s Spain program in 2027!
Applications for many UA study abroad programs are still open! To apply for a program:
- Open the UA Faculty-Led Program General Application.
- Navigate to the Faculty Led: Program Selection tab of the application.
- When asked “Which UA faculty-led or internship program are you interested in?” select your preferred program from the dropdown menu.
- Save and complete the application.
Once your program begins accepting students, the UA Education Abroad office will move your application automatically to that program.
If you have any questions, please contact Chairperson Jason Guynes (jguynes@ua.edu) or the Education Abroad office (studyabroad@ua.edu). Make an appointment with the Education Abroad office here.
Participants will reside in centrally-located, 3- or 4-star hotels in Rome. Accommodations are based on shared occupancy of 2-4 persons per room (separate beds). Single accommodations are available for an additional charge. Also included are daily breakfasts and welcome and departure dinners.
Tentative Hotels:
Rome Hotel Eliseo ****
Students may register for two classes with up to six (6) credit hours awarded. Typically, students will register for one studio course and one art history course. Registration for classes will be handled on an individual basis in an effort to best meet the educational needs of the student.
Studio art courses include any level of drawing, painting, or directed studies in studio art; ART 208/408 Special Projects: Study Abroad Studio; and ART 410 Drawing Seminar. ART 416 Advanced Painting Seminar will be offered in the areas of Drawing and Painting. Other studio courses may also be arranged.
- ART 208 Special Projects: Study Abroad Studio (drawing/painting/other media)
- ART 406 Independent Studies
- ART 408 Special Projects: Study Abroad Studio (drawing/painting/other media)
- ART 410 Drawing Seminar
- ART 416 Painting Seminar
- ART 516 Painting
Art history courses offered include ARH 151 Intro to Visual Art, ARH 367 Art Patronage in Renaissance Florence, and ARH 467 Topics in Renaissance Art: Renaissance Art in Venice and Rome.
- ARH 151 Intro to Visual Arts (FA credit)
- ARH 367 Art Patronage Florence
- ARH 368 Early Italian Renaissance Art
- ARH 371 Baroque Art South Europe
- ARH 467 Topics Renaissance Art
- ARH 565 Topics Renaissance Art
- ARH 598 Independent Study
Some course work will be required prior to and after the trip. This program offers a total of 6 credit hours.
The cost of the UA in Italy: Art & Art History program is expected to be $5675.00. Official costs will be determined and released later in the fall.
Program costs include 6 credit hours of coursework, all in-country transportation, accommodations as described above, daily breakfasts, welcome and departure dinners in Italy, specified museum and site entrance fees, and international health and emergency insurance.
All meals, other than breakfasts and specified dinners, are at the participant’s own expense. Participants should budget additional funds for art supplies or personal expenses such as souvenirs or independent travel, based upon individual spending habits.
Costs are based on anticipated exchange rates and enrollment and are subject to change. Program items may be changed in lieu of a price increase.
Financial aid may be applied to this course. If interested in applying for financial aid, please contact a financial aid officer at your earliest convenience to request an award for Summer 2026. Any use of financial aid for program fees must be verified and approved by the Financial Aid Office and presented to the Study Abroad Office.
This course is part of the UA summer schedule of courses. Space is limited to 25 participants.
Refund Policy: Program fees are refundable only in the event of cancellation of the program and are based on recoverable expenses. All payments should be considered non-refundable and any requests for consideration of refunds based on extenuating circumstances (medical, etc.) must be made in writing and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Dates and schedule subject to availability upon receipt of enrollment and deposits
Day 1: Saturday, May 9, 2026 – USA/Rome
USA/Rome arrival transfer, Welcome dinner
Day 2: Sunday, May 10 – Rome
Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museums
Day 3: Monday, May 11 – Rome
Vatican City, Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica
Day 4: Tuesday, May 12 – Rome
Villa Borghese
Day 5: Wednesday, May 13 – Rome
Free day to explore Rome and work
Day 6: Thursday, May 14 – Rome/Siena
Private coach to Siena, stopping by Orvieto and Cathedral
Day 7: Friday, May 15 – Siena
Visit Siena Cathedral
Day 8: Saturday, May 16 – Siena/Florence
Private coach to Florence, stopping at San Gimignano
Day 9: Sunday, May 17 – Florence
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Cattedrale di Santa Maria di Fiore
Day 10: Monday, May 18 – Florence
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, San Lorenzo, San Marco Monastery
Day 11: Tuesday, May 19 – Florence
Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell’Accademia
Day 12: Wednesday, May 20 – Florence
Free day to explore Florence and work
Day 13: Thursday, May 21 – Florence/Venice
High-speed train to Venice
Day 14: Friday, May 22 – Venice
Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, and the Doge’s Palace
Day 15: Saturday, May 23 – Venice
Work day, Farewell Dinner
Day 16: Sunday, May 24 – Venice/USA
Departure transfer via boat for return flight home
Note: The UA Department of Art and Art History runs two biannual study abroad programs. Find information about our department’s Spain study abroad program here.