The Story of Art and the Cities that Helped Write It.
The Grandest of Grand Tours
Overview of the Course
Art history is often encountered through books, lecture rooms, and museum walls. Yet great art was never created in isolation. It was shaped by cities, by power, by faith, by wealth, by ambition, and by the people who chose to commission, collect, and preserve it.
This programme offers a remarkable opportunity to place the story of art back into its true context: the places where it was made, the societies that shaped it, and the individuals who helped define its legacy.
Beginning in September 2026, this unique two-year journey will explore 12 extraordinary cities, combining expert-led online learning with immersive in-person cultural experiences. It is designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of art in a richer, more meaningful way—through direct experience, thoughtful interpretation, and the pleasure of shared discovery.
A New Way to Learn the History of Art
Rather than studying art only as a sequence of movements or names, we follow the cities that gave rise to it.
From the civic ideals of Athens to the imperial grandeur of Rome, from the Byzantine and Ottoman worlds of Istanbul to the Renaissance brilliance of Florence and Venice, from the dynastic collections of Vienna and Madrid to the museum culture of Paris, each destination reveals a different chapter in the story of art.
You will come to understand not only the works themselves, but why they were created, who paid for them, how they were displayed, and what they meant to the societies around them.
How the Programme Works
Each city experience begins with a series of three live online lectures, providing the historical, artistic, and cultural framework before travel.
These are followed by a 2–3 day city immersion, where participants explore museums, architecture, collections, and urban spaces with expert guidance.
This combination allows learning to move seamlessly from screen to city, from theory to lived experience.
Participants may choose to join:
The full 12-city programme over two years
Individual online lecture series
Individual city experiences
Whether you wish to undertake the complete journey or join selected chapters, the programme is designed to be flexible and accessible.
Expert Lecturers Chosen for Excellence and Accessibility
All sessions are presented by experienced and highly regarded lecturers, personally selected not only for their knowledge, but for the way they make art education clear, engaging, accessible, and inclusive.
No prior academic background is required. The programme welcomes seasoned enthusiasts, curious beginners, and lifelong learners alike.
Our aim is simple: to make serious art history enjoyable, welcoming, and intellectually rewarding.
Why We Created This Programme
Many people love art but feel excluded by academic language, rushed museum visits, or fragmented learning experiences.
We wanted to create something different.
A programme that opens the subject to a wider audience. A programme that values curiosity over credentials. A programme that allows people to continue learning throughout life while travelling with purpose and depth.
This is art history not as an abstract subject, but as a living story told through cities, collections, people, and ideas.
An Invitation to See Art Differently
To stand in the streets where artists worked.
To enter the buildings where patrons displayed power.
To understand the collections that shaped taste and memory.
To connect great works of art with the human stories behind them.
This is more than travel. More than lectures. More than tourism.
It is an invitation to experience the story of art where it truly happened.
We Keep a Medium Group Size
We keep our group sizes between 8–12 people to ensure the best possible experience. This range creates a balance between a lively social atmosphere and smooth, well-organized logistics. Smaller groups can feel limited in energy, while larger groups make it harder to stay connected, hear the guide, and move comfortably through the city. Keeping groups in this range allows everyone to engage, ask questions, and fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed or crowded.
Launching September 2026.
Duration
The full programme will run from 2026 - 2028 online course and in person in various cities.
Dates
Commencing 8 September 2026 - 16 June 2028
2026
Athens
Online Course: 2, 9, 16 Sept 2026 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 25 & 26 Sept 2026 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Details coming soon
Rome (Antiquity)
Online Course: 28 Oct, 4, 11 Nov 2026 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 20 & 21 Nov 2026 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Rome for antiquity page here
Istanbul
Online Course:
City Tour:
Details coming soon
Florence
Online Course: 28 April, 5, 12 May 2027 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 14 & 15 May 2027 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Florence page here
2027
Naples
Online Course: 1, 8, 15 Sept 2027 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 24 & 25 Sept 2027 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Details coming soon
Rome (for the Baroque)
Online Course: 27 Oct, 3, 10 Nov 2027 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 26 & 27 Sept 2027 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Details coming soon
Antwerp + Bruges
Online Course: 1, 8, 15 March 2028 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 24 & 25 March 2028 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Antwerp & Bruges page here
Venice
Online Course: 3, 10, 17 May 2028 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 26 & 27 May 2028 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Venice page here
Madrid
Online Course: 6, 13, 20 Sept 2028 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 22 & 23 Sept 2028 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Madrid page here
Vienna
Online Course: 25 Oct, 1, 8 Nov 2028 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 17 & 18 Nov 2028 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Go to the Vienna page here
Paris
Online Course: 21, 28 Feb, 7 March 2029 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 16 & 17 March 2029 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Details coming soon
London
Online Course: 23, 30 May, 6 June 2029 Wednesdays, 4pm GMT
City Tour: 15 & 16 June 2029 Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-5pm
Details coming soon
Fees
Online course (per city module) €380 - 3×1-hour lectures preparing each city (collectors, context, art history framework)
City tour only (2–3 days) €1950 (2 days ) – €2,200 (3 days) Lecturer-led immersive museum + collection-focused city experience
Online + one city (combined package) €2,450 Full pre-study + guided on-site immersion for one city
Full 12-city programme (complete journey) €12,500
All online modules + all 12 city tours + full curated collector framework
