School Art Trips to Italy | Educational Trips from Rayburn Tours

The Uffizi Gallery

One of the most celebrated museums in the Western World, the building was constructed from 1560 as the ‘offices’ of the Florentine magistrates. They now offer one of the greatest artistic experiences that can be sought after and not only do visitors get to see the works of artists such as Botticelli, da Vinci and Caravaggio but they also get to visit a serene sixteenth century palace: the courtyard is so wonderfully designed that it captures the light from above and the far end whilst maintaining the narrow, street feel. A visit to Florence without a visit to the Ufizzi is, arguably, a visit wasted.

Pitti Palace

Home to the renowned Medici family since 1549, the foreboding palace is now the home to the Medici art collection as well as other minor collections. The palace was the seat of the family dynasty until its end in the eighteenth century after which it was used, for a time, as a royal residence and later on it was dedicated to the nation by Victor Emmanuel III since when it has been open to the public as an art gallery.

Accademia Gallery

Home of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ since 1873, the Accademia still hosts the Academy of the Arts of Drawing. Although the gallery was initially set up to host works by Michelangelo it now also contains notable other works by principal Italian artists including Botticelli.

The Duomo

At the heart of the historic centre of Florence, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore has stood completed since 1436 as the focal point of Florentine culture. The site of the duomo has been used since Roman times, proven when twentieth century excavations found roman houses and pavements amongst the crypts. Today, the dome of the basilica remains impressive whilst the gothic interior makes the space seem huge and the viewer feel minute. The ornate decoration and impressive windows further enhance the feeling and ensure that a visit is worthwhile.

Palazzo Vecchio

The ‘old palace’ of Florence is the modern day town hall and overlooks the thriving Piazza della Signoria. Built to reflect the importance of the city, the palazzo contains three inner courtyards and different chambers: The Chamber of the 500 was the central council chamber, the walls of which hold frescoes depicting Florentine battles from the past. Due to its historical importance, this palace gives an impressive insight into practices of bygone eras.

The Ponte Vecchio

The most famous bridge in Florence to cross the Arno, the Ponte Vecchio is historically home to the best jewellers in the region. It is still the home to many craftsmen and a Mecca to any man searching for an engagement ring. It was the only bridge in Florence to survive the second world war.

The San Lorenzo Market

The markets here have something for everyone and they are a great way to immerse yourself in the Florentine atmosphere. Local products are available and this is a great place to sort out those souvenirs.

The Boboli Gardens

As the host of many celebrated sculptures, the Boboli Gardens, situated to the rear of the Pitti Palace have become an outdoor museum for sculpture and as a result, they are a magnificent and beautiful place to unwind after the hustle and bustle of central Florence.

All of our tours are bespoke, therefore the itinerary below is simply an example; the duration, educational visits, leisure excursions and accommodation centre used will be selected to match the requirements of your group. Please contact us to discuss your bespoke itinerary.

Day 1

Direct flight to Italy, transfer to the hotel

Day 2

Visit the Uffizzi Gallery; afternoon visit the Pitti Palace and Boboli Garden

Day 3

Morning visit to the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, afternoon visit to the Accademia

Day 4

Visit the San Lorenzo Markets before evening departure

(A fifth day could also involve visits to Siena, Pisa or Montecatini)

The Colosseum

No visit to Rome could ever be complete without a visit to the world’s most famous amphitheatre. Even from the outside, the colosseum is an immense structure and it only takes a little imagination to picture the scenes that would have taken place millennia before. As a world heritage site, a visit inside is an amazing experience and every visitor can not exit without feeling the power that such a building could have on a city or even an empire.

The Forum and Palatine Hill

Every roman town and city of consequence had a Forum where local political and industrial matters would be settled. Perhaps even more importantly it was used as a place for discussion and a place to socialise. The Palatine Hill was the place for any notable Roman dignitary to have their house and although both Forum and houses of the Palatine Hill fell into disrepair, sustained archaeological excavations continue to discover more of ancient Rome including the suspected birthplace of Augustus Caesar and the supposed cave where Romulus and Remus founded Rome.

The Spanish Steps

The Piazza di Spagna and the Steps leading up to the Church of Trinità dei Monti is another place where locals and tourists come to sit and take in the Roman atmosphere. The steps themselves date back almost three hundred years and for many years, beautiful men and women would gather here hoping to be picked as an artist’s model or muse. Leading away from the square are some of the most notable streets for design and fashion making the Spanish Steps the hub of contemporary roman trends.

The Trevi Fountain

The Three Roads (Tre vie) that met at the fountain were also the point at which an ancient Roman aqueduct was accessible to the local population. Although destroyed as the Roman Empire fell, the Trevi Fountain now acts as a focal point for tourists and it is said that throwing one coin over your shoulder will ensure a return to Rome, two coins will ensure a romance and that three coins will ensure a marriage or divorce so be careful!

The Pantheon

A real gem amongst the busy Roman streets is one of the oldest and best preserved buildings of ancient Rome. The original was built by Marcus Agrippa in 27BC, the modern Pantheon is magnificently ornate and visitors can walk in and out at their own leisure which really just amplifies its grandeur.

St Peter’s Square

Situated in front of St Peter’s Basilica, the papal enclave and home of the Roman Catholic Church, the square is the normal gathering place for mass when the public can view and take part in this ceremony with the Pope

The Vatican Museums

Various Popes have added to the many trophies and artistic works on display in the different rooms and chapels in the Vatican museums. Today, the works of Raphael, Titian and da Vinci, to name but a few, are on display: the most famous work, the roof of the Sistine chapel, is one of the last areas to visit and it acts as a fitting finale. However, long before this is reached the works of many outstanding artists can be viewed in many thematic rooms dedicated to maps, animals, the Etruscan and Greek cultures as well as different Popes and artists.

The Time Elevator

For an entertaining introduction to Rome, this simulated ride will catapult you into the heart of the story of Rome. Starting with the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, the time elevator will introduce students to all the principal protagonists who have helped sculpt Rome, for better for worse, throughout the centuries. The ride itself moves up, down and side to side, spinning through the air and with the aid of the large screen and special effects, history is brought to life.

Villa Borghese

The beauty of the exquisite Borghese gallery is that it hosts some of the greatest artistic works by Bernini and Caravaggio but by being spread over twenty rooms on just two floors, any visitor can go around the museum quickly and easily and still see every piece.

National Gallery of Modern Art

Situated in the Borghese Gardens, this gallery holds the largest collection of works from the last two centuries by Italian artists as well as other notable pieces by their European counterparts including Cézanne, Monet and Van Gogh.

All of our tours are bespoke, therefore the itinerary below is simply an example; the duration, educational visits, leisure excursions and accommodation centre used will be selected to match the requirements of your group. Please contact us to discuss your bespoke itinerary.

Day 1

Direct flight to Rome, transfer to central hotel

Day 2

Visit Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain

Day 3

Visit Vatican City, Vatican Museums; Afternoon return via Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori

Day 4

Visit the Galleria Borghese before evening departure

(A fifth day may include a day trip to Naples, Pompeii or Tivoli)

St Mark’s Square

For many centuries the centre of Venetian life has been focused around the piazza that bears the name of Venice’s patron saint. St Mark’s square is a thriving centre, full with tourists, local vendors as well as some stunning Venetian architecture. From the boutiques and cafés around the flanks of the square to the basilica and doge’s palace at the head, this square remains vibrant and evocative of eras gone by.

The Doge’s Palace

The Venetian republic was governed by a Doge and for about five hundred years, the residence of the doge was the palace in the eastern corner of St Mark’s Square. From here the decisions of the Empire were made and a visit to the palace offers a real glimpse into the splendour in which the Venetian nobility lived; the works of art inside includes those by Tintoretto and the Golden Staircase is an ornate and ostentatious work. Visitors can also visit the old gaol by crossing the Bridge of Sighs and the bland austerity comes in sharp contrast to the exquisite beauty of the rooms and corridors previously visited.

The Campanile

The ‘bell tower’ of St Mark’s square stands as one of the most famous towers in the world. Aside from its prominent position in the corner of Venice’s illustrious square, the campanile is also famous for collapsing in 1902. Remarkably, despite standing almost 100 metres in height, the collapse caused minimal damage to other buildings and resulted in no human deaths. Today, visitors can climb the tower in order to gain impressive views over the roof tops of Venice and out to the lagoon.

St Mark’s Basilica

As a shrine to the city’s patron saint, the basilica stands as the prominent church of Venice and one of the world’s greatest examples of Byzantine architecture. Inside the church, the horses of Saint Mark can be seen as well as the pillar where St Mark’s remains were rediscovered in 1094 and a number of stunning mosaics. The basilica contains a number of chapels and different works in gold and bronze, making it another fabulous example of the wealth that was on hand to the Venetian rulers of the past.

Ca Pesaro

In one of the city’s grandest baroque palaces, this gallery was passed over to the city on the condition that it was used to showcase artistic works by up and coming Venetian artists. Today it now possesses a varied collection of modern pieces from local and international artists. After a recent redesign, the palace is now also the host to an Oriental Museum which showcases art and designs from the Far East.

Accademia Gallery

For an excellent introduction into Venetian and renaissance painting, the Accademia stands as the benchmark for the other galleries of its type. The paintings on show vary from Botticelli to Tintoretto but all are displayed in a chronological theme so that the development of artistic themes and techniques can be tracked. Moreover, a full tour of the gallery enables visitors to follow the progression of different painters with excellent information provided and hints for the uninitiated.

Peggy Gugenheim

A far cry from the renaissance paintings that adorn the walls of the many churches and palazzi of Venice, the Guggenheim Collection offers a distinct contrast with its contemporary examples of Surrealism and Expressionist art. The works by Picasso, Dalí and Pollock are idiosyncratic pieces and a visit to the museum’s balcony overlooking the Grand Canal makes the museum’s location amongst the timeless streets and canals of Venice a masterstroke of juxtaposition.

Island Boat Tour

The original settlers to the Venetian lagoon actually chose the lesser island of Torcello to begin their settlement and with a visit there today, a visitor can stopover at the oldest church in the area. Away from Venice, the two most notable islands of the lagoon are Murano and Burano: Murano is the home to the Venetian glass makers who relocated there in the thirteenth century due to fears over what a fire would do to Venice’s wooden buildings. Burano is quite a contrast offering a peaceful and idyllic life in the lagoon, where the multi- coloured houses signify a vibrant and vivacious lifestyle but, according to local legend, were just an easy way for the drunken fishermen to find their way home.

Gondolas

Synonymous with Venice, a fantastic way to enjoy exploring the canals of the city is to hire a gondola. They usually hold between 2 and 8 people and if you are really lucky then you may even have a singing gondolier. This is the real Venice and an enjoyable and insightful way to see the city.

Venice Lido

For all its history, Venice remains a thriving city home to thousands of Venetians. To escape the mania and streets of the city, many head to the lido for the cafés and beaches as well as a trip to the Bienniale, the Venice film festival. Remember, there are cars on the Lido so look out!

All of our tours are bespoke, therefore the itinerary below is simply an example; the duration, educational visits, leisure excursions and accommodation centre used will be selected to match the requirements of your group. Please contact us to discuss your bespoke itinerary.

Day 1

Fly direct to Venice, transfer to hotel on the Venetian Islands

Day 2

Morning visit to St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Basilica and Campanile; Afternoon visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Day 3

Morning visit to the Accademia Gallery; Afternoon island tour

Day 4

Morning Visit to Ca Pesaro; Evening Departure