Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Siena & Venice

Learning about the world and how to live in it is the essence of education.

• Courses

• World History to the Sixteenth Century, Grade 11
  This course investigates the history of humanity from early times to the sixteenth century. Students will analyse diverse societies from around the world, with particular regard to the political, cultural and economic structures that formed the foundation of the Modern Age. They will examine the influence and innovations of selected individuals, while developing skills in historical inquiry and analysis. Students will gain insight into the transitions from the fall of the Roman Empire in Rome, to Medieval society in Siena, to the Renaissance in Florence, to the Age of Discovery in Venice.
• Birth of the Modern World, Grade 12
  Students will examine how philosophy, politics, art and science transformed European society from the end of the Roman Empire up to and including the Italian Renaissance. Our medieval segment will focus on the crises faced by Europeans: popular uprisings, the Crusades, famine, the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War and the Reformation. The course will also cover the philosophic and scientific influence of the Hellenistic period on the Christian faith, and how these ideas laid the foundation for the Renaissance movement. In Florence and Siena, students will have the opportunity to discover the impact of artistic geniuses on modern society. The political focus of this time period will be on the Machiavellian world of statesmanship.
• Complete Art - Interdisciplinary Studies, Grade 12
  This course is designed for students who want to explore and develop their artistic talents in an integrated fashion. The Complete Art course will combine elements of Visual Arts, History and Cultural Studies courses. Students will create a variety of art inspired by works studied and the stimulating surroundings of Italy, whether it is studying at the Guggenheim, sketching Michelangelo's David, painting the Tuscan countryside or designing the latest fashion trend in Rome. Students' aesthetic sensibilities will become further refined as they learn about the music and social climate of the times. By exploring a variety of artistic achievements in their cultural context, students will discover their own phase of artistic enlightenment.

• Itinerary
  
  • Course Begins: June 29, 2010
  • Departure Date: July 5, 2010
  • Return Date: July 30, 2010

• Online: Begins June 29, 2010 (Day 1-4)
  Student preparation and a strong knowledge-base are vital for an enriched educational experience. To ensure students get the most from their on-site learning, each MEI program begins with a preparatory online component. For 5 days students will get started on course material in the comfort of their own home. Through this process of readings, short assignments, and online chats, students will get a better understanding of the course material and make connections with classmates. This allows students to hit the ground running as soon as they arrive overseas and dive straight into the adventure that awaits them.
• Departure from Toronto, July 5, 2010(Day 5)
  Our North American departure hub is Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Five hours prior to our departure, a short meeting will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs and maps and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31, 2010.
  
• Rome (Day 6-14)
  Remaining traces of the glory and greatness of the Roman Empire inspire our study of its rise to and fall from power. What better place to study the birth of Christianity and the influence of the Catholic Church than Vatican City? The impact of the Dark Ages is etched in the ruins of the ancient Forum, and the Colosseum still tells the story of Christian martyrdom. The genius of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini, Brunelleschi and others will entice Visual Arts students to further develop their own skills. All students will share in the eating experience of a lifetime as we enjoy leisurely dinners in local restaurants and savour warm evenings in the opulent Roman piazzas.
• Tuscan Coast (Day 14-18)
  Our excursion to Tuscany will be a welcome break from the exhilarating pace of Rome. We will spend four days relishing the Tuscan lifestyle while relaxing in the ancient hot springs of Saturnia, investigating Etruscan tombs, hiking in the mountains of Montepulciano and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. This is an excellent opportunity for History students to make the connection between the feudal system of the Middle Ages and the walled hilltop cities that are infused into the landscape. Sketchbooks in hand, Art students will be inspired by the rolling hills, sunflowers and picturesque views.
  
• Siena/Florence (Day 18-24)
  Siena is the ideal Tuscan city. It has maintained its medieval character and provides students with an opportunity to embrace the charms of the Tuscan Middle Ages. Our hotel is surrounded by beautiful Tuscan gardens which overlook Siena, and the hidden coffee shops and gelaterias will add to the enjoyment of losing oneself in the labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets. Students may refresh themselves in the hotel pool during the hot summer afternoons and enjoy morning and evening classes in the hidden gardens, hilltops and lively piazzas of Siena. Also, a day trip to Florence will allow students to explore the Renaissance capital of the world.
  
• Venice (Day 24-30)
  This one-of-a-kind city with its maze of canals and narrow streets affords students a rich taste of northern Italian culture. The Byzantine art and architecture come alive amidst gondolas, lagoons and street markets. We will reside on the Lido in a quiet Venetian neighbourhood close to the beaches of the Adriatic Sea. Art students will find endless works of art to study and intriguing subject matter to sketch. All students will find this a serene location to complete their Independent Study Unit and study for the final exam.
  
• Departure from Venice Airport, July 30, 2010 (Day 30)
  
  

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