"One day we went to the Temple of Poseidon where we read excerpts of Plato -- it was amazing. I am going to tell all my friends about this program." Hilary, student - Short Hills, NJ
"I called my parents from Greece, and they asked what I was doing and I said 'Oh nothing much ... today just went swimming ... in THE AEGEAN SEA!" Brendon, student - Randolph, VT
"Kathryn had a wonderful experience in the Western Civilization program. In fact, I feel she learned more on this trip than in her past three years of high school! Thanks for all you gave her." Pam, mother - Phoenix, AZ
Our pioneer program on Western Civilization is designed for serious, motivated and adventurous students who are eager to learn first-hand about the origins and evolution of Western thought, culture and art. The program follows the path of Western Civilization from Ancient Greeks to Ancient Romans, continuing to the Middle Ages, Renaissance and, finally, to the Enlightenment. The four-week program will take the group for one week each to Athens, Rome, Florence and Paris, and incorporate relevant regional excursions.
The students will read and discuss the works of key authors from each historical era, explore important monuments and museums, and participate in discussions with their peers and teachers. They will also have time to enjoy themselves, visit the local sites, attend recreational activities, participate in sports, and make plenty of friends.
Program Itinerary
Week 1: Athens
The students will read important works from some of the most influential Greek thinkers, explore key monuments, and discuss the life of the Athenian society and its greatest philosophers, artists and political leaders: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pericles, and Alexander the Great (Macedonian). Abbey Roaders will also travel to the ancient mountain village of Delphi to see the awe-inspiring ruins of the Oracle of Apollo. Students will also take a trip to Glyfada for a fun and relaxing day at the beach!
Week 2: Rome
For Week 2, the group travels to the 2,000 year-old town of Pompeii. A true snapshot of Roman society, preserved at the foothills of Mt. Vesuvius, it provides a perfect introduction to the Roman era. We then continue to the Eternal City, with excursions to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican and other unforgettable sites.
Week 3: Florence
The home of the Italian Renaissance, magnificent Florence welcomes our students for the third part of the program. Excursions to the Uffizi, Galleria dell'Accademia (home of Michelangelo's David), the Duomo and others will allow the students to see some of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art, laying a foundation to discuss the political and cultural life of Florentine society.
Week 4: Paris
The final part of the program brings our students to Paris, another great European capital, rich in history, culture and art. In Paris the program will explore the era of absolute monarchy and the French revolution, with a focus on the French Enlightenment. The group will read and discuss excerpts from Rousseau, Voltaire and other prominent authors of this time. Students will trace the history of the French monarchy and the French revolution during guided excursions to Musée du Louvre, Versailles, Place de la Concorde, Bastilles and other landmarks.
Academics
The Abbey Road Experiential Learning Method (AR-ELM) is designed to offer students an immersion experience that would be difficult to reproduce in a classroom in their home country. Our classes are conversational and we strive to make the best use of the resources specific to the host community and its surrounding areas.
This particular program is designed as an introductory course to the history of the Western Civilization and the evolution of Western thought, culture and art. This is an experiential academic program that requires a high level of motivation and a fair amount of reading on the part of the students. At the same time, given the breadth of the topic, the program does not set unrealistic goals and does not require an excessive amount of homework. It seeks to help the students grasp some fundamental ideas and inspire them to explore these subjects in their future studies.
Housing
While in Athens, Rome and Paris the group will live in 3-star centrally located hotels. All hotels are carefully chosen and visited by Abbey Road staff. Students will share double or triple rooms. During their week in Florence, students will enjoy a relaxing break from hotel living while staying at a stylish and modern apartment residence! Situated in the heart of the city, steps away from the Duomo on a pedestrian-only street, each newly renovated apartment includes a loft, living room, private kitchen and bathroom. Students can take advantage of their private space through cooking workshops such as tiramisu and pastry making, participate in their own fashion or talent shows or spend the evening lounging on the residence’s breathtaking private terrace. They will live as true Italians during this unforgettable week: shopping at local markets and learning to prepare traditional Florentine meals. With 24 hour reception and an incredible on-site staff, the residence is a high-class, safe and truly Italian living experience!
Daily Schedule
A student’s day generally begins with an excursion to a historical site or museum where history comes to life as they experience first-hand the subject of the day’s lecture and reading! After lunch, students are fortunate to have many activity options which vary based on their current location. In the evenings, students will have many opportunities to explore the contemporary side of these famous European capitals. In the past, students and staff have attended outdoor concerts, watched local cinema, cheered-on native sports teams, chatted with locals at cafés and spent time with new friends while browsing outdoor markets.
Day Trips
Students will go on exciting day trips to some of the most famous regional sites in all of Europe!
Delphi:
Glyfada:
Pompeii:
Versailles:
What's Included
Our program fee includes:
Tuition
Course materials
1 elective course
Lodging
3 meals a day
Pre-planned day trips and activities
Student orientation and packet
What's Not Included
Our program fee does not include:
Airfare
Optional Travel Extension
Student Insurance
We encourage you to compare our program fee to other programs and see what they include.
The fee for the Western Civilization program can be found here:
Now is the time to apply! There is currently availability on this program. Due to strong interest, however, we encourage serious students to apply soon.
If you would like to receive a brochure by mail, please complete the short online Preliminary Inquiry, and we will send one immediately.
If you are ready to apply now, click on the Online Application to get started.
For general questions about the application process, please visit our Application & Fees page.
If you have any special questions about the program or need assistance with the application process, please call us toll-free at (888) 462-2239. From outside the U.S call +1-310-473-7300 or email us at info@goabbeyroad.com.
