Greece

Aegean Art & Culture

Explore the rich and diverse artwork, architecture and culture of Greece. Walk through legendary Athens and see the world famous Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus. Visit ancient monasteries built into rock cliffs built during the Byzantine time period of the 1300's, ancient monuments in Delphi and archeological sites in Thessaloniki. Visit a plethora of art museums filled with ancient artifacts to contemporary art of modern day Greece. Enjoy the white sand beaches in the coastal town of Platamonas and a day trip to Aegina, one of the Saronic islands. While viewing beautiful artwork from across the ages, you will enjoy delicious Mediterranean cuisine, experience vibrant Greek culture and soak in the beauty of this beautiful country. 

Program Details

Program Dates

This program will run from May 19 through June 4, 2025.

Program Itinerary

Monday, May 19

  • Departure from Nazareth for Toronto on bus
  • Overnight flight from Toronto to Athens

Tuesday, May 20

  • Arrival in Athens and bus transfer to hotel
  • Evening walking orientation around the hotel area
  • Evening welcome dinner in a local taverna


Wednesday, May 21

  • Meet at the lobby for a walking orientation in central Athens & central Market (Varvakeios Agora), Syntagma and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier
  • Free time for lunch
  • Walk to the Athens Centre
  • Program Orientation of Athens Centre
  • Modern Greek language
  • Greek dance class
  • Evening group dinner


Thursday, May 22

  • Guided visit to the Acropolis site
  • Free time for lunch
  • Visit to the Acropolis Museum


Friday, May 23

  • Visit the Byzantine & Christian Art Museum
  • Guided Visit the archaeological site of the Lyceum of Aristotle
  • Walk to Temple of Olympian Zeus
  • Guided Visit to the Temple of Olympian Zeus & Arch of Hadrian and Zappeio Roman Baths
  • Free time for lunch and independent activities
  • Evening walk to Kolonaki and take the Lycabettus Hill Funicular up to the top of Lycabettus Hill

Saturday, May 24

  • Check-out from your hotel and departure for Delphi
  • Drive to Osios Loukas monastery 
  • Visit Osios Loukas Monastery
  • Drive to Arachova
  • Lunch in Arachova and free time to explore the area
  • Bus transfer to Delphi and check-in to hotel
  • Visit Delphi upper site and museum and lower site
  • Evening group dinner

Sunday, May 25

  • Check-out and departure for Kalambaka
  • Drive to Kalambaka with a brief visit to Thermopylae and the Monument of Leonidas
  • Group Lunch in Kastraki
  • Visit Varlaam Monastery
  • Visit St.Stephen’s Nunnery
  • Check-in at hotel

Monday, May 26

  • Morning visit to the Great Meteoron Monastery, Roussanou Monastery, and the Aghios Nikolaos Monastery
  • Afternoon lunch in Kalambaka
  • Evening of wine tasting and olive oil tasting

Tuesday, May 27

  • Check-out from hotel
  • Drive to Litochoro
  • Free time in Litochoro 
  • Drive to Thessaloniki 
  • Group Lunch
  • Visit the Museum of Byzantine Civilization of Thessaloniki
  • Walk to the White Tower
  • Visit the White Tower
  • Walk by Thessaloniki sea front towards the hotel for check-in.

Wednesday, May 28

  • Bus pick-up from Hotel
  • Drive to Kavala port
  • Bus drop-off to Kavala port and walk to Old Town, Castle and Aquaduct
  • Free time for lunch
  • Drive to Philippi archaeological site
  • Visit the site, museum and the theatre
  • Transfer back to Thessaloniki


Thursday, May 29

  • Bus pick-up from hotel
  • Drop-off to Ano Polis of Thessaloniki
  • Visit Heptapyrgion and Acropolis of Thessaloniki, Triangle Tower, Portara Main Gate, Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda
  • Free time for lunch
  • Visit the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki


Friday, May 30

  • Check-out.
  • Stop at Platamonas for free time at the beach and lunch
  • Transfer back to Athens 


Saturday, May 31

  • Morning visit to Ancient Agora and the Agora museum
  • Visit Roman Agora
  • Group lunch
  • Evening visit to Kerameikos

Sunday, June 1

  • Walk to National Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Visit the Museum
  • Free time for lunch
  • Bus pick-up and transfer to National Archaeological Museum of Athens
  • Visit the Museum
  • Bus transfer back to hotel

Monday, June 2

  • Day trip to Aegina

Tuesday, June 3

  • Morning walk and visit to Cycladic Museum
  • Free time for independent activities
  • Farewell Dinner

Wednesday, June 4

  • Check-out and transfer to Athens International Airport
Housing

You will stay in a variety of hotel accommodations (doubles or triples) for the duration of the program.

Course

AHI 384 (Art History 3 CR) - Aegean Art & Culture

NOTE: It is strongly encouraged that you have a lower division (100 or 200 level) course in history, arts, or the social sciences to be best prepared for this upper division art history course.

Program Costs

Program costs for 2025 are still to be determined. 

Payment Timeline

Payments may be submitted via cash or check to CIE; checks should be made out to 'Nazareth University'. Four separate payments will be made over the months leading up to departure.

December 2024 Initial deposit due

Mid-December 2024: Payment #2 due (non-refundable beyond this point)

January 2025: Payment #3 due

February 2025: Payment #4 due

Sources of Funding

SPARK-eligible students will have tuition for 3 credits covered in addition to receiving $1,500 from The Center for Life's Work.

Non-SPARK eligible students will receive a 2 credit-offset scholarship and will be responsible for the remaining tuition for 1 credit (per Summer 2026 credit cost). Each student will be eligible to receive some funding from the Center for International Education.

NOTE: All students will still need to pay the mandatory $30 course registration fee.

SPARK Grant:

Qualifying freshman, sophomore, & transfer students can use their SPARK Grant for this short-term study abroad program.

Views from Abroad

    At A Glance

    (S): SPARK-Eligible

    Term: Summer A 2025

    Program Level: Undergraduate

    Program Types: Academic (3-credits)

    Major(s): Open to all majors, but may be of particular interest to the following majors:

    • Anthropology
    • Art Education
    • Art History
    • Global Sustainability
    • International & Global Studies
    • History
    • Museums, Archives & Public History
    • Philosophy
    • Political Science
    • Public Health
    • Psychology
    • Sociology

    Language Requirement: None

    Minimum GPA Requirement: 2.5