Has anyone taken courses from this organization? If so, would you recommend them? I'm considering an architecture course featuring Brunelleschi - aproximately 15 hours over 1 week for 250Euros.

Any comments would be welcome.

The British Institute is primarily known in town as a good place for italians to learn english - one of the most respected english language schools.

I'm sure their art history seminars are perfectly fine, assuming you don't have a higher degree in art history. I would be interested to know who is teaching the course, because often it all depends on the teacher. If you can find that out and want to post the name here i can let you know if it's a known scholar, though i'm not an expert in architecture.

Thanks for the information. If I find out the name of the teacher, I will post it.

My husband has taken a couple student groups for the general art history series and it's been a lot of fun. My major (back in the day!) was art history, and as noted, the lessons aren't really particularly challenging, but you get to go to on-site lectures at churches, galleries, etc. and best of all they'll sometimes take classes to sites that aren't ordinarily open to the public. Additionally it's very nice to have access to the BI library while you're in Florence. I recall a particularly wonderful teacher named Marcello Bellini (no, really!) but the instructors were all just fine. Think you'd enjoy it.

Alecto

Hi Bill, I'm actually a very mild-mannered Fury. Nothing to be alarmed about! Just a long time lurker making my first appearance -- This is an amazing board.

Cheers!
Alecto

Hey - I had Marcello Bellini for private art history lessons arranged through NECA. He was great! If I could take lessons from him again I would love it. Not only did everyone on the street and in the museums seem to know him, he spoke about the Renaissance as if he had lived in it. And, I really got a great feel for how Florentines feel about life.

I believe Marcello works for several schools.. he is great!

Anyone had a course run by Dr. Kevin Murphy?

Anyone had a course from Dr. Kevin Murphy?