Immerse yourself in Italian art

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How often have you wanted to learn a foreign language but been put off by the memory of school lessons? All those hours spent on how to tell a doctor your mother is ill, or ask the time of day, or even say that your postilion has been struck by lightning…

What if you could learn Italian vocabulary that is useful for a holiday among the art and culture of Italy – and have a holiday in Florence while you are about it? This is what is on offer from the British Institute of Florence: mornings learning not only simple conversational and useful Italian for getting around town, eating and shopping, but also the vocabulary to discuss art and architecture, the lives of artists, and art history.

And to put it all into practice, the lessons feature tours of some of the most interesting places in Florence: you will see sculpture at Orsanmichele and  Piazza della Signoria, paintings in the Bartolini-Salimbeni Chapel  (Lorenzo Monaco) of  the church of  Santa Trinita,  and the Sassetti Chapel  (Ghirlandaio). There is a visit to the Bargello museum and an architectural walking tour from Palazzo Strozzi to Piazza del Duomo. So  you will have plenty of opportunity  to put what you have learnt into practice.

Learn more in this month's review of a typical course by Darrelyn Gunzburg, and take a look at the British Institute's website. The Duchess of Cambridge once studied there but you certainly don't need to be rich to enjoy this unique experience!