Great Italian Cities

Learn about Italy’s great urban centres with our art and history short courses in Sydney.

From ancient foundations to the splendour of the Renaissance and beyond, Great Italian Cities traces the story of Italy’s four most iconic urban centres — Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples. This richly illustrated course explores how geography, politics and culture shaped these cities’ identities from their earliest beginnings through to the Unification of Italy in 1870.

Through lively discussion and visual presentation, you’ll uncover how each city evolved in form and purpose — from the civic ideals of the Roman Empire to the family rivalries of the Middle Ages, from the artistic flowering of the Renaissance to the myth of national identity. You’ll explore architectural masterpieces, monumental squares and hidden treasures that together tell the story of conquests, dynasties and Italy’s unique regional diversity.

Perfect for travellers, art lovers and anyone fascinated by how history shapes place, this course offers a fascinating overview of urban evolution, architecture, and social change. Whether you’ve visited Italy before or plan to explore it in the future, this is a rewarding way to deepen your understanding of its most celebrated cities.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Italian cities course, you should be able to:

• Gain an overview of each city’s historical development.
• Identify the location, purpose and meaning of key buildings and monuments.
• Understand the social, political and economic factors that shaped each city’s character.
• Recognise how these factors influenced architecture and street planning.

Course content

This Italian cities course covers the following topics and locations:

• Session 1 – Rome: The Eternal City.
  Trace the evolution of Rome from its legendary beginnings and imperial grandeur through to the papal city of the Renaissance and Baroque. Explore iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, St Peter’s Basilica and the famous ‘Typewriter’, alongside lesser-known sites like San Clemente that reveal Rome’s layered history.
• Session 2 – Venice: Window to the East.
  Discover how the maritime republic of Venice rose to power through trade and diplomacy. Learn how its lagoon environment shaped its architecture and urban form, and examine treasures such as the Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica and hidden gems of the Venetian backstreets.
• Session 3 – Florence: Centre of the Renaissance.
  Examine how Florence became the cradle of art, learning and finance. Study its great patrons, civic pride and artistic legacy through the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery the symbols of a city that defined Renaissance humanism as well as lesser-known places like San Miniato.
• Session 4 – Naples: Baroque Around the Bay. 
  Explore Naples as a city of contrasts — from its ancient Greek roots to the exuberant splendour of the Bourbon kings. Learn about its royal palaces, dynamic street life and rich cultural traditions that reflect the spirit of southern Italy.

You may also like to continue your exploration of Italian culture with our Great Italian Art (and Where to Find It) or Space, Light and Movement in Italian Art courses.