The Maya Mexico Winter program concludes with a two day visit to beautiful Playa del Carmen. There, students observe and analyze the island’s renowned street-scene, discuss the complicated relationship between tourism and environmental sustainability, and share their final project/oral presentation. Students will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful beach, as well.
Explore more than 500 buildings of a royal palace in Seoul. Gyeongbokgung was the main royal palace in Korea built in 1395 and used through 1592. Inside the walls, visit the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum while on the premises.
We visit Nagoya Castle, which dates back over 400 years. During World War II, it was destroyed during bombing and has since undergone reconstruction and repair. Designated as a National Treasure, it features a pair of golden shachihoko (imaginary sea creatures with tiger-like heads) that sit atop of the tower.
Students may take an independent day trip to Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region. Once the capital of the maritime empire, the city is built on islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Here the canals lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces offer an unparalleled experience whether walking alongside the canals or…
Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage site and provides a striking contrast to Chichen Itzá. For some, the intricate and ornate pyramids, temples and other ceremonial structures at Uxmal represent the pinnacle of Maya art, design and architecture. En route to Uxmal, we visit Hacienda Yaxcopoil— a former landed-estate, which speaks to the complex history…
At Chichen Itzá, students encounter the impressive convergence of Maya architecture, mathematics, agriculture, astronomy, commerce, and religion. The Pyramid of Kukulcan, Temple of the Warriors, Observatory, and Ball Court help students appreciate pre-Columbian advances and restraints. Our excursion culminates with an optional swim in a beautiful cenote (natural pool).
Beautiful and charming, Merida is the capital city of the Yucatán. Students actively explore vibrant markets, colonial architecture, local food, and other slices of daily life. Highlights include the Monumento a la Patria— a massive monument depicting centuries of Mexican history— and the Palacio del Gobierno, which houses striking murals depicting the Maya and Spanish…
Urban planning and the idea of branding a place come to life when we stay in the city of Utrecht, our home base for the program. Seeing Utrecht Centraal and the city’s growing skyline against the backdrop of historic streets helps one to experience the impact urban planning has on a place.
We visit The Hague, the largest Dutch city on the North Sea coast. The city is home to the country’s parliament, supreme court, and the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, one of the most important courts in the world. The Hague is known as the home of international law and arbitration.
The Dutch have built and crafted Rotterdam to be at the forefront of urban planning. A city that has cubed houses, an indoor market hall, modern sculptures, and the iconic Erasmusbrug bridge is bound to have a strong identity in terms of place.