About
arthisto June 26th, 2007
Roma
My name is Cynthia Quist and I live in Capitola, California. I started Art History Alive in 1998 and have loved every minute of it.
My passion for educational travel was actually born out of frustration. While visiting China with my two sons years ago, I was unable to fully understand our tour guide and missed much of the history he was sharing. That was the last time I ever visited a foreign country without studying it myself.
Since that time I have traveled to France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea, in addition to having lived in Australia and Hong Kong.
For twenty years I have been immersing myself, my extended family, friends, and many clients in wonderful cultures.
Our Style of Travel
This is a very simple recipe, however it has taken many years to discern and land on “our style” of travel.
- Our groups number 4 to 8. This is micro-group travel and allows us total flexibility everyday.
- We take it easy. We do not try to see or do too much.
- We do most of our exploring on foot at a meandering pace.
- We take our time in order to catch the spirit of each place.
- We are flexible with our itineraries, and with our clients. Breaking away from the group is a great way to explore.
Because of this travel style we are able not just “ to see” but simply “ to be” in a place. A very different experience I can assure you.
This is why you will notice that our trips are about 8 days. We all have a saturation point and this is about it. One can keep going but less and less is being absorbed. Our itineraries expose our clients to thrilling art and architecture everyday, as well as lovely long lunches and dinners that require time to enjoy. By day eight clients are beginning to think about home, and life beyond their vacation. Perfect timing. Simple style.
Our Promise
Art History Alive takes pride in the level of personal attention given to each and every client from your first contact with us. Maybe this is why about 80% of our client/friends return to travel with us again. AHA takes care of everything for you from the day we meet at our destination until the day we bid goodbye. There will be nothing for you to concern yourself with beyond, say, which wine to enjoy with lunch. You can look forward to a wonderful camaraderie that is born when a small group of six, like-minded folks embark on a great experience together. This is the best way to travel!
The Fine Print: Standard Payment Schedule and Refund Policy
All prices are based on double occupancy, and a group size of six. Single occupancy is available with a price supplement. Hotels, meals, wines, museum admissions, all ground transportation and medical insurance are included. Airfare, and round-trip transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to airport, are not included. Prices of European trips may require adjustment due to exchange rate fluctuations. AHA is happy to advise on the purchase of airline tickets and airport transfers. We know who to call.
Standard Payment Schedule
1. A $400.00 deposit is due at the time of application. The deposit will be applied to the price of your tour, and is fully refundable up to and including January 31. Deposits are not refundable if cancellation takes place after January 31st.
2. A first payment of 50% of balance is due four weeks from application date.
3. Balance due eight weeks from departure date. Done.
Refund Policy
1. For cancellation of trip up to eight weeks from departure date, a 50% refund will be offered.
2. 6 weeks from departure date a refund of 30% will be offered.
3. No refunds 4 weeks from departure date. Sorry, but no can do.
A Bit About Accommodations
With Art History Alive, accommodations are a key factor in our immersion process. We are convinced that by staying in an historic property dating back to one of the important periods in history enriches every trip. These hotels and castles are our favorites and we have visited many times. They are always well located in the historic center of where ever we are.
Remember, immersion is just that, and it is our pledge to see that the visited culture surrounds you. Based on this strategy, we do our best to reserve small historic hotels, castles, and villas.
Art History Alive Presents Italy on DVD
This is a free DVD just for the asking and our gift to you. The important thing about this DVD is that every photo you see was taken while traveling with Art History Alive. So, as the saying goes, “what you see is what you get” on one or our trips to Italy. It begins in Tuscany featuring the castle we call “home” in the village of Proceno, with its gorgeous surrounding countryside, and moves into a wedding sequence. (More on weddings later.) There are brief segments focusing on Rome, delicious foods and lovely friends, and finishes on the Amalfi Coast with shots of Sorrento, Positano, and Capri.
These are our favorite destinations in the world. I hope that you will request and enjoy watching this DVD as much as I do, and I hope that you will want to share it with friends and relatives that might like to be part of our travels. If you would like additional copies, just let me know and I will send them. Help me to spread the word.
A Castle Wedding in Tuscany
Picture your wedding in the 12th-Century Castello di Proceno in Tuscany. The Castello was built as a medieval fortress, with a high crenellated tower and drawbridge. Against this stunningly romantic backdrop you can celebrate a uniquely personal wedding, surrounded by up to 50 of your loved ones. If you wish, the wedding party and guests can make the short cobblestone walk to a ceremony in the charming Town Hall of Proceno, conducted by the Italian Official, wearing his sash of red, white and green, symbolic of the Italian flag.
A second and more personal ceremony can take place among the ancient castle walls, followed by a champagne reception and sit down dinner of Tuscan specialties paired with carefully chosen local wines. Add the warm strains of mandolin and guitar and dancing beneath the starry Tuscan sky, and your wedding will become a dream-like memory.
The beauty of our simple, elegant weddings is that Art History Alive handles every detail for you. Simply tell us your favorite colors, and we will take it from there. From flowers, to food, wine, and table settings, you can expect a picture perfect wedding under the Tuscan sun.
- Comments(2)
Hi Cynthia,
I recently discovered your site (today) and I am finding it quite brilliant. I have traveled the world extensively early in my College career and one of the best words of wisdom ever given to me regarding travel was, “you do not really see what you do not understand”. In other, words if you are not familiar with what you are seeing/visiting, you can not fully understand and appreciate it. These words were expressed to me by a good friend and former professor Judth Testa. Judy wrote a book called, Roma Amor: Rome is Love Spelled Backwards, a wonderful collection of articles covering popular sites in Rome. I think you would truly enjoy this book.
After ten years of school, two degrees and a summer of excavations in Pompeii with Oxford, I have started writing my own collection of articles on my own experiences. Many of my articles surround the history and culture of food, I have thus named my column Bite Seeing. While I am presenting my articles for review by Judy in hopes to have them put in print by a local Italian Newspaper, I was hoping that you might be able to bestow me with some of your own words of wisdom on how to get started or improve my travel writings.
Thank you so much for Art History Alive, it s a real joy to read.
Christo
Hi Christo,
Did you not realize that Judith and I have been friends for several years? If not, then this connection is uncanny.
Firstly, thank you very much for your thoughts and compliments on the AHA website. Like your articles, and Judith’s book(s) and articles, they are a labor of love. Queer how this little boot with its art, history and culture reaches out and grabs some of us by the throat, isn’t it? Every country has these elements, and quite interesting to boot, but . . . What Is It About Italy? That is the title of a book that I started sometime ago, and look forward to finishing one of these days.
Maybe eight or more years ago, my husband Jim, bought me a copy of Judith’s book. I loved it so much I contacted her to tell her so. We were able to meet in Boston for dinner, and talked like magpies for hours. With this shared passion we became fast friends immediately. Since then we have been able to meet up in Italy almost every year.
My Rome bound clients always receive from AHA, months in advance, a copy of Judith’s book and a highlighter tied with curling ribbon. They get the point immediately. : ) And, if when J and I meet in Italy and I am guiding one of my small groups, she graciously steps in and teaches for a day. My clients are spellbound to be hob knobbing with the author of the book they’ve just read, and they adore her. A treat for all of us.
I, like you, believe in “front loading” prior to take off. Your quote, “you do not really see what you do not understand,” is perfect. It again describes the philosophy of AHA and my mission which is educational travel through cultural immersion. May I use it on my site? It would be the perfect title for a new post on just that.
Now, about Bite Seeing (Very clever. Took me a second, but it was worth it.) Are you asking me to take a look at your articles and perhaps offer suggestions? If so, I think that would be fun, and I would like to as long as I feel that I can afford the time, our nemesis.
Let me know exactly what you had in mind, and I will get back to you. It is very nice to meet you, and I will look forward to our next chat. BTW, where do you live? Near Judith? Again, I am so glad that you are enjoying the site. May I ask how you happened upon it? Always of interest to me.
Ciao,
Cinzia