European Arts & Culture Short Program

The European Arts and Culture Program begins in the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon.
Bathed in sunshine, fresh sea-air and adorned with pastel coloured buildings spread across her seven hills, Lisbon is truly one of Europe’s jewels.
Lisbon is also one of Europe’s most charismatic and vibrant cities, while here you will explore the unique blend of traditional heritage, striking modernism and progressive thinking that makes Lisbon so special.
You will get a glimpse into the life of the Portuguese while also exploring the city’s rich culture and history.
We’ll set the tone and pace of the European Arts and Culture Program while in Lisbon and enjoy a thorough, fun and light-hearted orientation to bond the group.
While in Lisbon, we will be staying in the Graça district, a trendy neighbourhood offering excellent food, street art and its own unique personality. Off the tourist-trail, yet central, Graça is the perfect base for our time in Portugal's capital city.

Lisbon Highlights
Work with local printmakers and bookbinders at one of Lisbon’s up-and-coming independent creative arts spaces to create your own unique travel-journal from scratch for the journey ahead.
Ride the iconic Yellow Street Cars up and down the steep hills of Lisbon as it rumbles and shakes its way through the labyrinth of cobble stoned alleys and ancient houses of the historical Alfama district.
Enjoy a day trip to the whimsical, mountain-top palaces of Sintra. A truly unique combination of Moorish and Manueline architecture where we will tour the palace and explore the majesty and beauty of the palace grounds while learning about the fascinating history of the area.
Take a boat trip along the Lisbon waterfront to the Belem district where we will tour the Belem Tower, the departure point for the great Portuguese explorers of the 16th century.
Explore Lisbon’s historic Almafa district now home to the city’s thriving creative community. This part of Lisbon was once outside the city walls and home to poor sailors. In modern times it hosts a thriving, artistic community and is home to many of Lisbon’s trendiest shops, cafés and bars.
Enjoy delicious Portuguese espresso, Pasteis de Belem and the vibrant café’ culture.
Visit the ‘Time-Out Market’ where we will enjoy dinner at local food trucks and explore art exhibitions, galleries and bars.
Step back in time when you enter the Pavilhao Chines Bar. A pocket full of curiosities, toys and accoutrements from both world wars, private drinking rooms and legendary cocktails.
Enjoy delicious group meals in the evening and free time to explore Lisbon.

From Lisbon we will embark on a scenic journey by train, deep into the mountains of central Portugal to La Cerderia Home for Creativity.
This small, traditional village tucked away in the Serra da Lousã mountains has been lovingly restored and re-vamped as an artist’s retreat and creative haven. It is a magical place where community, nature and art come together to inspire and revitalize.
Your time at La Cerderia will be peaceful, relaxing and creative. You will settle into an unhurried and mindful pace of life enjoying workshops in sketching, ceramics and mixed-media with local artists. These workshops are designed to promote creative thinking and connect you with the Portuguese style of each of the disciplines taught. They are fun, light-hearted and suitable for both experienced artists and novices alike!
A typical day at La Cerderia will include breakfast as a group followed by a 3-hour workshop with our art tutors. We will then have a large, traditional Portuguese lunch at our villa followed by a mini siesta. In the afternoon country strolls, swims and kayaking will provide plenty of fresh air and time in nature to make the most of this spectacular setting.
Dinner will be the social focus of the evening as is the tradition in Portugal, providing time for the group to unwind, laugh and bond with our hosts. Evenings at La Cerderia will be for free-time and resting up in the tranquillity and quietness of the mountains.
You will leave Cerderia feeling rejuvenated, inspired and appreciative of your time spent in nature immersed in art.
Highlights of Cerderia Home for Creativity
Spend a relaxing and holistic week in residency at one of Portugal’s most unique creative retreats where tradition meets contemporary culture and art meets nature.
Explore your creativity while participating in daily art workshops in sketching, ceramics and mixed media with local artists.
Enjoy the mouth-watering delights of traditional Portuguese cuisine prepared fresh for your group.
Enjoy daily walks in the peaceful countryside, swims in the beautiful rivers and kayaking on the lakes of the Serra da Lousã mountains.
Get to know the local Portuguese artists and the incredible story of La Cerderia Home for Creativity.

After a gloriously rejuvenating week at La Cerderia we will make our way by train to Madrid, Spain’s famously jubilant capital city, renowned for a legacy of fine art, graceful boulevards, fanciful parks, world-famous galleries, museums and vibrant culture.
Our time in Madrid will educate you on traditional and contemporary aspects of Spanish culture and art and will offer a balance of touring ‘must-sees’ and ‘never-knew-existed’ locations.
You will learn about the fascinating history of the surrealist movement, offering surprising insights into the connection between Madrid, Paris and Barcelona as well as the cultural fabric of Europe.
We will tour two of Spain’s finest art museums, The Prado and the Queen Sofia National Museum of Art showcasing masterpieces from El Greco, Rubens, Goya, Velázquez, Dali, Picasso and Miro. Our expert guides will educate us on the unique styles and backstories of some of Spain’s most celebrated artists.
We will also explore Madrid’s contemporary creative culture, touring the city’s urban art with local graffiti artists in the most avant-garde barrio of Malasana. Malasana’s street art tells the story of life in Madrid and the current issues facing the city, offering a unique contextualization of modern-day Madrid.
In summary, your time in Madrid will be full of art galleries, tapas, cafes, music, vintage-shops, old-town squares, technicoloured street-art and an excess of life in all areas of the city for you to soak up and enjoy.

Madrid Highlights
Private guided tours of the world-renowned Prado Museum and the Queen Sofia National Museum of Art, each housing a comprehensive collection of masterpieces from all over Europe spanning over 900 hundred years.
Be inspired by Surrealism, its thought-provoking purpose and its commentary on 20th century Europe.
Enjoy ‘walk and sketch’ outings in Madrid’s plazas, squares and parks with your Irish Gap Year Program leaders. We will bring our favourite art supplies to capture the essence of Madrid in watercolour and pencil.
Tour Madrid’s ever-evolving, politically charged, street-art with local artists in the Malasana barrio as we learn about the current events and issues facing the city through its infamous graffiti murals.
Catch some Flamenco dancing at Las Tablas, a tiny bar where both locals and visitors go to enjoy the traditional dancing of Madrid.
Explore Madrid’s contemporary creative culture in Malasansa, Madrid’s eclectic and hip neighbourhood full of street art, cultural-arts centres, funky cafés, lively bars, bakeries and delicious food trucks.
Fantastic Spanish-style group meals in the evenings.
Attend the Mercado de la Cebada, a 139 year old, local outdoor market with fresh food, clothing, art and just about anything else you can imagine!
Experience the best tapas in Madrid and get acquainted with Spanish style dining.

A short train ride from Madrid will take us east to Barcelona, the sun-soaked capital city of the Catalunya region that enchants visitors with its bold and iconic architecture, world-class cuisine, modern art, renowned museums, vibrancy and warm, golden sand beaches.
Our time in Barcelona is designed to give you a cultural and artistic overview of one of Europe’s best loved cities with plenty of free time to explore the city with fun sight-seeing and delicious food thrown into the mix for good measure.
We will survey the city’s unique architecture and discuss the distinct style known as Catalan Modernism with local architectural historians. In particular we will be focusing on the iconic works of Antoni Gaudi with guided site visits to Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Familia.
You will learn the culinary art of paella making from one of Barcelona’s most renowned and beloved Paella chefs, spending an evening preparing the mouth-watering national dish before digging in!

There will also be free-time to explore the trendy and vibrant Gracia district, where we will be staying. Here you are safe to head out as a group and mix with the many young travellers and backpackers who visit this part of Barcelona from all over the world.
Barcelona Highlights
Ride the funicular to the top of Mont Juic and explore the magnificent palace and panoramic views of Barcelona below. We will bring our art supplies and do some sketching while we’re at it!
Learn about Catalan modernist architecture on an architectural tour of Barcelona, including the Gaudi masterpieces Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Familia.
Stay in the Gracia district and Carrer de Verdi where you will be free to explore this bohemian hideaway full of old-city traditions, frequented by backpackers and Barcelonans alike.
Learn to make Spain’s iconic dish, Paella, from Barcelona’s top paella chef in her home then spend a lovely evening enjoying your homemade dinner!
Explore the Gothic Quarter, a charming maze of cobble stone alleys and ancient buildings leading down to the blue waters of the Mediterranean where we will enjoy swimming and a day at the beach.
Explore one of the world’s best outdoor markets, Marcado del Boqueria where you can sample culinary delights, check out artisan crafts and do some excellent people-watching!

We aim to give our gappers the full French experience of ‘La joie de vivre’ while painting in the South of France with our fantastic hosts Simon and Monica. Consider the joys of making art in the open air, freshly prepared meals with friends, fine wine and the French countryside in the Spring.
Our days will be a delightful mixture of site-specific, watercolour workshops in the open air with Simon (an accomplished artist) and cooking lessons in French cuisine back in our home with Monica. We will set off for different areas of the village and countryside each day and relax into our painting under Simon’s guidance.
We will be staying in the tranquil, wine grower’s village of Pouzolles, in the Languedoc region of France which extends from the Pyrenees Mountains bordering Spain and stretching to the Mediterranean Sea.
The area’s rolling hilltops are adorned with Roman aqueducts and medieval Cathar castles. The surrounding countryside is lush with vineyards, medieval town squares ring out with church bells and old-world charm abounds. The deep blue skies, colourful facades and sparkling waters of Mediterranean lagoons make for an incredibly rich and inspiring setting to brush up on your painting skills.
While in Pouzolles we will be staying in a traditional French home right in the centre of the village. Awake each day to the sound of church bells and the smell of freshly baked baguettes drifting through the sweet morning air.
In addition to creating beautiful art and savoury meals we will explore the surrounding area, touring a vineyard to learn the basics of French wine making and spending a day kayaking on the nearby La Thongue River.
Painting in the South France Highlights
Brush up on your watercolour skills in the open air, under the glorious Mediterranean sun with daily workshops provided by our hosts and art tutors on site at Roman aqueducts, French vineyards, and Medieval town squares.
Live in your own traditional home (complete with its own swimming pool) in the quaint French village of Pouzolles located in the exceptionally beautiful Languedoc region of the south of France.
Learn to cook traditional French cuisine with our hosts and enjoy delicious, fresh evening meals together in the open-air courtyard.
Learn about French wine and enjoy a day touring the vineyards of one of France’s most abundant wine producing region.
Take in the spectacular nature and weather of the south of France while kayaking on La Thongue River.

Paris is a global centre for art, culture, cuisine and fashion. The iconic ‘city of light’ has been an essential destination for travellers and artists since the Age of the Enlightenment and is the perfect place to wrap up our European Arts and Culture Program.
Our time in Paris will give you an authentic experience of the city’s eternally artistic soul. We will spend our time sipping in the café culture, art, history and living ‘la belle vie’.
We will be staying in one of the hippest parts of the city, the Montmarte district. For over a century the omnipresence of art has given this district a unique, bohemian feel. In Montmarte we will explore the narrow winding streets, cafés, cabarets and hidden places where Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Braque once frequented for inspiration.
You will learn about the fascinating history of the French Impressionist Movement on-site at the world-famous Musee d’Orsay. A day-trip to the Palace of Versailles offers a glimpse into the wealth and power of 17th century France and just for fun, we’ll participate in a make-up workshop teaching you the cartoonish make-up style of the 18th century aristocracy (think Marie Antoinette and co!).

Paris Highlights
Stay in Montmarte, a timeless district steeped in bohemian history and art where cafes cabarets and secret gardens evoke the carefree life of the famous artists who once lived there.
Experience the magic of the Impressionist Movement at the Musée d'Orsay and learn the interesting and inspiring tale of how Renoir, Monet and Cezanne went from the dregs of the Parisian art world to the city’s most elite artists by turning their backs on critics.
Day trip to the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and staging post for many significant world events. Marvel at the striking riches and lavishness as we tour the palace.
Experience the blossoming of life and beauty of Paris in the springtime!
Enjoy Parisian café culture and drink a café au lait en terrace.
Work with local make-up artists learning the macabre make-up style of Paris’s 18th century aristocracy. Prepare to laugh hard when you see your friends festooned as the lords and ladies of yesteryear!