Pharmacy and History of Medicine
Immersion in Italy
Pharmaceutical Heritage, the History of Medicine and Renaissance Culture — from Florence and Venice to Bologna and Milan
Florence, Italy
Healthcare
14 Days / 13 Nights
Sustainable Development Goals in Action
The Destination
Program Overview
Pharmacy and history of medicine immersion in Italy is a 14-day faculty-led program for pharmacy, healthcare, and Doctor of Pharmacy students that traces the discipline from Europe’s oldest working pharmacy — dispensing since 1221 — to modern EU-regulated pharmaceutical science, across Florence, Venice, Bologna, and Milan, from USD $3,880 per participant.
Few places tell the story of medicine as vividly as Italy. The country is home to Europe's oldest continuously operating pharmacy — dispensing remedies since 1221 — alongside one of the continent's most sophisticated modern regulatory systems, overseeing the fourth-largest pharmaceutical market in Europe. For pharmacy and healthcare students, this offers a rare through-line: the chance to trace the evolution from traditional apothecary craft and Renaissance toxicology to today's evidence-based pharmaceutical science and European Union regulation, all within a landscape that shaped medical education for centuries.
Faculty lead the academic program — lectures on pharmaceutical topics and guest lectures on the history of medicine delivered by Italian university professors — while Authentica provides a seamless on-ground foundation: guided cultural excursions, welcome and farewell dinners, all inter-city and airport transfers, and a dedicated Authentica Program Manager available 24x7 from orientation to departure. Regular excursions by rail carry the group well beyond Florence to see how science and culture live across different regions of Italy.
Over two weeks, students travel from Renaissance Florence to the canals of Venice, with day trips to medieval Bologna and cosmopolitan Milan, building not only subject knowledge but also cross-cultural competency, historical understanding and the confidence to navigate an unfamiliar environment. An enhanced academic track offers Doctor of Pharmacy students additional company and clinical visits.
Ideal for students in Pharmacy, Healthcare, History of Medicine, Chemistry / STEM, and related disciplines — undergraduate and graduate students, including Doctor of Pharmacy candidates.
What You'll Do
Key Program Elements
Trace the History of Pharmacy and Medicine
- Explore traditional pharmaceutical preparation methods at Europe's oldest working pharmacy, operating since 1221.
- Study history-of-science collections — historic chemistry benches, portable medicine chests and anatomical models.
- Attend guest lectures on the history of medicine delivered by Italian university professors.
Engage with Academic and Modern Pharmaceutical Practice
- Visit a leading university's pharmacy and chemistry department, meeting current students where possible.
- Tour contemporary pharmaceutical companies to understand modern drug development and EU regulation.
- Doctor of Pharmacy students add a full-day visit to a university campus, a pharmaceutical company and a clinical facility.
Experience Renaissance Culture and Heritage
- Enjoy guided immersions at the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery and panoramic viewpoints over Florence.
- Take day trips by rail to medieval Bologna and Renaissance Milan.
- Discover the canals, the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica of Venice.
Impact
UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action for this Program
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- Traces historical drug safety, toxicology and the transition from folk remedies to evidence-based science.
- Builds insight into the foundations of modern pharmaceutical safety and regulation.
SDG 4: Quality Education
- Extends learning beyond the home campus through an immersive, faculty-led program delivered in-country.
- Adds specialized guest lectures by Italian university professors and international academic exchange.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Examines Italy's position as a major European pharmaceutical hub and its knowledge-based economy.
- Explores career pathways in the global pharmaceutical industry and regulatory science.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Visits modern pharmaceutical companies and research facilities to see contemporary drug development.
- Studies the historic scientific instrumentation that underpins today's pharmaceutical infrastructure.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Built on collaboration between faculty and Authentica's on-ground academic and industry networks.
- Strengthens cross-border pharmaceutical and academic connections for ongoing exchange.
Beyond the Classroom
Program Highlights
What You'll Take Home
Learning Outcomes
Pharmaceutical Heritage and History of Medicine
Trace the evolution of pharmacy from traditional apothecary craft to modern science through Europe's oldest pharmacy, historic collections and expert lectures.
Global Pharmaceutical Practice and Regulation
Understand contemporary drug development and the Italian and EU regulatory landscape through company visits and academic engagement.
Cross-Cultural Competency
Live and learn in an unfamiliar setting and develop the intercultural awareness needed to navigate new environments and international careers.
Renaissance Art, Science and Culture
Explore the intersection of art, science and medicine that shaped European learning, across four cities of extraordinary heritage.
Day by Day
Sample Itinerary
Program services and inclusions are curated based on the faculty's learning objectives and may vary by cohort. The structure below is representative; the day numbers are approximate and the timing of visits and excursions may shift.
Arrival in Florence
Group arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in, followed by a health, safety and program orientation and an Authentica-led walking tour to get oriented to the city.
Faculty Lectures and the Duomo
Faculty-led lectures and an Italian crash course, then a climb to the top of the Duomo with a guided visit to the cathedral museum and Baptistry, closing with a welcome dinner.
Meals: B, DHistory of Medicine and University Visit
A faculty lecture and a guest lecture on the history of medicine by a university professor, followed by a visit to a leading university's pharmacy and chemistry department.
Meals: BRenaissance Science
A second guest lecture on the history of medicine, then a visit to a science and technology foundation holding one of Italy's largest collections of historic scientific instruments.
Meals: BMilan Day Trip
A rail journey to Italy's design capital for a guided visit to a historic 15th-century Renaissance fortress and its art collections, returning to Florence in the evening.
Meals: BPharmaceutical Company and City Views
A morning visit to a pharmaceutical company exploring contemporary drug development, followed by a scenic walk to a panoramic hilltop viewpoint and a historic church.
Meals: BBologna Day Trip
A rail day trip to one of Italy's best-preserved medieval cities, with a guided city tour and a visit to the ornate historic seat of one of Europe's oldest universities.
Meals: BOptional Excursion or Free Day
An optional guided day trip by rail to a nearby Tuscan landmark city, or a free day to explore Florence independently.
Meals: BEnhanced Academic Track (Doctor of Pharmacy)
A full-day study visit combining a leading university campus, a pharmaceutical company and a clinical facility to examine pharmaceutical education, industry and care.
Meals: BFaculty Lecture and the Uffizi
A faculty-led lecture, followed by a guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery and its Renaissance masterpieces.
Meals: BScience Museum and Cooking Class
A faculty lecture or additional company visit and a visit to a renowned history-of-science museum, with a Mediterranean-diet cooking class in the evening.
Meals: B, DFlorence to Venice
Check out and transfer by train to Venice, followed by a guided walking tour of the canals, bridges and historic palaces of the floating city.
Meals: BDoge's Palace and Farewell
A guided visit to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, closing with a group farewell dinner.
Meals: B, DDeparture
Check-out and group departure transfer for onward travel.
Meals: BAt a Glance
Program Snapshot
Meals Included
Sustainability
On-Ground Support
Insurance
Investment
Pricing & Inclusions
Program Cost
An enhanced academic track for Doctor of Pharmacy students, single-room supplements and optional excursions are available at additional cost.
*Costs may vary depending on group size, program inclusions, number of program days, and other factors. Please contact us for a customized quote.
What's Included
- Accommodation for 13 nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis (Wi-Fi included)
- Welcome and farewell group dinners
- Meeting-room space for faculty-led and guest lectures
- Inter-city trains — Florence–Milan, Florence–Bologna and Florence–Venice (plus Florence–Rimini for Doctor of Pharmacy students)
- Private arrival and inter-city transfers as per itinerary
- City transport — Florence bus tickets and Venice public transfer
- Guided cultural immersions with English-speaking guides
- Coordination of academic, industry and guest-lecture engagements
- A Mediterranean-diet cooking class (additional dinner for Doctor of Pharmacy students)
- Carbon offset for all participants (certificates provided after the program)
- 24x7 on-ground support by an Authentica Program Manager
- All applicable taxes
Good to Know
FAQs About the Program
1. What is the best faculty-led study abroad program in Italy for pharmacy and healthcare students?
"Pharmacy and History of Medicine Immersion in Italy" is a 14-day faculty-led study abroad program designed specifically for pharmacy, healthcare and Doctor of Pharmacy students. It pairs the history of pharmacy — including a visit to Europe's oldest working pharmacy, operating since 1221 — with a leading university's pharmacy and chemistry department, modern pharmaceutical company tours, and cultural immersion across Florence, Venice, Bologna and Milan.
2. When is the best time of year to run a study abroad program in Italy?
Late spring is the best time to run this program in Italy. Tuscany and northern Italy enjoy warm, pleasant weather ideal for walking tours and museum visits, with only occasional rain, and Florence, Venice, Bologna and Milan are all comfortable in this window. The program can be tailored to your university's academic calendar.
3. Do students need a visa to study abroad in Italy?
Most U.S. and Australian students do not need a visa for a short study abroad program in Italy, because Italy is part of the Schengen Area and short stays are typically visa-exempt. A new ETIAS travel authorization is being introduced for visa-exempt visitors, so requirements should be checked early. Authentica provides pre-departure guidance, though any required visa or authorization remains the participant's responsibility.
4. Which cities does this pharmacy study abroad program in Italy cover?
The program is based in Florence and travels to Venice, with day trips by rail to Bologna and Milan and an optional excursion to Pisa. Florence anchors the pharmaceutical-heritage and academic content, while Venice, Bologna and Milan add Renaissance art, medieval history and northern Italian culture.
5. What makes Italy a leading destination for studying pharmacy and the history of medicine?
Italy is home to Europe's oldest continuously operating pharmacy (since 1221) and one of the continent's most sophisticated pharmaceutical regulatory systems, overseeing the fourth-largest pharmaceutical market in Europe. Students can trace the full arc of the discipline — from Renaissance apothecary craft and toxicology to modern, EU-regulated pharmaceutical science — in the place where much of it began.
6. What is included in an Authentica faculty-led study abroad program?
An Authentica faculty-led program includes accommodation, all inter-city trains and transfers, guided cultural immersions with English-speaking guides, coordination of academic and pharmaceutical company visits, welcome and farewell dinners, carbon offset, and 24x7 on-ground support from a dedicated Authentica Program Manager. Faculty lead the academics while Authentica manages every logistical and safety detail.
7. Is Italy safe for university study abroad groups, and how is risk managed?
Italy is a very safe and welcoming destination for study abroad groups; the main precaution is ordinary awareness against petty theft in busy tourist areas. Authentica provides 24x7 on-ground support through a dedicated Program Manager, a Day 1 orientation and safety briefing, a program-specific risk management plan, and carries US$5M commercial general liability and US$1M errors and omissions insurance.
8. How can universities customize this Italy pharmacy program for their students?
Every Authentica program is co-created with faculty around specific learning objectives, so the itinerary, academic focus, company visits, duration and cities can all be tailored. This program also offers an enhanced academic track for Doctor of Pharmacy students, adding a full study day with a university campus, a pharmaceutical company and a clinical facility. Contact info@authentica.com to design a version for your cohort.
Interested in a Similar Program?
Contact us at info@authentica.com to design a faculty-led immersion around your objectives.