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Palermo
Grand Hotel et des Palmes
a 4 star hotel in
the historical centre of Palermo nearby the opera house
Marsala
Baglio
Donna Franca an elegant
four star hotel, once the country estate of a prince. It overlooks the ocean on the west coast of the island in the
Marsala wine growing area.
Agrigento
The rural setting
of
Demetra Resort is close to the doors of the Valley of
the Temples in Agrigento. The hotel presents a
delightful dining experience which is part of the included itinerary.
Siracusa Hotel
Livingston
on the island of Ortigia, in the edge of the sea and
in the heart of Siracusa's
historical centre, one of the most picturesque in Sicily.
Taormina
Shady terraced gardens surround
Villa Schuler, our elegant turn-of-the-century hotel. Views are
spectacular with breakfast on the terrace a highlight. The location is right
down a flight of steps to the main pedestrian street in
Taormina and near the sights, restaurants, shops and other attractions.
Lipari
Hotel Villa De Pasquale
An
ancient 19th century villa, entirely rebuilt and run by the owners. It is
situated in a quiet position with a private swimming pool, 100 mt. from the
town centre and 300 mt. from Marina Lunga beach.
Mondello
Mondello Palace Hotel
Mondello is Palermo's beach resort, and around 15 minutes from the city
centre. The Palace hotel is the most prestigious hotel in Mondello,
set on its own private beach. It is modern and minimalist with an appealing
simplicity with a hint of of the 1950s derived glamour of la Dolce Vita.
the hotel sits on prime real estate, separated from the beach only by a
garden, and a busy oceanfront boulevard. Rooms are conservative,
contemporary and comfortable.
Similar hotels may be used. |
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Sun 18 September Palermo
D Overnight Palermo
The tour begins in Palermo in the foyer of our hotel
at 5pm. A welcome dinner this evening in our host city.
Mon 19 September Palermo
B D Overnight Palermo
Our tour of the main sites in Palermo include the
Palazzo dei Normanni, Cappella Palatina and the Palermo National Gallery in
Palazzo Abatellis holding the totally captivating oil painting of the
Annunciation (1476) by Antonello da Messina with a clearly Sicilian Madonna.
It can be said that this painting, where the observer stands in the position
normally granted to the angel of the annunciation, revolutionized the
way artists thought about the scene. Free time for lunch and to explore the
streets around the antiques restoration area. A characteristic
Sicilian dinner is included in the itinerary this evening.
Saint Rosalia (1130
to
1166
) is the
patron saint
of
Palermo.
In 1624 a
plague
afflicted Palermo, and St. Rosalia appeared first to a sick woman, then to a
hunter to whom she indicated where her remains were to be found. She ordered
him to bring her bones to Palermo and have them carried in procession
through the city. The hunter climbed the mountain and found her bones in the
cave as described. He did what she had asked in the apparition, and after
the procession the plague ceased.
Tue 20 September
Monreale,
Solunto
B O'night Palermo
Today we visit the Duomo of Monreale, its beautiful
cloister. At sunset to fully take advantage of
the setting we visit the stunning archeological site of Solunto on the
slopes of Mt. Catalfamo overlooking the ocean from its perched position.
This was originally a Phoenician settlement before falling to the Greeks and
then Romans before it was ultimately abandoned. Free time this evening to
explore local restaurants.
Wed 21 September Segesta
B D Overnight Marsala
We travel south-west from Palermo to visit the impressive ruins of
Segesta, a city of the ancient Elymians with a theatre amongst the most
spectacular of the ancient world and an unfinished temple incorporating
architectural sophistications to rival the Parthenon.
Thu 22 September Mozia,
Erice B D Overnight Marsala
The isolated Mount Eryx is a great rock more than 750 meters high that
dominates the western part of
Sicily.
In Antiquity, there was a Phoenician sanctuary to the goddess Tanit, who was
later identified with Aphrodite and Venus. The sanctuary was known for its
religious prostitution, a happy ritual - for the tourists at least - which
was intended to guarantee fertility to the crops below. In the Roman age,
the temple was considered to be dedicated by the legendary hero Aeneas to
his mother Venus, now referred to simply as Madre Dea or mother goddess.
The day includes a visit to the tiny island of Mozia, once the centre of
Phoenician power in Sicily. Founded by Carthage at the end of the 8th
century BC it soon became a flourishing colony. One of the most important
works of art ever found in Sicily is the Young Man of Mozia, a
breathtakingly realistic life size marble statue that is clearly the work of
a Greek sculptor though most likely representing a Phoenician cult image.
Dressed in a finely-pleated, clinging tunic, his insolent hand-on-hip pose
expressing confidence in his youth, power and beauty, the work has been
dated around the centre of the 5th century BC. It was hurriedly buried at
the time of the Greek sack of the city in 397 BC and stands
Fri 23 September Selinunte,
Agrigento
B D Overnight Agrigento
Today we visit two of the most striking archaeological sites in the
Mediterranean. Selinunte was founded by Greeks in the 7th century BC
with a picturesque position right on the sea shore that bears testimony to
the maritime nature of the colonists. Particularly impressive are the
collapsed ruins of a temple that is amongst the biggest ever built in
ancient times, left unfinished following the Phoenician capture of the town
for which the sack of Mozia was the Greek payback. Agrigento where we stay
the night is equally interesting with a group of temples still standing that
is the pride of Sicily.
Sat 24 September
Piazza Armerina
B D Overnight Siracusa
Today we transfer east to Siracusa, home to Archimedes and once a
mega city of half a million people that was once the Mediterranean’s
preeminent metropolis, now home to a wealth of archaeological remains . On
the way we visit Piazza Armerina.
Sun 25
September Santa Lucia in Siracusa
B Overnight Siracusa
Santa Lucia
(283-304 AD, whose name means "light"), was a Christian at the time of the
persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian. She consecrated her virginity to
God, refused to marry a pagan, and had her dowry distributed to the poor for
which her would-be husband denounced her as a Christian to the authorities.
Miraculously unable to move her or burn her, the guards stabbed her to
death. In medieval accounts, St. Lucy's eyes are gouged out prior to her
execution for which reason in art her eyeballs sometimes appear on a plate
that she holds.
This morning we explore the old city of Ortigia including Piazza Duomo and
the spectacular Baroque cathedral which was originally the city’s temple to
Athena. The afternoon is at leisure to wander the labyrinthine streets of
this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mon 26 September
Siracusa
B Overnight Siracusa
This morning we visit the famed Greek theatre of Siracusa, and the
Latomie, the ancient stone quarries with the spectacular hand cut cavern
called the 'ear of Dionysis', where the Athenian prisoners were held after
the failed invasion of 415 BC. Continue to the beautiful 13C Palazzo
Bellorno which houses the Galleria Regionale, home to The Burial of St Lucy
by Caravaggio.
Afternoon visit to the Paoli Orsi Regional Archeological Museum, one of the
most important archeological museums in Italy. Its artifacts, found
throughout Sicily, surveying the Greek, Roman, and early Christian epochs.
Tue 27
September Mt Etna B D Overnight Taormina
A morning visit to Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes
and at over 3000m the highest point on the island. We are fortunate to have
information provided by an enthusiastic Sicilian vulcanologist who lives on
the slopes. The drive up takes us through picturesque villages and an ever
changing landscape of vineyards, orange and lemon groves, Mediterranean
flora and finally the barren moonscape of the craters at the top. Afternoon
travel to nearby Taormina. Dinner is included.
Wed 28 September San Pancrazio in Taormina B Overnight Taormina
San Pancrazio is a venerated saint from the eastern Mediterranean whose
worship was particularly encouraged during the period of Byzantine rule.
This morning we have a guided tour of Taormina with its world famous Greek
theatre and spectacular views of Mount Etna. The afternoon is at leisure to
fully enjoy this delightful resort town.
Thu 29 September
Transfer to the
Aeolian islands
B Overnight Lipari
After driving to Milazzo we take the ferry to Lipari (1.5 hrs) Afternoon walking tour of the old town of Lipari encircled by 13C-14C
walls. Inside is the castle rebuilt by the Spaniards in the 16th Century on
the site an earlier Norman building, housing the Archeological museum.
Time at leisure to explore the many shops and restaurants
along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Lipari’s main street.
Fri 30 September
The Bronzes of Riace
B D Overnight Lipari
We ferry again today (2 hrs) across to Reggio Calabria on the mainland to
see the Bronzi di Riace, two full-size Greek bronzes of nude bearded
warriors, pulled out of the sea in 1974 near the town of Riace in Calabria
and now expertly cleaned. They date from the second half of the 5th Century
BC, the high point of classical Greek art, and are amongst the most
impressive works of art of the whole ancient world.
Sat 1 October
Aeolian islands
B Overnight Lipari
A free day in Lipari. The offspring of several volcanic eruptions, Lipari is
the largest of the Aeolian islands and is also the name of the island’s only
real town.
Sun 2 October
Cefalù B D O'night
Mondello
Ferry to Milazzo then drive to Cefalù, a small fishing village and
popular beach town only 40km away, and home to one of Sicily’s most striking
examples of Norman architecture. Explore Cefalù on foot. Walk down its main
street, Corso Ruggero, visit the Duomo, the splendid Romanesque cathedral
boasting extraordinary Norman mosaics, and the Museo Mandralistica which
houses a painting by Antonello da Messina. Transfer to our hotel in Mondello,
near Palermo Airport. A final dinner this evening is included
Mon 3 October
Mondello
B
The tour ends after breakfast this morning. |
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