SICILY: Cultural Crossroads of the Mediterranean
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14th -22nd October 2008
with Keith Robinson |
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PROVISIONAL COST: Including flights to Palermo & return from Catania,8 nights B & B in twin bedded rooms, 4 dinners, using good hotels: Al Madarig at Castellamare (4 nights), Della Valle, Agrigento (2 nights), Villa Politi, Syracuse (2); all transport and touring by private coach, entrance fees, guided visits. £1175
EXTRAS: Insurance, Single room supplement £225, additional meals, tips.
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Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and justly famous for its scenic attractions – a beautiful coastline, rugged mountains, and the great volcanoes of Stromboli and Etna. It is equally famous for the extraordinary wealth and diversity of its archaeological, architectural, and artistic heritage. Its strategic position has seen it settled by peoples from many of the region’s great civilisations from the time of the Phoenicians onwards (c.1000 BC).
In just nine days we cannot cover the entire history of the island, nor indeed cover its geography, but we can sample some of the most important cultural influences that make Sicily such a richly rewarding place to visit. Major Greek temples and one of the largest villas and most complete set of mosaics to be found in the Roman empire are to be found here. Later the Byzantines, the Normans, and the Arabs have all left their mark on the island and Sicilian culture. Later still European powers competed for control of Sicily, in particular there was a strong Spanish influence and Sicily came under the control of the Bourbons in 1734. Bourbon Sicily supported a glittering aristocratic culture, which built many new palazzi, churches, and civic buildings providing some of the most interesting Baroque architecture in Europe. The old order though was swept away by Garibaldi and his Thousand in 1860, paving the way for Italy’s unification in 1870.
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Itinerary |
| Day 1 |
Arrive in Italy and stay 4 nights on the attractive north coast at Castellammare del Golfo.
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| Day 2 |
We shall spend the second day exploring the delights of the capital Palermo. Here we will visit the Palazzo dei Normani and its wonderful Capella Palatina. We will also see the Cathedral with its fine architectural exterior and the tombs of the Norman kings inside. We take in Palermo’s art gallery, housed in the Palazzo Abatellis, where there are works by Antonio da Massina, Sicily’s most important Renaissance painter. If time permits we will also visit the Archaeological museum, with, amongst other things, Phoenician sarcophagi and the sculpture taken from the Greek site at Selinunte.
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| Day 3 |
We visit the hill top town of Erice with its massive walls, originally built by the Phoenicians, and its Norman castle. After lunch we will visit the site of the Greek city of Segesta with its impressive Doric temple and theatre with its stunning views.
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| Day 4 |
In the morning we will drive to Monreale to visit the Norman Cathedral, which has been described as ‘the pinnacle of achievement of Arab-Norman art, and founded in 1172. Justly famous for its decorated interior, it includes a mosaic of Thomas-a Beckett. After lunch we will return to Castellammare for some independent time. |
| Day 5 |
Leaving Castellammare we head for Agrigento. En route we will visit the Cave di Cusa, a chance to see how the Greeks quarried the stone for their buildings at Selinunte. This tranquil site has been unused since the abandonment of Selinunte in 409 B.C., and is now the home of birds and lizards. From the Cave di Cusa we will travel on to the site of Selinunte with its complex of temples and its walled town. After our visit here we continue on to our hotel in Agrigento.
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| Day 6 |
The whole of our day will be spent in Agrigento. We will visit the Archaeological Museum before our tour of the ancient city of Akragras (Roman Agrigentum, modern Agrigento). There will be some time to explore the town Pirandello made his home independently.
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| Day 7 |
We leave Agrigento and head for Siracusa [Syracuse]. We will visit one of the most important of all Roman Villas, the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina. This the home of an exceedingly wealthy landowner still has a complete set of beautifully decorated mosaics in an exceptional state of preservation. If time and access permit we will also call in on Morgantina an abandoned town in a fantastic setting, with pre-Greek, Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman elements. Afterwards we continue on to our hotel in Siracusa.
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| Day 8 |
We spend today in Siracusa visiting the rich collections held in the Archaeological Museum, and the visit the archaeological sites themselves, including the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, and the caves. There will also be time for a gentle stroll around the island of Ortygia, the heart of ancient Siracusa, and perhaps visit the Cathedral, which incorporates the ancient Temple of Minerva. |
| Day 9 |
Our last day will be spent in Catania, where we will be invited in to the Palazzo Biscari, a good example of a Sicilian Baroque palace, for a private tour. After our visit here we will travel to Catania Airport to catch our flight home. |
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