Sicily: An Enigmatic Island

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily’s strategic importance has given it a violent, eventful and colourful history. Doric temples, Roman mosaics, elegant and powerful Norman architecture and a wealth of Baroque and Renaissance palaces and churches are a reminder of its great past. Add to this the beautiful Sicilian landscape dotted with remote and traditional villages, the friendly people and an agreeable climate; few places can offer such an uplifting cultural discovery.

Itinerary…

DAY 1  – SYRACUSE
On arrival we go to the 4 star Grand Hotel Ortigia in Syracuse where we stay for the first four nights of our tour.

DAY 2  – MAGNA GRAECIA
Syracuse is a charming town and once the most significant city in Magna Graecia. We visit the Greek theatre dedicated to Athena and the important archaeological museum with a superb collection from the Greek, Roman and Early Christians eras. The museum is world-renowned for the beautiful and sensitive displays in a modern building. Later we will visit the historic area of Ortigia with its maze of streets.

DAY 3  – TAORMINA
Today we drive to Taormina, one of the loveliest resorts in the Mediterranean. Located on the slopes of Mount Etna, Taormina enjoys a glorious position between the volcano and the sea. We visit the Graeco-Roman theatre and the 13th century cathedral. In the afternoon there will be time for independent exploration. You may wish to take the funicular to the top of Taormina from which there are splendid views over the sea to Calabria. We visit a private palazzo in Catania before making our way back to Syracuse.

DAY 4  – MODICA AND NOTO
Today we visit the Baroque buildings and churches of two of the island’s most charming and unspoilt towns – Modica and Noto. Modica became a UNESCO site in 2002 and Noto is a place of great atmosphere and romance with its grand palaces and crumbling façades.

DAY 5  – AGRIGENTO
We leave Syracuse today for the northern shore of Sicily stopping en route at the Piazza Armerina to visit a luxurious villa from the late Roman Empire where the floors are paved with the most magnificent mosaics. We then continue our journey to Agrigento where we spend one night at the 3 star Hotel Jolly delle Valle, overlooking one of the most mystical and atmospheric sites of the ancient world – the Valley of the Temples.

DAY 6  – PALERMO
This morning we visit the museum in Argigento and walk along the Sacred Way overshadowed by the Temples of Zeus and Concord.After an independent lunch we travel on to Monreale to visit the great Norman cathedral dating from 1172, its mosaics surviving intact from the Middle Ages. Its elegant but unexceptional exterior does not prepare the visitor for the splendours within where dazzling mosaics depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments.The portrait of St.Thomas á Becket is of special interest. We then continue on to Palermo where we stay for four nights in the 4 star Hotel Federico II.

DAY 7  – PALERMO
The whole day is spent in Palermo. We start with a visit to the Oratorio di San Domenico and continue to the 13th century church of St Francis of Assisi and the cathedral before enjoying a guided tour of Palazzo Conte Frederico. Later we go to the opulent Norman Royal Palace where we see the Chapel of the Kings, the Palatine Chapel and the Ermeti Chapel.

DAY 8  – SEGESTA
Our first visit today is to Segesta to see the glorious Doric temples and theatre, the best Greek site on the island, where we see thirty six temples which date from 430BC. Later we continue to the huge hillside site of Selinunte, which was founded in 650BC.

DAY 9  – MONREALE
This morning we travel to Cefalu to see the cathedral. In the afternoon we return to Palermo and visit two impressive Norman buildings, both of which have fine mosaics – the San Cataldo and the Martorana where we see a graceful Norman tower rising above the church, dating from 1153.

DAY 10  – FLIGHT
We drive to Palermo airport for the flight back to London.