Sicily – An Enigmatic Island

NINE NIGHT HOLIDAYS | 26 MARCH & 9 OCTOBER 2023

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.

the itinerary

1

On arrival we go to the 4* Grand Hotel Ortigia in Syracuse where we stay for the first four nights of our tour; should you join our October departure you will be staying at the 4* Ortea Palace Hotel instead.

2

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 Christian eras. Later we will visit the historic island of Ortigia with its maze of streets.

3

Today we drive to Taormina, which enjoys a glorious position between Mount Etna and the sea. We visit the Graeco-Roman theatre and the 13th century cathedral. In the afternoon there will be time for independent exploration. We visit a private palazzo in Catania before making our way back to Syracuse.

4

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 with its grand palaces and crumbling façades.

5

We leave Syracuse for Piazza Armerina to visit a villa from the late Roman Empire where the floors are paved with magnificent mosaics. We then drive to Agrigento where we spend one night at the 3 star Jolly della Valle, overlooking one of the most mystical sites of the ancient world – the Valley of the Temples.

6

We visit the museum in Agrigento 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. We continue to Palermo where we stay for four nights in the 4 star Hotel Centrale Palace.

DAY

DAY

DAY

DAY

DAY

DAY

Graeco-Roman Theatre, Taormina

DAY 7

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.

8

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.

9

This morning we travel to Cefalù 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.

We drive to Palermo airport for the flight back to London.

DAY

DAY

DAY 10

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP 26 March £3,236 £598 9 October £3,438 £698

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with Easyjet: Depart Gatwick 11.45, arrive Catania 15.55 Depart Palermo 10.40, arrive Gatwick 12.40 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Nine nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Five dinners • All sightseeing, entrances fees and gratuities • The services of a Kirker Tour Lecturer