Sicilian Serenade An escorted tour discovering the music and ancient wonders of with London Festival Opera 14th to 21st September 2015 Mount Etna

ue to the continuing popularity of our music tours • ‘An evening of Bel Canto’ – a programme featuring the arias and ensembles from the works of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti Din collaboration with London Festival Opera, we • ‘An Italian Night at the Opera’ - including the works of Handel, Rossini, are delighted to be hosting a music-themed stay to the Verdi and Puccini wonderful island of Sicily. This is a land that has seen more • ‘Soirée d’Opéra’ – a programme of opera and operetta including great Italian, French and German repertoire performed in period costume. than its fair share of invasions, resulting in some lofty and noble architecture from magnificent Doric temples to We are delighted to have discovered some truly magnificent venues for our great Byzantine cathedrals and bizarrely styled villas. With exclusive musical performances. its benevolent climate and superb strategic position, the Lene Eventi: Lene Eventi is housed in an island has been coveted, fought over and colonised. The enchanting building of historical and artistic Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Byzantines importance, the truly unique Palazzina della and Bourbons have all left their footprint on this beautiful Società Elettrica in Piazza Trento. The palace was built in 1911 by architect Francesco Catania land. For our week long stay we will be based in Catania Fichera, a student of Ernesto Basile who was from where we will explore the surrounding area with the first local architect to experiment with Art excellent local guides and learn of the different periods of Nouveau, the artistic and architectural movement that blossomed late in the nineteenth century and in lasted into the history which have all left their mark on the island. 1930s. In Italy the movement was called “Liberty”. Fichera managed to combine the elegance and sophistication of Art Nouveau and modern functional needs. The rooms at Lene are characterised by red velvets and London Festival Opera refined wood furnishings from the beginning of the 1900’s alongside more & Our Musical Venues contemporary works of art and furniture design. Joining us for our visit to Sicily will be members of London Festival Opera. Bringing together established opera singers from major British Palazzo Biscari: The Palazzo Biscari is the most opera companies including the Royal Opera, English National Opera and important palace in Catania and was built in Glyndebourne Festival Opera, London Festival Opera have achieved a several stages from 1707 to 1763 by the family considerable reputation for presenting opera and music performances Paterno Castello, the Princes of Biscari. The internationally in palaces, castles, country houses, theatres, embassies, architect was the architect Alonzo di private homes and some of the leading opera houses of the world. Benedetto. The ornate window frames on the Particular attention is given to the design and quality of their costumes exterior facade were designed by the sculptor which are as authentic as possible. Antonino Amato from Messina. The ornate interior is decorated in the Rococo style. Ignazio Biscari, the grandson of Whilst in Sicily, London Festival Opera will perform celebrated arias and the founder, finally expanded the palace to allow for more space for his ensembles from the operas of Vincenzo Bellini who was born in Catania collections of paintings, vases, coins and many other antique exhibits. in 1835 as well as highlights from Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and Johann Wolfgang Goethe visited Prince Biscari in 1787 and reported in Verdi’s ‘I vespri siciliani’ which are both set in Sicily. There will be three detail in his writings about the magnificence of the collections and the performances in some exclusive settings and the repertoire will be: palace. Villa Romana del Casale

Taormina

Castello di Calatabiano: Castello di Calatabiano, The Villa was built during the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th also known as Cruyllas Castle, is a magical venue century A.D. Although the owner of the villa is not known for certain, he with its privileged location between Mount Etna must have been someone of great wealth and importance. A leading and the Alcantara river valley, splendid panoramic theory is that this was the country retreat of Maximianus Herculeus, who views and the elegance and design of its halls was Emperor of the western part of the Roman Empire between 285 and and lounges. Enclosed between the walls of the 305 A.D. It is especially noteworthy for the richness and quality of the castle is the whole history of the Mediterranean. A mosaics which decorate almost every room; they are the finest mosaics succession of peoples and cultures that, fighting for in situ anywhere in the Roman world. Lunch will be served at Villa delle the strategic control of the territory through the fortress, have contributed Meraviglie which is typical of 18th century aristocratic houses. After lunch to its development and enlargement during the course of the centuries: we browse the collection exhibited inside the museum of Villa delle from the Greeks to the Byzantines to the Arabs and the Normans until the Meravigle which includes statuary, furniture, books, paintings and ancient settlement of the Cruyllas Family, during the Aragonese Kingdom period, prints. when the castle reached the period of its maximum splendour. Day 4 Riviera dei Ciclopi. Enjoy a morning at leisure to relax at our hotel. We will meet early this afternoon and drive along the coastal area called The Itinerary Cyclops Riviera where you can almost picture the Cyclops of Homeric myth living in the peculiar landscape. A stop will be made at the tiny Aci Day 1 London to Catania, Sicily. Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive at Catania Castello, a charming fishing village dominated by a Norman castle, the airport and transfer to the Una Hotel Palace for a seven night stay. Meet village of Aci Trezza and Acireale, the largest one of the three villages later this evening for welcome dinner and drinks at the hotel. with the magnificent Gothic cathedral on the hillside. Looking out to sea, you can see Faraglioni, offshore jagged rock formations said to be broken Day 2 Catania. Catania is a wonderful combination of ancient and modern off Mount Etna by Cyclops and flung into the sea to stop Ulysses and his with a history which is inextricably linked to the formidable form of Mount men from escaping in their ships. We arrive at Castello di Calatabiano Etna looming over the city. This morning we join our guide for a stroll where we will have a guided tour of the castle. London Festival Opera will through the main area of the city and see the Baroque Cathedral with perform for us at this magnificent setting followed by a cocktail reception St. Agatha’s Chapel, Piazza Duomo with the City Hall, the “Fontana dell’ and dinner on the terrace. Elefante” built by using ancient decorative elements such as the lava of Mount Etna. A visit to the colourful fish market will give us the opportunity Day 5 Syracuse. Our morning tour will allow us to discover one of the few to experience the daily life of the town. We will continue through cities in the world to have received the accolade of having two UNESCO Via Crociferi, one of the most significant places for Catania Baroque World Heritage sites, for its Greek remains and its Baroque masterpieces. architecture and stop at Piazza Stesicoro, one of the main squares in order Syracuse, which was founded by the Greeks in 734 B.C., had by the fifth to admire the monument to Vincenzo Bellini, the great Italian Romantic century become a political and military power all over the Mediterranean. composer who was born here. After a relaxing afternoon at leisure we will Our first stop will be the Neapolis archaeological park where we will admire meet in the early evening in the lobby and take a short stroll to Lene Eventi some of the remains of Greek Syracuse. Founded in the 8th century B.C. for our first performance by London Festival Opera which will be followed by the inhabitants of Corinth, the city became one of the richest and most by a cocktail reception and dinner. powerful in the Mediterranean. The “Latomia del Paradiso” or Paradise Quarry (an ancient stone quarry) and the famous “Orecchio di Dionisio” Day 3 Piazza Armenina. This morning we drive to Piazza Armenina, where (Ear of Dionysius), so named by Caravaggio, all date from this period of the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage site is situated. splendour. We continue to the island of Ortigia, the oldest inhabited part Catania Cathedral of Syracuse

of the city that juts out into the sea. Here we will be able to admire the expansion in the 2nd century), the theatre is the second largest of its kind Arethusa Spring, the place where the tragic love story between a nymph in Sicily. After some free time to shop for local handicrafts strolling through and a hunter was consummated. We walk through the narrow, cobbled the narrow streets we will return to our hotel. Early this evening we will meet streets to the Piazza Duomo, a Baroque jewel where, once again, the in the lobby and walk to the Palazzo Biscari for our farewell performance by ancient history of this city becomes tangible: the cathedral was built on the London Festival Opera followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. remains of the Temple of Athena (the Doric columns of which are still visible today). Relax this afternoon at the hotel or explore independently. Day 8 Catania to London. Check out from our hotel and transfer to Catania airport for our scheduled flight to London. Day 6 Mount Etna & Barone di Villagrande Estate. Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe currently standing at 3329 metres is in an almost constant state of eruption. The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain and the broad Plain of Catania to the south. Upon arrival at Prices per person Based on double occupancy Crateri Silvestri which is approximately 2000 metres above sea level, we will walk along a comfortable path from where there is a wonderful view of Classic Twin: £2295 Classic Twin for sole use: £2995 the coast and then take a stroll on the lava stream with our guide. We will Executive Twin: £2495 Executive Twin for sole use: £3295 continue inland through the attractive countryside holdings where we can Economy class scheduled air travel, seven nights accommodation admire the wine cultivations covering the foot of the fertile volcano. The Price Includes: at the Una Hotel Palace on bed and breakfast basis, lunch on days 3 and 6, Barone di Villagrande Estate is owned by the Nicolosi family whose history Welcome Dinner on day 1, cocktail receptions and dinner on days 2, 4 and is traced back to the 18th century when the Roman Emperor Charles VI 7, three performances by London Festival Opera performances, excursions, gave Don Carmelo Nicolosi, the title Barone di Villagrande and a series entrance fees, transfers, tour manager, local tour guides, airport taxes.. of related privileges. Our visit will include a guided tour of the cellar and Not Included: Travel insurance, gratuities. winery and a tasting of some of their prestigious wines. After our tour we will enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch at the estate and some free time before returning to the hotel. London Festival Opera

Day 7 Taormina. The picturesque town of Taormina enjoys a magnificent position on a terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea on the eastern coast of Sicily and still retains its Medieval character. During our morning excursion we will discover the historical centre of the town including Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the bustling main street, Corso Umberto overlooked by flower- filled balconies and with wonderful views out to the Gulf of Naxos. We pass Corvaja Palace and then continue to the impressive Greek Theatre which due to its superb acoustics is still in use for open-air performances in summer. It is the most important and best preserved ancient monument in Taormina with a capacity of 10,000 and one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily. The theatre is built most part of brick and is therefore probably of Roman origins although the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek, rather than Roman, theatres. With a diameter of 109 metres (after an UNA HOTEL PALACE, CATANIA For our stay in Sicily, we will be based at the Una Hotel Palace. A prestigious building dating back to the early 1900s, the hotel is situated in the artistic and commercial heart of Catania. The restoration project for the hotel was carried out in the view of maintaining the elegant Sicilian style and traditional cultural heritage. The hotel provides 94 rooms, fitness centre, Turkish bath, roof garden, panoramic terrace with restaurant and American bar.

Your Accommodation Your Dining White is the dominant colour in all 94 rooms. Walls and curtains are white, The UNA Hotel Palace has two large restaurants serving Sicilian specialities while the furniture is a modern version of dark oak classic furniture, with and fresh fish as well as a wide selection of wines from their cellars to enjoy hints of Arab/Norman styles and fine majolica inlay by Militello. These with your meal. The Etnea Roof, “à la carte” restaurant, is on the 7th floor. exclusive majolicas depict scenes where an Arabesque style mingles with From here you can enjoy a unique and spectacular view of the roofs of the typical Caltagirone designs. All rooms offer a minibar, satellite television city as well as the outline of Mount Etna to the north and a glimpse of the with Sky channels, radio and air-conditioning. The bathrooms feature sea to the south. The UNA Restaurant is situated on the first floor and, in a bathtub/shower, hair-dryer and toiletries. Executive rooms are more keeping with the tradition of old city buildings, looks out onto an internal spacious than the classic rooms with armchairs and classic style balconies courtyard of lava stone. The UNA Palace Hotel has two delightful bars, the overlooking via Etnea. In addition Executive rooms offer complimentary UNA Café, perfect for a coffee break or as a meeting point and the Roof internet connection and ‘on request’ bathrobe and slippers. Garden with a unique view of Mount Etna and the city rooftops. Piazza Armenina

2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover image: View from Taormina