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The price includes: ENCHANTING This small-group journey was designed especially for the Museo Italo Americano by • Twelve nights hotel stay - 2 nights in Catania, 2 SICILY Alessandra Gardino, who won’t just take you nights in Val di Noto, 2 nights outside Agrigento, 2 March 17 - 30, 2016 to look at things - she will also introduce you nights in Marsala and 4 nights in Palermo to interesting local personalities, teach you • Meals: breakfast every day, either lunch or dinner to cook regional specialties and make sure every day including wine you leave Sicily with a very good idea about • Accommodation in comfortable four-star hotels and what it means to be Sicilian. country inns with private bathroom • All transportation in private deluxe motor coach Famous for its Greek and Roman ruins, with air conditioning fascinating history, exotic food and delicious • Tour leader throughout the trip wines, Sicily becomes even more interesting • Local guides where necessary each year during the week leading up to • Great cooking class in Taormina Easter. Ancient religious rites and customs • make the island come alive with soulful and • The price does not include: colorful festivals and unforgettable Easter • Personal expenses processions. • International airfare • Travel and medical insurance - please see optional Framing all of these attractions is the price for that blossoming of nature, full of fragrances, • Tips to guides and driver colors and incredible landscapes. • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary • Transfer upon arrival in Sicily or on departure from Sicily is so diverse that it feels much like Sicily - please see optional price for that a small continent. Your Sicilian sojourn will include a visit to Siracusa (the most Optional prices: important colony of ancient Greece), the Optional post departure insurance: $35 USD per person ancient Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina Optional cancellation insurance: $120 USD Museo Italo Americano with its stunning mosaics, the well preserved Optional transfer upon arrival in Sicily: $38 USD per Fort Mason Center Greek ruins at Agrigento and the amazing person Norman Cathedral of Monreale. 2 Marina Boulevard, Building C San Francisco, CA 94123 Phone: 415.673.2200 Fax: 415.673.2292 Email: [email protected] www.sfmuseo.org Day 0: Fly from the US to Catania, Sicily of Casale. This ancient Roman hunting lodge and Byzantine and Norman artistic styles, all framed March 17, 2016 beauty spa was well known among the Who’s Who by traditional Romanesque architecture. of the 4th century. You will have plenty of time to Sleep in Palermo Day 1: Catania - March 18 view the original mosaics that decorate the lodge’s After your arrival in Sicily, you will make your exercise rooms and baths. We will then make our Day 10: Easter Events of Piana degli Albanesi - Easter in way to your centrally located hotel - or will way to Agrigento. Sleep at a resort near Agrigento. March 27 be picked up at the airport (optional) by our Today we will visit the small village of Piana Enchanting driver. Day 6: Agrigento - March 23 degli Albanesi where you will hear sacred music have time to get over your jet-lag and enjoy Visit the Ancient Valley of the Temples, one of the narrating the passion of Christ and observe on your This own first some day of is the set highlights up so that of you this will richest archaeological areas of the world. Here a Greek-Orthodox rites along with other customs Sicily beautiful city. This evening you will meet your passionate and charismatic guide, known as “il and practices. Rare Greek-Albanian traditions are guide for a welcome talk and dinner. Sleep in professore”, will lead you among the remains of still alive here and the people dress in traditional Catania approximately 20 ancient temples including the Arberesh costumes. In the afternoon you will have March 17-March 30, 2016 Temple of Concord, Castor, Pollux and Hercule. some time on your own in Palermo. Day 2: Taormina - March 19 Sleep at a resort near Agrigento Sleep in Palermo This morning you will head to beautiful Price per person in double room Taormina, which is considered one of the Day 7: Marsala and Holy Thursday Procession Day 11: Cefalu` and Palermo - March 28 pearls of the Mediterranean Sea. In the - March 24 This morning we will discover Cefalu`, a quaint $3,895 USD - double room afternoon, we will take a walking tour that will You will continue north to Marsala for the Giovedi’ town famous for the beauty of its historical center. Single room supplement $680 USD include the city’s exquisite Greek theater. Sleep Santo (Holy Thursday) Procession. This is one We will visit Cefalu’s imposing Norman Cathedral in Catania. of the greatest and most colorful of the Island’s and intriguing Arab laundries. In the local Group size will not exceed 20 travelers, with a famed Easter Processions. You will also have time museum, you will marvel at the smallest painting minimum number of 10 Day 3: Siracusa - March 20 to sample some of the fantastic local Marsala wine. you will probably ever see: Portrait of a Stranger, Today we will explore Sicacusa, the ancient Sleep in Marsala by famed Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina. Deposit $500 USD payable to the Greek colony. The legends shared by our Sleep in Palermo Museo Italo Americano classically educated guide will bring our Day 8: Erice and Holy Friday Procession in walking tour alive. Later we will make our way Trapani - March 25 Day 12: Palermo - March 29 Reservation deadline is January 1, 2016 to the great archaeological park of Neapolis. This morning you will visit Erice, a delightful We will spend the morning visiting Palermo’s Sleep in Noto medieval village nestled on a 2,200 foot hill. greatest attractions including the recently FINAL PAYMENT February 1, 2016 Enjoy amazing almond pastries and Cannoli refurbished Palatine Chapel, Piazza Pretoria and Day 4: Modica and Noto - March 21 that complement the breathtaking views over narrow alleys packed with merchandise from all If you are interested in joining this tour, please fill Today you will tour the “Val di’ Noto”, a valley the Egadi islands below. In the afternoon you corners of the Mediterranean. This afternoon, in below and return to the Museo. Upon receipt, so beautiful and unique that it was declared a will behold the Mysteries of Trapani, the oldest you will go back in time to enjoy a special Sicilian additional information will be mailed to you. World Heritage site in 2002. We will admire continuously running religious event in Europe! puppet show. The Teatro dei Pupi conveys ideals the baroque jewel of Noto, an amazing city The procession has been happening right here for which are dear to Sicilian people and are related NAME ______built at the end of the 17th century after an nearly 400 years! Sleep in Marsala to the legendary story of Charlemagne’s knights. It earthquake destroyed Old Noto almost entirely. is unlike any theater on earth. Sleep in Palermo ADDRESS ______Sleep in Noto Day 9: Monreale - March 26 This morning we will make our way to one of the Day 13: Palermo - March 30 ______Day 5: Piazza Armerina - March 22 artistic highlights of our trip: the mosaics at the This morning you can either start your extension We will drive across scenic landscapes to the Norman Cathedral in Monreale. This amazing in Sicily, or you can make your way to the airport PHONE ______Piazza Armerina and the Imperial Roman Villa monument is a dazzling mixture of Arab,
of Palermo for your flight back to the States.