Sicily Walk ISLAND CROSSROADS of the MEDITERRANEAN
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STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Sicily Walk ISLAND CROSSROADS of the MEDITERRANEAN May 23 to June 3, 2015 a program of the stanford alumni association STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY When I first visited the remarkable isle of Sicily, I realized that only then could I call myself a true Italophile! At the crossroads of Mediterranean trade routes, Sicily has been occupied for more than two milliennia by waves of foreign invaders, from the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans to the Arabs and Normans. Each succeeding civilization has left its artistic and cultural legacy, a confluence of styles and traditions that we can witness today. Traveling over land and by sea with our faculty leader Barbara Pitkin and historian Peter Watson, we explore the legacy of these past conquerors while savoring Sicily’s bounty of olive oils, wines and i dolci during our al fresco picnic lunches. Buon viaggio! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights TEST the amazing DINE al fresco (i.e., MARVEL at the mosaics acoustics in the cave enjoy a picnic) amid of Monreale Cathedral, one known as the Ear of wildflowers overlooking of the greatest examples Dionysus in Siracusa. the 2,500-year-old Doric of Norman art and temple at Segesta. architecture in the world. COVER: GREEK TEMPLE, SEGESTA Isola Stromboli AEOLIAN Isola Panarea Tyrrhenian ISLANDS Sea Isola Lipari Isola Vulcano I TALY Milazzo Palermo Cefalù Segesta Mount Taormina Etna S t r SICILY a Ionian it Catania o f Sea Si cil y Pantalica Siracusa M e d i e a Monti t e r r a n e a n S Iblei limestone cave carved out of has its own private beach. Itinerary the hillside and shaped like a HOTEL VILLA SANT’ANDREA (B,L,D) human ear. DES ETRANGERS (B,D) Option I: approx. 3 hours of walking SATURDAY & SUNDAY, City walking Option II: approx. 5 hours of walking MAY 23 & 24 THURSDAY, MAY 28 DEPART U.S. / TUESDAY, MAY 26 TAORMINA / CATANIA, SICILY / SIRACUSA / PANAREA, SIRACUSA PANTALICA AEOLIAN ISLANDS Depart on overnight flights to Travel inland for a hike through Drive north to the coast at Sicily. Arrive at Catania airport the ancient settlement and Milazzo and board a hydrofoil on Sunday and transfer to our necropolis of Pantalica. Situated to reach the island of Panarea, hotel in the center of Siracusa in a river gorge on the Monti one of the superlative Aeolian where we spend our first three Iblei plateau, Pantalica was likely Islands. Upon arrival at our nights. This evening, gather at the home of the Sicel settlers, hotel, walk along the coast to a our hotel for a welcome recep- who arrived in Sicily from the Bronze Age settlement perched tion. DES ETRANGERS Italian peninsula about 1200 dramatically above the Mediter- B.C.E. After a delectable picnic ranean. Originally settled by the MONDAY, MAY 25 lunch, continue our walk on Mycenaean people, Panarea SIRACUSA the plateau before returning to At the height of its power, was later an important mari- Siracusa. DES ETRANGERS (B,L) time settlement of the Roman Siracusa, the most important Option I: approx. 3.5 hours of walking city of Magna Graecia, had Option II: approx. 6 hours of walking Empire. RAYA HOTEL (B,L,D) an estimated population of Option I: approx. 2.5 hours of walking 200,000 and was, according WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 Option II: approx. 3.5 hours of walking to Cicero, “the most beautiful SIRACUSA / MOUNT FRIDAY, MAY 29 [Greek city] of them all.” Spend ETNA / TAORMINA PANAREA / the day meandering through Hike on the slopes of still-active VULCANO / LIPARI Siracusa and exploring the Mount Etna as our full-day walk takes us past smoking A private vessel takes us to the stunning cathedral, built around island of Vulcano for a half-day the ruins of an ancient Doric fumaroles and steam vents. The eerie world of lava and ash exploration. Climb to the top of temple. Admire the wonderful the eponymous volcano and baroque buildings on the tiny makes for an extraordinary day as we explore the terrain with walk among sulphur fumaroles offshore island of Ortygia, an- while taking in dramatic views cient Greece’s main settlement our experienced vulcanologist. Continue by road along the of the surrounding islands. In in Sicily. Back on the mainland, the afternoon sail to Lipari, the visit the Greek theater, Roman coast this evening to the lovely hillside city of Taormina. Our largest island in the volcanic altar and Orecchio di Dion- archipelago that sits in the sea ìsio (or “Ear of Dionysus”), a hotel, located on the coast, VIEW OF LIPARI ISLAND FROM VULCANO ISLAND Isola Stromboli AEOLIAN Isola Panarea Tyrrhenian ISLANDS Sea Isola Lipari Isola Vulcano I TALY Milazzo Palermo Cefalù Segesta Mount Taormina Etna S t r SICILY a Ionian it Catania o f Sea Si cil y Pantalica Siracusa M Monti e d i t e r n S e a r a n e a Iblei CAPTION between Vesuvius and Etna. SUNDAY, MAY 31 conquest of Sicily. Walk through Visit the archaeological mu- PANAREA / PALERMO vineyards to the magnificent seum, then return to Panarea Return to Sicily by hydrofoil and temple of Segesta, one of by boat. RAYA HOTEL (B,L,D) continue by road to Cefalù for the finest Doric temples and Option I: approx. 2.5 hours of walking lunch. This ancient town is the monuments still standing of Option II: approx. 3 hours of walking locale of one of the finest Nor- the ancient world. Savor a man cathedrals in Sicily. From picnic lunch overlooking the SATURDAY, MAY 30 here continue by coach to the temple before exploring the site. PANAREA / capital of Sicily, Palermo, and Gather this evening for a fare- STROMBOLI check in to our centrally located well reception before dinner to Spend a leisurely morning on hotel. Enjoy leisure time before celebrate our Sicilian adventure. the island of Panarea before dinner to explore this dynamic CENTRALE PALACE (B,L,D) visiting the nearby island of city. CENTRALE PALACE (B,L,D) Option I: approx. 2.5 hours of walking Stromboli, whose active volcano Option II: approx. 4 hours of walking erupts about every 20 minutes. MONDAY, JUNE 1 Upon arrival, stroll around PALERMO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 parts of the island to view the This morning tour Palermo, PALERMO / U.S. volcano. Enjoy an on-deck starting at the Quattro Canti After breakfast, transfer to the dinner aboard our boat before fountains. Our city walk also airport for return flights to the taking a nighttime cruise around takes us to the Norman U.S. (B) the island. Witness Stromboli’s cathedral and Martorana eruptions as the sun sets, an church. In the afternoon incredible symphony of colors visit the stunning cathedral unmatched anywhere. Retreat at Monreale, with its superb to our hotel in Panarea for the frescoed nave, one of evening. Alternatively take a the greatest examples strenuous hike to the very top of Norman art and ar- of the mountain to watch the chitecture in existence. eruptions from above during CENTRALE PALACE (B,L) the late evening. Later descend City walking to a local hotel. This is an unforgettable experience that TUESDAY, JUNE 2 involves spending the night PALERMO / on the island of Stromboli. SEGESTA RAYA HOTEL/OR LA SIRENETTA (B,L,D) Drive west from Palermo Option I: approx. 2.5 hours of walking to the town of Calatafimi, the Option II: approx. 6 hours of walking starting point of Garibaldi’s TRADITIONAL SICILIAN VILLAGE ALLEY CAPPELLA PALATINA, PALERMO WALK OPTIONS Trip Information In order for you to fully enjoy this remarkable region of Italy, we’re offering two options for many of the DATES countryside walking days. All walks are led by May 23 to June 3, 2011 (12 days) experienced leaders. Option I is a relatively easy walk of between three SIZE and six miles over gentle terrain that allows you Limited to 32 participants time to enjoy the scenery at a more leisurely pace. Option II is a longer, more strenuous walk, or hike, COST* of between five and 12 miles that allows more ad- $8,995 per person, double occupancy venturous walkers to explore the higher areas and $11,195 per person, single occupancy to see the wilder parts of the countryside. These *Association nonmembers add $200 per person walking trails can be rugged, rocky and steep, and have altitude gains and/or losses of between 1,000 and 3,000 feet. On some days Option II walkers INCLUDED may be asked to carry their own water, supplies 10 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations and packed lunch. 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions Bottled water on excursions Gratuities to guides, drivers WHAT TO EXPECT and porters for all group activities All tours We consider this to be a moderately strenuous and and excursions as described in the itinerary physically demanding program, depending in part Transfers and baggage handling on program on your choice of the two walk options offered on arrival and departure days Minimal medical, most days. Walks range from approximately three accident and evacuation insurance Educational to 12 miles in length. Several of our daily excursions program with lecture series and pre-departure might be considered by some participants to be materials, including recommended reading list, hikes rather than walks, but we make every effort a selected book, map and travel information not to schedule any hikes that are beyond the aver- Services of our professional tour manager to age ability of our walkers. If you are in good shape assist you throughout the program and active, you should have no problem keeping up with the group.