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SPECIAL OFFER -SAVE £200 WONDERS OF PER PERSON SICILY & THE AMALFI COAST AN EXPLORATION OF SICILY & THE AMALFI COAST ABOARD THE MS SERENISSIMA 24TH SEPTEMBER TO 4TH OCTOBER & 4TH TO 14TH OCTOBER* 2021 Taormina Naples Portoferraio he island of Sicily has an incredible wealth of treasures and a geography which lends itself beautifully to exploration by sea with most points of interest located close to the coast. Owing Naples Positano T Amalfi to its benevolent climate and superb strategic position, Sicily has been coveted, fought over and ITALY colonised numerous times with the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Byzantines and Bourbons having all made their mark. During our voyage aboard the MS Serenissima we will discover AEOLIAN ISLANDS Sicily’s rich heritage which is the result of so many invading civilisations. Stromboli Lipari Palermo From magnificent Doric temples to great Byzantine cathedrals and bizarrely styled villas, there Messina SICILYPiazza Taormina Armerina is so much to explore during our voyage which we have timed for September and October Porto Empedocle Noto Syracuse when the crowds of high summer will have departed and the temperatures will be pleasant Licata Ragusa for our guided tours. We finish our voyage by sailing across to mainland Italy where we Pozzallo visit beautiful Positano, considered one of the prettiest towns along the Amalfi coast and the Valletta MALTA magnificent site of Herculaneum. The Itinerary Guest Speakers Day 1 London to Valletta, Malta. Fly by scheduled flight to Malta. On th Dr Steve Kershaw – 24 September 2021 Departure arrival transfer to the MS Serenissima Dr Steve Kershaw is a tutor in Classics for Oxford University Department for Continuing and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner Education, an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society (ex- NADFAS), and lectures for the Victoria as we sail this evening. and Albert Museum’s Early Medieval: 300 - 1250 and The Classical World and Classical Revivals courses. His publications include, A Brief Guide to Classical Civilization, A Brief History of the Day 2 Porto Empedocle, Sicily. This Roman Empire and Barbarians: Rebellion and Resistance to Rome. Steve is the author and tutor morning we will explore the Valle dei for Oxford University’s online courses in Greek Mythology, The Fall of Rome, and Minoans and Templi, a series of Doric temples and Mycenaeans. In 2016 he appeared as an Expert Contributor to The History Channel’s ‘Barbarians the most captivating of Sicilian Greek Rising’ series, and he has travelled widely in the world of the Greeks and Romans, both physically remains, a grouping unique outside and intellectually. Steve is also an honors graduate of the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, and Greece. Surrounded in greenery is regarded as one of the finest jazz double bass players in the UK. of olive and almond trees, admire the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Dioscuri Temple, the th David Stuttard – 4 October 2021 Departure Temple of Olympic Jove and the David took an MA in Classics from St. Andrews University. He subsequently taught Classics for Temple of Hercules. There will be eleven years in Edinburgh, St. Andrews and York. David is a prolific author of books on classical the option to visit the Valley of the history and literature. In 1993, David founded the theatre company, Actors of Dionysus (aod), to Temples and the Museum or just the perform productions of Greek drama throughout the UK and beyond. An accredited lecturer for Valley of the Temples. After lunch The Arts Society, David is an energetic champion of classics and writes for publications such as on board the afternoon is free to Minerva, The British Museum Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. David has served on the explore Agrigento. Council of the Roman Society and regularly chairs programmes of lectures on Greek tragedy. He speaks at a wide range of venues including The British Museum and The Ashmolean Museum, Day 3 Licata for Piazza Armerina. events including literary festivals such as Oxford and Cheltenham and forum discussions. In From the port of Licata we travel October 2018, David was elected a Fellow of Goodenough College, London. inland to what is regarded as the www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Naples ‘Ear of Dionysius’ Ragusa Temple of Concordia, Agrigento finest Roman site in Sicily, the magnificent palaces, the splendid guided tour will include exploring punctuated with ornate Baroque Imperial Roman Villa of Casale, church of San Giuseppe and the characteristic alleys before visiting churches, domed Arab mosques and which is located close to Piazza Dome of San Giorgio, built in the the 15th century Palazzo Corvaja and the glittering Byzantine mosaics that Armerina amidst wooded rolling 18th century on the site where the impressive Greek Theatre from reveal a unique and diverse heritage. countryside. This huge villa was built an older church stood before the where there are marvellous views We visit the impressive 12th century in the 3rd century and has some earthquake of 1693. over the town and coast. Those who cathedral which houses the royal stunning floor mosaics. Our return wish to spend longer here will be tombs of Henri VI and King Ruggiero. drive takes us through the province Day 5 Syracuse. Syracuse was able to take lunch independently Return to the ship for lunch and this of Caltanissetta, recognised today founded by the Greeks in 734 in one of the local restaurants and afternoon either enjoy some time as one of the best winemaking BC and by the 5th century was spend an afternoon exploring at to explore independently or join an regions in Italy thanks above all a political and military power leisure before our coach returns to excursion to Monreale Cathedral, to its production of high quality, throughout the Mediterranean Messina. Alternatively, return to the said to be the most beautiful prestigious red wines including Nero which rivalled Athens as the largest ship for lunch and enjoy free time in Norman Church in Italy, designed D’Avola. We will break our journey at and most beautiful city in the Greek Messina before we sail this evening. and completed by William the Good one of these vineyards and enjoy a world. This morning we will visit in 1174. With its thick walls and chance to sample some wine over a the Neapolis Archaeological Park Day 7 Lipari & Stromboli, powerful towers, the exterior looks Sicilian lunch. where we find a well preserved Aeolian Islands. We anchor off the like an austere fortress yet it is the Greek theatre with seats carved picturesque island of Lipari situated interior of this great cathedral which Day 4 Noto & Ragusa. From our from limestone. Paradise Quarry, in the Aeolian Islands off the north is its crowning glory. Here the large berth in Pozzallo we will explore now an attractive garden and coast of Sicily. Here we will find an nave, with its side aisles and grey the Baroque villages of Noto and orange grove, was the primary amazing collection of ruins from the granite columns set off the exquisite Ragusa. Built in 1703 Noto is a source of that limestone and is the prehistoric through to the Roman Byzantine mosaics on the walls above picturesque city located on the site of the curious ‘Ear of Dionysius,’ period. Lipari town is a thriving the arches. terraced slopes of Mount Iblei a vast grotto with an amplifying little place prettily located between among olive groves and almond resonance. Continuing to explore two harbours. After landing by Day 9 Amalfi & Positano, Italy. trees. A quiet walk along the the island of Ortigia we will find Zodiac, our morning tour includes From our anchorage in Amalfi we central streets will reveal the 18th the Temple of Apollo, considered a visit to the upper town set within will board local boats and take a century Palazzo Ducezio and some to be Sicily’s most ancient Doric fortress walls and a drive around cruise to Positano considered one of Baroque churches: San Francesco temple and the Baroque Cathedral, the volcano followed by a visit to the prettiest towns along the coast Immacolata, the cathedral, San erected over the remains of the the Archaeological Museum with where white Moorish style houses Carlo, Santa Chiara and the imposing Temple of Minerva. The afternoon its impressive relics from nearby cling to the slopes around a small Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, is free to explore independently excavations. Maybe stay in town sparkling bay. Spend some time built in 1737. We return to the before meeting this evening for a for lunch before we sail in the late exploring the streets and browsing MS Serenissima for lunch and this private concert in one of the town’s afternoon. Enjoy dinner anchored in some of Positano’s boutiques afternoon continue to charming palazzos accompanied by local food off the volcanic island of Stromboli. that sell the casual, locally made Ragusa. It has been included in the and wine. Please note that we will be at anchor cotton clothing the town is noted UNESCO World Heritage list for its today and will use the vessel’s for. We return to our private boat artistic architectural heritage with its Day 6 Messina for Taormina. From Zodiacs to transfer ashore. and transfer back to Amalfi. Flanked Baroque palaces, churches, squares, the nearby port of Messina we will by an old Saracen tower and a 12th stairways and winding narrow streets, visit Taormina, a walled town lying in Day 8 Palermo, Sicily. Arrive this century Capuchin monastery, Amalfi all of which create an evocative and the shadow of Mount Etna, Europe’s morning in the Sicilian capital of boasts a splendid cathedral dating ancient atmosphere.

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