Essential Sicily Taormina, Siracusa & Palermo

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Essential Sicily Taormina, Siracusa & Palermo ESSENTIAL SICILY TAORMINA, SIRACUSA & PALERMO JANUARY 9-23, 2017 TOUR LEADER: DR JENI RYDE Essential Sicily Overview Taormina, Siracusa Sicily’s history and culture are a unique meld of Mediterranean & Palermo civilizations, encompassing ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman periods, as well as more recent Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Spanish inhabitation. The setting for this long and distinctive history is unmatched – Tour dates: January 9-23, 2017 the towering volcano of Mount Etna which dominates the east coast, rich rolling hillsides in the interior and rugged limestone cliffs along the coast. Tour leader: Dr Jeni Ryde Very few places can compare with Sicily for the sheer diversity and beauty of its sites, all within a relatively compact area. Tour Price: $7,250 per person, twin share This 15-day journey has been designed to showcase the main cultural Single Supplement: $1,620 for sole use of attractions of the island. See Greek temples, Norman mosaics, Arab double room architecture, and visit some of the lesser-known but equally impressive small towns. The itinerary commences with two nights in Taormina, for two Booking deposit: $500 per person centuries a celebrated European holiday spot. We then progress in a broadly historical sequence, taking in the major Greek sites along the east Recommended airline: Emirates and south coasts, before moving on to the predominantly Arab and Norman world of Palermo and the north coast. Maximum places: 20 The tour has all the characteristics of an Academy Travel tour – stays in Itinerary: Taormina (2 nights), Siracusa carefully selected hotels, background talks before site visits and a (5 nights) and Palermo (7 nights) maximum group size of just 20. Date published: March 31, 2016 There are plenty of options for extending your travel, with extra stays in Rome, at Taormina or a Malta Extension Tour before the main trip, all easily arranged. Your tour leader Dr Jeni Ryde is a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, where she completed her PhD focusing on the Renaissance, heritage tourism and museology. She has a wide-ranging knowledge of European history, art and architecture, and has travelled extensively through Italy. Jeni speaks fluent Italian and Spanish. For Jeni, exploration of southern Italy is a particular passion. “The breadth and depth of its history and culture are extraordinary. Not only can outstanding monuments and works of art be seen but the wonderful climate and beautiful scenery also make the south a truly enjoyable experience: a mini paradise for the discerning traveller.” Enquiries and Since joining Academy Travel in 2011 Jeni has led many tours and always bookings receives great feedback. One tour participant has noted that she is “an excellent guide, knowledgeable, helpful and pretty unflappable,” and Jeni For further information and to particularly enjoys going out of her way to uncover a wonderful new secure a place on this tour restaurant, or a fascinating unexplored museum to visit. As another please contact Hannah traveller has commented, “Apart from the tour being well organised, Jeni Kleboe at Academy Travel on was wonderfully knowledgeable and such a fun person to be with,” and 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 her energy and enthusiasm are certainly a welcome addition to any (outside Sydney) or email touring program! [email protected]. au The Doric temple of Segesta THE Ancient TEMPLE OF Segesta Nothing can prepare you for your first sighting of this beautiful temple. A mere photo just cannot do justice to the majestic setting and the mysterious quality of the site: the sound of the birds, the taste of the air, the perfume of the plants and trees, the ever-present sea breeze. Many writers, poets and artists have marvelled at this temple and its beautiful environment, with views to the distant sea. In her wonderful memoir about life in Sicily, On Persephone’s Island , Mary Taylor Simeti observes: As we ease our way around the hairpin turns, the constantly shifting perspective on the temple across the narrow valley underlines the essential, exceptional equilibrium of this structure, so solid, so deeply rooted to its hill, yet so close to the ideal of harmony that it almost seems to levitate, otherworldly, poised just above the earth on some divine and invisible hand. Segesta’s evocative position, nestled halfway up a prominent hill, raises many questions. Where is this place? Who were its inhabitants? Why was such a magnificent Grecian temple built here? And what happened to the people? One of the beauties of Segesta is that there are few answers to such questions, the mystery contributing to its enigmatic attraction. The town of Segesta is situated on the edge of a ravine in north-eastern Sicily and overlooks the Gulf of Castellammare, the ancient city’s port town. The Elymians settled here, migrating to Sicily perhaps from eastern Anatolia. Another legend holds that they were survivors of the Trojan War, brought to Sicily by Aeneas. Their settlement thrived – growing as high perhaps as 10,000 – and the Elymians founded another city, the equally enigmatic Erice, dedicated to the cults of Astarte, Aphrodite and Venus (all incarnations of the same deity). Both cities enjoy spectacular settings , perched on the sides of mountains and looking towards the sea. While there are obvious defensive advantages to such a choice, I like to imagine that the Elymian people founded their cities here as the result of their highly developed aesthetic sensibility. They certainly were a sophisticated people: as the Greeks colonised Sicily, the Elymians easily absorbed their culture and there is no better example of this fusion than the temple of Segesta. It was possibly built around 426 BCE to impress an Athenian delegation whose protection Segesta was seeking against nearby Selinunte. For unknown reasons it remained unfinished: there is no fluting on its columns, the haulage blocks are still in place, and the pediment has no sculptural frieze. And yet the temple stands, an enduring monument to the ingenuity of this Sicilian people. Later, Segesta would become Roman and the archaeological site preserves another spectacular secret. Carved into the mountain high above the temple is a magnificent theatre dating to the 3rd century BCE. It boasts near-perfect acoustics, seating for about 3000 people and looks towards the sea. Definitely an opportunity for a song or two! Tour Highlights Taormina, Sicily’s most stunning town, perched high between Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano, and the Ionian Sea Exceptional Greek and Roman archaeological sites in Siracusa, Agrigento and Segesta Exuberant 'Sicilian Baroque' architecture in Siracusa, Palazzo Acreide, Noto and Modica Spectacular 4th-century mosaics in the Roman villa at Piazza Armerina Agrigento, home to Sicily’s most impressive Greek ruins Remarkable medieval Arabo-Norman architecture of Palermo UNESCO World-Heritage mosaics of Monreale and the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, undertaken by Byzantine masters for their Norman rulers Private visit to Palazzo Lanza Tomasi di Lampedusa, hosted by the owners Sicily’s excellent wines and Arab-influenced cuisine The benefits of low-season travel with fewer visitors and mild weather Above: Taormina’s Graeco-Roman theatre Above: the striking facade of Siracusa Cathedral Above: mosaics in Villa Romana, Piazza Armerina Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D. Monday, January 9 Arrive Taormina Meet your tour leader Dr Jeni Ryde on arrival at Catania airport to commence the tour. Transfer together by private coach to our hotel in Taormina. In the early evening we meet for welcome drinks and a light dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Villa Diodoro, Taormina (D) Tuesday, January 10 Taormina and Mount Etna The resort town of Taormina offers a breathtaking landscape and outstanding archaeology. After a talk in the hotel we stroll through the town to the majestic Greco-Roman Theatre, where Mount Etna serves as a dramatic backdrop. Above: the Graeco-Roman theatre, near the cliff top resort town of Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and most spectacular Taormina offers spectacular views towards Mt Etna volcano and is still active. The land around the volcano offers rich soil, good for the production of the local wine Etna Below: an aerial view of historic Ortigia island; and the Greek theatre in Rosso. We head to a renowned local winery for lunch and a Syracuse wine tasting, taking a tour of the cantina and vineyards before returning to Taormina in the later afternoon. Overnight Taormina (B, L and wine tasting) Wednesday, January 11 Palazzolo Acreide The UNESCO World Heritage site of Palazzolo Acreide combines an archaeological Greek heritage with fine examples of baroque architecture. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and, around 664-663 BCE, Corinthian settlers founded Akrai. We visit the archaeological ruins before continuing on to the island of Ortigia – the historic centre of ancient Siracusa and today also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The picturesque island of Ortigia is home to temples, castles, palazzi, churches and a bustling market. This evening we enjoy a dinner together at an excellent local restaurant. Overnight Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel, Siracusa (B, D) Thursday, January 12 Ancient Siracusa Siracusa was the most important Greek city of Antiquity, a formidable competitor of Athens. Today we explore the area with a local guide, visiting the main archaeological sites of the town. Highlights of our visit include the famed theatre of Siracusa, the altar of Hieron II, and the ancient quarries as well as the recently discovered Byzantine-era Jewish baths which are over 1,500 years old. We also visit the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia to admire Caravaggio's The Burial of St Lucy. In the later afternoon we’ll visit the Museo Aretuseo dei Pupi, housing a collection of traditional Sicilian puppets, followed by a performance of puppetry at the adjoining theatre.
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