MALTA & ART TOUR June 17 – 27, 2019 Tour Host: Ms. Pauline Chakmakjian Accredited Lecturer, The Arts Society

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Malta & Sicily Art Tour - June 17 – 27, 2019 Mgarr Harbor

MALTA & SICILY ART TOUR A New Cultural Discovery of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 2 Islands

Ms. Pauline Chakmakjian, Accredited Lecturer, The Arts Society The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily are June 20 Thu MALTA (GRAND HARBOR & MDINA) embellished not only with stunning scenery framed by After breakfast full day tour starting from the hotel to Sliema. Take azure blue waters and sunny skies but also by important a harbor cruise (90 min). Explore the 3 historical cities of Senglea, archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage sites. First we Vittoriosa and Cospicua. Enjoy the view of Fort St. Angelo. Transfer visit Malta, a tiny island chain famous for the mighty Knights of to Rabat for lunch at leisure. Then photo stops at Mdina , Malta, many of whom can be seen laid to rest under decorated, Mdina Main Gate, Bastion Square. Transfer to Mosta, visit the Mosta marble-inlaid tombstones in the exquisite Co-Cathedral of St. Church with its magnificent Dome and its “Miracle of Mosta. ” Tour John. This Cathedral, located in the Maltese capital of Valletta, the and tea at the delightful Palazzo Parisio House & Gardens. Back to 2018 European Capital of Culture is also home to Caravaggio’s the hotel, dinner and overnight. (B,D) masterpiece, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist. While the Knights of Malta provide the Maltese islands with a sense of courtliness and chivalry, archaeological excavations reveal the Mosta Church quieter and ancient side of the Maltese and its inhabitants as we will witness when visiting sites such as the mysterious Hypogeum. After seeing the several attractions with highlights such as the quaint sister island of Gozo, the “Three Cities” across the stunning Grand Harbor of Valletta and “the noble city” of Mdina, we visit Sicily to continue a fascination of things but now with some Norman and other touches. It is in Sicily we find an eclectic mix of some of the finest surviving ancient Greek temples and theatres, Roman floor mosaics and wall and mosaics by Byzantine craftsmen. Our stops in Sicily combine intricate feats of architecture with picturesque walks. Sicily and Malta not only have works by Caravaggio in common but they were historically intertwined in an important relationship being in close proximity to one another.

Tour Itinerary: June 21 Fri MALTA (VALLETTA) Departure for Valletta city center which is an UNESCO World June 17 Mon MALTA VALLETTA Heritage Site. Upper Barrakka Gardens, St. John Co-Cathedral + Arrival to Malta International Airport (MLA). Meet and greet, Caravaggio. Then visit the Grand Master’s Palace state room, transfer to your hotel. Check-in and briefing with your tour Grand Master’s armoury. Lunch at leisure. Visit the Ghar Dalam. leader. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Malta. (D) Back to the hotel, dinner and overnight. (B,D) June 18 Tue MALTA June 22 Sat MALTA – PALERMO Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour visiting Blue Grotto, Hagar After breakfast free time, then transfer to the airport. Flight to Qim Temple. Lunch at leisure. Visit Hypogeum and Tarxien Palermo. Arrive and short city orientation tour in Palermo. temples. Back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight. (B,D) Check-in to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Palermo. (B,D) June 19 Wed MALTA (GOZO) June 23 Sun PALERMO – Full day tour departing from the hotel with your bus. Crossing by Departure from your hotel to Monreale. Visit the Cathedral ferry from Cirkewwa port (20 min) which is considered the most beautiful Norman church in Sicily Arrive to Mgarr Harbor. Visit Ggantija Temple, the Cathedral & and a perfect harmony of Norman Romanesque architecture and Citadel in Victoria. Lunch at leisure in Xlendi. Free time. (*optional Byzantine craftsmanship. Back to Palermo. Walking tour of the visit Ayurvedic Spa in San Lawrenz). Crossing ferry from L-Mgarr old city center to see fine, Norman buildings in the capital of the port. Back to the hotel, dinner and overnight. (B,D) autonomous region of Sicily. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Malta & Sicily Art Tour - June 17 – 27, 2019 Museo Regionale la Biennale di Venezia la Biennale di

June 24 Mon PALERMO – MESSINA – TAORMINA Morning drive to Messina. Guided visit of the city center and the Reminder: 58th Venice Biennial dates are Museo Regionale to view paintings by Caravaggio. Lunch at leisure. May 11-Nov 24, 2019 Continue drive to Taormina. Check-in to the hotel. Dinner and You can plan a separate trip to Venice on overnight in Taormina. (B,D) your own to visit Venice Art Biennial. June 25 Tue TAORMINA Breakfast at your hotel. Guided visit of the ancient Theater built by Greeks and then enlarged by the Romans. And visit the city center. Enjoy the view of Mt.Etna. Enjoy the rest of the day in the LAND ONLY RATE: city or at the beach. Dinner and overnight in Taormina. (B,D) Per Person in Double Room June 26 Wed TAORMINA – SYRACUSE $6,890 After breakfast drive to Syracuse. Meet our guide and visit the Archaeological Park of Syracuse, the largest in all of Sicily and then $1,500 Single Room Supplement Roman amphitheater, which was used for gladiator fights. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon walking tour of the island Ortygia, INCLUDING the original city center of Syracuse during which we can see the Caravaggio in the church of St. Lucia alla Badia within the environs • 5 nights stay in Malta, 5 Star Radisson Blu Hotel https://www.radissonblu.com/it/stjuliansresort-malta or similar; of the . Afternoon free. Farewell dinner and • 2 nights stay in Palermo, 5 Star Hotel Villa Igiea https://villa-igiea.com/it/ or similar; overnight in Syracuse. (B,D) • 2 night stay in Taormina, 5 Star Grand Hotel San Pietro https://www.sanpietrotaormina.com or similar; • 1 night stay in Syracuse, 5 Star Grand Hotel Ortigia Taormina https://www.grandhotelortigia.it or similar; • 10 breakfasts; • 10 dinners in local restaurants or in hotels • Coach according to program (max 9 hours per day). • Flight tickets Malta / Palermo; • Ferry tickets in Malta; • English speaking guide according program (min 3 hours for half day tour and max 9 hours for full day tour); • English speaking assistance at airport at arrival to Malta and at arrival to Palermo; • Entrances to the mentioned in the program sites; • Headsets in Sicily; • Local taxes.

EXCLUDING

• Lunches and drinks at dinners; • Tips to guides and drivers; • Any items not listed under “Included items”.

June 27 Thu SYRACUSE – Departure PAYMENT PROCEDURE After breakfast check-out. Drive to the Baroque town of , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The as well DEPOSIT PAYMENT : $250 deposit per person as the other structures in the city exemplify FULL PAYMENT : March 29, 2019 with elaborate, architectural embellishments shining in golden You can make your payment from our secured link: (Visa & Master only) sandstone. Transfer to the Catania airport. Fly back home. (or https://secure.tutkutours.com/tours/190617ART extension to 58th Venice Biennial) (B)

Malta & Sicily Art Tour - June 17 – 27, 2019 N

W E MALTAPrepared by MAP

S Ramla Bay MĞARR Camino Hotel San Pinu Basilica Santa Maria Caves San Philip Bay COMINO TA’PINU XAGHRA Blue Lagoon Crafts Village Inland Sea Santa Maria Battery Azure Window Dahlet Qorrot Bay Gozo Ferry Line SAN LAWRENZ Santa Maria Tower Ta’Kola Windmil Ggantija Dahlet Qorrot Beach Dwejra Bay GOZO Temples Fungus Rock KERCEM NADUR VICTORIACraiq Hospital Sports Ground Armier Bay (RABAT) QALA CIRKEWWA Wardija Point FONTANA XEWKIJA Kemuna Tower XLENDI Qala Point GHAJNSIELEM Paradise Bay Xlendi Bay MUNXAR MĞARR SANNAT Mellieha Bay Fort Chambray Imğlebah Bay Camino Hotel Santa Maria Caves St. Paul’s Island Ta’Cenc Cliffs Gozo Ferry Line Blue Lagoon Qawra Point LEGEND MELLIEHA Anchor Bay Santa Maria Tower Santa Maria Battery Mistra Bay Religious Site QAWRA Salina Bay COMINO XEMXIJA St. Paul’s Bay Cruise Liner Terminal Mizieb

Simar Nature Diving Site Reserve BUĞIBBA Madliana Tower Hospital MANIKATA BURMARRAD Museum Golden Bay PEMBRONE BIDNIJA GHARGUR St. George’s Bay Mediterranean Prehistoric Site Dragonara Point Gnejma Bay SWIEQI PACEVILLE Sea Beach MĞARR Balluta Bay Scorba ZEBBIEGH NAXXAR Information Office Ta’Ragrat Temples IKLIN SAN GWANN SLIEMA MOSTA Tower Silema Ferry Malta University Marsamxett Harbour Manoel Island Scenic View BALZAN St John Karhedrale TAX’BIEX Bahrija Church MALTA LUA BIRKIRKARA Lady Carmel Fort Rinella Airport TA’KALI Fort Bingemma MSIDA VALLETTA Fort Ricasoli BAHRIJA MTARFA KALKARA Castle ATTARD VITTORIOSA Church of the Nativity of MDINA SANTA VENERA FLORIANA Maritime Museum Virgin Mary Inquisitor’s Palace Domus Romana HAMRUN XGHAJRA St. Paul’s Catacombs Waterfront COSPICUA QORMI RABAT St. Agatha’s Catacombs MARSA SENGLEA St. Paul’s Grotto Horse Race Track ZABBAR Marsa Sports Grounds PAOLA FGURA

ZONGOR Hypogeum Tarxieen Temples Marsascala Bay LUQA DINGLI Verdala Palace TARXIEN Bulebel MARSASCALA SANTA LUCIJA ZWJTUN Clapham Junction Buskett Garden SIĞĞIEWI St. Thomas Bay Malta International GHAXAQ Airport Mediterranean Dingli Cliffs Girgenti Palace KIRKOP MARSAXLOKK Sea MQABBA GUDJA Laferla Cross Masaxlokk Harbor Xrobb L-Ghağin QRENDI Fort St. Lucian SAFI BIRZEBBUĞA Mağar Qim Peter’s Pool

Mnajdra ZURRIEQ Fort Delimara Prepared by Ghar Lapsi Pretty Bay HALFAR Wied Malta Delimara Blue Grotto Wied Free Port