JEWELS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

SICILY AND THE WITH OPTIONAL 5-DAY EXTENSION

OCTOBER 8 – 24, 2021 TOUR LEADER: DR KATHLEEN OLIVE

SICILY & THE Overview AEOLIAN ISLANDS Sicily’s history and culture is a unique meld of Mediterranean civilizations, encompassing ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman periods, as well as Tour dates: October 8 – 24, 2021 more recent Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Spanish inhabitation. The setting for this long and distinctive history is unmatched – the towering Tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive volcano of which dominates the east coast, rich rolling hillsides in the interior and rugged limestone cliffs along the coast. Tour Price: $9,890 pp, twin share (land only) The nearby Aeolian – or ‘windy’ – Islands, celebrated in the writing of Single Supplement: $2,520 for sole use of Homer, retain much of the character of the ancient Mediterranean. They double room are an ideal travel destination for those interested in the broad span of Mediterranean history and culture and inspired by majestic scenery. Booking deposit: $1,000 per person This 17-day journey has been carefully designed to showcase the main Recommended airline: Emirates attractions of the islands – Greek temples, Norman/Byzantine mosaics and Arab architecture – but also to take you to some of the lesser-known Maximum places: 20 but equally impressive towns and natural features of the islands, such as the architecture of the island’s south east and the volcanic island Itinerary: Siracusa (4 nights), Agrigento (2 of Stromboli. nights), (4 nights), (3 nights), The itinerary progresses in a broadly historical sequence, commencing (3 nights) with the major Greek sites of Siracusa, Agrigento and Selinunte, before moving on to the predominantly Arab and Norman world of Palermo and Date published: May 14, 2020 the north coast. Three days are then spent in the Aeolian Islands, exploring Lipari, and taking a cruise to Panarea and Stromboli. Lipari remains off the path of mass tourism, and maintains much of its traditional Mediterranean atmosphere. The journey concludes with three nights in Taormina, a celebrated European holiday spot for two centuries. The journey has all the characteristics of an Academy Travel tour – mostly three and four-night stays in small, friendly hotels which have been personally inspected by our staff, background talks before site visits and a maximum group size of just 20. There are plenty of options for extending your travel, with extra stays in at the beginning or end of the tour. You may also like to take the optional pre-tour Malta Extension (see further details at the end of this itinerary).

Your tour leader

Dr Kathleen Olive is a literary and cultural historian with close to 15 years’ experience leading tours to , Spain, France, Turkey, Japan and the United States. She has a strong personal interest in the visual arts, interior design, fashion history and Enquiries contemporary fiction. and bookings Kathleen holds a BA with first class Honours and a PhD, both from the Department of Italian Studies at the University of For further information and to Sydney. For a number of years she worked as a lecturer at the secure a place on this tour University of Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney, please contact Hannah teaching Italian language, literature and history. Kathleen continues to Kleboe at Academy Travel on teach, as a national lecturer for the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 Society (ADFAS), and in adult education courses in Sydney. (outside Sydney) or email [email protected]

Tour Highlights

SICILIAN BAROQUE Sicilian Baroque is the distinctive form of which evolved in Sicily, in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was part of the . The style is recognizable not only by its typical Baroque curves and flourishes, but also by its grinning masks and putti and a particular flamboyance that has given Sicily a unique architectural identity.

VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE The exceptionally well-preserved Imperial Roman was a hunting lodge of the emperor Maximian (3rd–4th century AD). It is the site of the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world, covering more than 12,000 square feet. The most famous mosaic is the floor depicting 10 girls wearing the ancient equivalent of bikinis, going through what looks like a fairly rigorous set of training exercises.

VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES, AGRIGENTO Sicily's most enthralling archaeological site encompasses the ruined ancient city of Akragas, highlighted by the stunningly well-preserved Temple of Concordia, one of several ridge-top temples that once served as beacons for homecoming sailors. These ruins offer one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greek art and architecture. The UNESCO site, is the largest archaeological site in the world with 1,300 hectares.

GLITTERING MONREALE Monreale's splendid cathedral and abbey are lavishly decorated with colourful mosaics depicting events from the Old and New Testaments. After the Norman conquest of Sicily, the new princes showcased their ambitions through monumental building projects. The result was a glorious fusion of Eastern and Western influences, widely regarded as the finest example of in Sicily.

TAORMINA AND MOUNT ETNA Taormina is widely considered Sicily’s most stunning town, perched high between the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano and the best-know symbol of Sicily. The first time you see Mount Etna, whether she's trailing clouds of smoke or emitting fiery streaks of , is certain to be memorable. We take an exhilarating day trip to see the volcano up close travelling by jeep and a short hike.

Detailed itinerary

Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D.

Tour start & finish time

The tour starts on Friday October 8 at 3.30pm, at Rome

Fiumicino airport to take the 5.00pm Alitalia flight, as a

group, to .

The tour ends on Sunday October 24 at 6.30pm when we land in Rome Fiumicino airport, following our group flight from Catania.

Above: an aerial view of historic Ortigia island Friday October 8

Arrive Siracusa

Below: the Greek theatre in Syracuse; and the view over Ragusa Ibla Meet your tour leader at Rome Fiumicino airport to commence

the tour. There is a group flight to Catania, then transfer by coach to our hotel in Siracusa. Passengers coming from the Malta pre-tour extension arrive in Catania a short while later. This evening meet for a light dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Siracusa (D)

Saturday October 9 Ancient Siracusa After a talk in the hotel we visit the main archaeological site of the town. Highlights of our visit include the famed theatre of Siracusa, the altar of Hieron II, and the ancient quarries where thousands of Greek prisoners were held during the Peloponnesian War. In the later afternoon we’ll visit the Museo Aretuseo dei Pupi, housing a collection of traditional Sicilian puppets, followed by a performance of traditional puppetry at the adjoining theatre. This evening we have our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Siracusa (B, D)

Sunday october 10 Paolo Orsi Archaeological museum This morning we make our way to the excellent Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum. Extensively renovated in recent years, the Paolo Orsi is one of the most important archaeological museums in southern Italy. Its artefacts, found throughout Sicily, survey the Greek, Roman, and early Christian epochs. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Byzantine-era Jewish baths which are over 1,500 years old. Overnight Siracusa (B)

Monday October 11 Sicilian baroque in and ragusa Today we take a round trip of the south-east tip of Sicily, visiting the towns of Noto and Ragusa. These towns are famed for their exuberant ‘Sicilian Baroque’ architecture, created after a devastating earthquake of 1693 destroyed the earlier towns. Overnight Siracusa (B) Tuesday October 12 the villa romana We depart Siracusa this morning, heading westward through the geographic centre of Sicily. Today’s highlight is the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina, featuring a series of intact floor mosaics from the 4th century AD, created by North African artisans. After lunch we continue to Agrigento, located on the south coast of Sicily, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant. Overnight Agrigento (B, D)

Wednesday October 13 Agrigento temples AND museum Agrigento – ancient ‘Akragas’ — was founded in the 6th century BC and enjoyed a reputation as one of the wealthiest colonies of the Greek world. The extensive and well-preserved sacred area is testament to these riches, comprising four major temples in excellent preservation as well as a number of smaller structures. Today we tour the temple site with a local guide and visit the nearby archaeological museum. The afternoon is free to relax. Tonight, we have dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Agrigento (B, D)

Thursday October 14 Romanticism at selinunte Our first stop is to see the over life-size Dancing Satyr of Mazara del Vallo, a Greek bronze statue that was found by a Sicilian fisherman in 1998, in the waters of the Mediterranean. We continue to Selinunte (ancient Selinus), the last of the important Greek cities on our itinerary. At its peak, Selinus had a population of 25,000 but it was comprehensively sacked and its ruins inspired generations of Romantic poets and artists, such as Goethe. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Palermo (B, D) Above: stunning Late Antique mosaics in Villa Romana, Piazza Armerina; and the ‘Valley of the Temples’ in Agrigento boasts well Friday October 15 preserved and spectacularly situated Greek ruins Below: The mosaics in Roger II’s Palatine Chapel are among the Palermo most beautiful Byzantine art Palermo is a colourful city, with the atmosphere of North Africa or perhaps Asia rather than of Europe. Its heritage as a meeting point between European civilisation and the Arab and Byzantine worlds is borne out in the splendid medieval buildings of the Norman kingdoms. Today we tour some of the main historic sites of the old city, including the Norman and Palatine Chapel with its gold mosaics, and the Byzantine-influenced church of La Martorana. After lunch we visit the 12th-century retreat of La Zisa, inspired by Moorish pleasure , and stroll through some of the markets and characteristic back streets of the old city. Overnight Palermo (B)

Saturday October 16 Glittering Monreale The cathedral and abbey of Monreale, in the hills overlooking Palermo, were founded by the Norman King William II in the 12th century to demonstrate the power of the Norman . There are more than 6,000 square metres of mosaics here, using 2,200 kg of real gold. We spend the morning visiting the cathedral and enjoying the surrounding medieval hill town.

After returning to Palermo, the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Palermo (B)

Sunday October 17 Segesta & Mozia Today we take a ferry to Mozia where, among the salt pans, we explore the ruins of the former Carthaginian settlement. The island also houses a small museum with some unique pieces. Continue to Segesta, an evocative ruin in a hilltop location. The theatre and temple here are truly memorable, and have inspired artists and writers for centuries. In the late afternoon we head back to Palermo. Overnight Palermo (B, L)

Monday October 18 Cefalù and the Aeolian Islands We depart Palermo this morning, heading along the north coast. Above: the serene cloisters of Monreale Cathedral We spend the greater part of the day in Cefalù, a fishing town Below: the Doric temple of Segesta; and the fishing town of Cefalù dominated by a splendid Norman cathedral, reputedly built after King Roger II survived a shipwreck near the town. There is also a Greek sanctuary above the town (steep walk) and an idiosyncratic art gallery with some fine works. These include a wonderful portrait by Antonello da . After lunch we travel to where we take a ferry to the island of Lipari, our base on the Aeolian Islands for the next three nights. Dinner is served in our hotel. Overnight Lipari (B, D)

Tuesday October 19 Lipari This morning a local guide shows us the main archaeological site of Lipari, an island inhabited since at least 5,000 BC. The middle of the day is free to explore the town or relax in our hotel. Later in the afternoon we take a trip around the island by coach, enjoying the landscape and views to the other islands. Overnight Lipari (B)

Wednesday October 20 Boat trip to Panarea and Stromboli Weather permitting, today we take an afternoon boat excursion to the islands of Panarea and Stromboli, 20km from Lipari, enjoying the natural beauty and unspoilt traditional lifestyle of these islands. A highlight of the excursion is the chance to view the volcano of Stromboli. We have a light dinner on Stromboli before returning to Lipari early evening. (Alternative plans, such as a visit to the nearby island of Vulcano, or to Milazzo, will be made if the weather is too rough for the excursion) Overnight Lipari (B, D)

Thursday October 21 Messina Returning to the mainland, we travel to the city of Messina to visit the fine Norman cathedral and the Regional Museum of Messina, housing paintings by Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina. We continue on to Taormina on the west coast of Sicily. After checking into our hotel, we have a welcome drink on the terrace. Overnight Taormina (B)

Friday October 22 Taormina Sitting above the sea with superb views to Mount Etna, Taormina is a memorable final destination for our journey. We spend this morning visiting the Graeco-Roman theatre and other highlights of the town. This afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Taormina (B)

Saturday October 23 With the gods on Mount Etna Today we join our coach for an excursion to the summit of Mount Etna itself. Europe’s largest and most spectacular volcano Mt Etna is still very active. Assuming conditions are safe we will explore the south side of the volcano, travelling by coach, cable car and finally jeep to a height of 2,900 metres. The landscape and the views are unforgettable. (Please note that the last part of the excursion involves walking over uneven surfaces. It may not be possible for all passengers to undertake this segment.) Returning to Taormina there is time for a stroll around the town before we meet for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Taormina (B, D)

Sunday October 24 Departure Our flight departs mid-afternoon for Rome, arriving in time to meet the late evening departing Emirates flight for Australia. (B)

Hotels

Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are a comfortable four-star standard.

 Siracusa, Algilá Charme (4 nights) www.algila.it

 Agrigento, Hotel Colleverde Park (2 nights) www.colleverdehotel.it

 Palermo, Eurostars Central Palace (4 nights) www.eurostarshotels.it

 Lipari, Hotel Tritone (3 nights) www.tritonelipari.it

 Taormina, Hotel Montetauro (3 nights) https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/

Images right: The active volcano of Stromboli – the regular eruptions, which continue to this day, served as a natural lighthouse for ancient mariners; Antonello da Messina’s exquisite Virgin Annunciate held at Palazzo Abatellis; and the Greco-Roman theatre, near the cliff-top resort town of Taormina, offers spectacular views towards Mt Etna

View of the Island of Vulcano from Lipari, in the Aeolian Islands

Main Tour Price Fitness Requirements

The tour price is $9,890 per person, twin share (land content of THIS tour only). The supplement for a single room is $2,520 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person is GRADE TWO required to secure a place on the tour. It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that Tour Inclusions you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness Included in the tour price required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature  Return economy class airfares Rome-Catania-Rome extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater (those taking the Malta pre-tour fly Valletta/Rome- fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider Catania then Catania-Rome) your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.  All accommodation in carefully selected four-star hotels  All breakfasts and selected lunches/dinners in hotels Participation criteria for this tour and local restaurants as noted in the itinerary  All ground transport via private air-conditioned coach This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active  Return hydrofoil/ferry transfers Sicily-Lipari-Sicily lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of  All entrance fees to sites mentioned on the itinerary physical activity per day on most days, including longer  Background talks on sites and extensive tour notes walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing  Services of tour leader throughout tour/ local guides at stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and some sites a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or  Tips for local guides and drivers several internal flights. Not included You should be able to:  keep up with the group at all times  International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see  walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only below) short breaks  Travel insurance  stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and  Meals not mentioned in itinerary museums  Expenses of a personal nature, such as phone calls  tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, humidity and heat Air travel OPTIONS  walk up and down slopes  negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour which are often uneven and unstable we recommend Emirates which offers flights in and out of  get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or Rome from most Australian cities. Please contact us for the boat unassisted, possibly with luggage best possible prices on economy, business or first-class  move your luggage a short distance if required fares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. A note for older travellers These may be group or individual transfers. If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. Enquiries & bookings You will have to miss several activities and will not get the For further information and to secure a place on this tour full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until please contact Hannah Kleboe at Academy Travel on after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. [email protected] While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour Weather on Tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean Pleasant weather can be expected throughout the journey. we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. Expect average maximum temperatures of 22 º - 28 ºC during the day and minimums of 14 º - 18 ºC at night. You Special note: For the trip to the summit of Mount Etna, it is should bring a light, waterproof jacket and an umbrella and usually cold so it is important you have suitable clothing be prepared for possible windy conditions in the including shoes with a good grip, warm gloves, headgear, appropriately named Aeolian (or windy) Islands. scarf and a warm, shower proof jacket.

Malta Cost of Extension Extension Tour And inclusions

The cost of the Malta tour is $1,995 per person, twin OCTOBER 4 - 8, 2021 share. The supplement for a single room is $990 per A trip to Sicily provides the ideal opportunity to enjoy a short person. pre-tour excursion to nearby Malta. This small island archipelago is often overlooked as a travel destination (much to Included in the price the delight of those who know what it has to offer and like to  4 nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the keep it quiet). centrally located Hotel Excelsior

 Day tours, entrances and two lunches as detailed Malta’s location in the Mediterranean gave it strategic above importance over the centuries and it has been conquered by , Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, the Knights of St John,  Transfers to and from the airport in Valletta and the French and the British in succession. This has endowed the the internal flight from Valletta to Catania (via small island nation with an eclectic heritage, a quirky character Rome) to join the main tour and unique charm. In an area of just 316 sq. km you can view prehistoric temples and Baroque architecture, hear North Enquiries & Bookings African and Arabic influences in the language and sample the Should you wish to join the Malta Extension please talk Sicilian-inspired cuisine. to consultant Hannah Kleboe when you book for the Sicily tour. Itinerary*

Monday October 4 Flights from Australia via Dubai arrive mid-afternoon in Malta. An escort will meet the group on arrival and transfer to the Excelsior hotel in Valletta. Evening at leisure. Tuesday October 5 The day begins with a half-day tour of Valletta, Malta’s fortified city with its bastion walls and gardens on top of the ancient fortifications. Afternoon at leisure. (B) Wednesday October 6 The medieval walled town of Mdina is our destination today. The origins of the town date before Roman times and there are many sites to visit. Lunch is included. (B, L) Thursday October 7 Today we take a full-day tour to the nearby island of Gozo with its stunning seascape and quiet rural life. Lunch included. (B, L) Friday October 8 Much of today is at leisure. Mid-afternoon there is a transfer to the airport for the late afternoon flight to Catania. In Catania there is a coach transfer to meet the group in Siracusa where the main tour program begins. (B)

* While all activities will be included the order of day tours may vary from that stated above. For 6 or more people this will be a private group for all day tours. For less than 6 people the day tours will be conducted as part of a larger group. Please note that the Malta extension uses local guides, not an Academy travel tour leader.

Image right: view of Valletta's Grand Harbour Booking form NAME OF TOUR Submission DEPARTURE DATE

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