A Grand Tour of Classical Sicily from Palermo to Taormina
April 8-17, 2011
“To have seen Italy without seeing Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.” – Goethe, Italian Journey
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America in conjunction with Classical Excursions announces its second tour to Sicily. Following the tradition of the most adventurous Grand Tourists of the 18th and early-19th centuries, participants will discover the exotic allure of the Mediterranean’s largest island, which has been host to a spectacular number of cultures throughout its history. The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and Italians have all left their distinctive mark.
The tour begins in bustling Palermo and progresses to the famous Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Three nights are spent in Ortygia, the island city of ancient Siracusa, with daytrips to Ragussa Ibla and Noto, as well as excursions and walking tours within the city of Siracusa. The last night of the tour is spent in picturesque Taormina at the luxurious waterfront Grand Hotel Timeo.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
The magnificent temples of Agrigento includes the Temple of Concord, one of the world’s best-preserved Greek temples.
Palermo’s wealth of Norman, Catalan-Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture under the shadow of Monte Pellegrino.
The extraordinary mosaics of the Villa del Casale, the 3rd century A.D. summer villa built for a member of the Roman imperial family.
The awe-inspiring and mysterious unfinished Doric Temple at Segesta.
The theatrically baroque cities of Ragusa Ibla and Noto, both rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693 and filled with flamboyant palazzi and breathtaking perspectives.
The surreal Duomo of Siracusa with Greek Doric columns and metopes exposing its temple origins behind an exuberant baroque façade on one of Italy’s most beautiful piazze.
The picturesque resort of Taormina with its Greek/Roman theatre and breathtaking views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
Dinner parties in private palazzi: The age-old Palazzo Federico in Palermo with its Norman tower and sumptuous suites of rooms; the elegant pink Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco on Siracusa’s sublime Piazza del Duomo; and the exuberant Palazzo Biscari in Catania famed for its extravagant ballroom.
Tour Price: Land cost is $4,500.00 per person based on double occupancy. A single supplement of $700.00 applies. A tax-deductible $300 donation to ICA&CA is included in the tour price. Please call Lani at Classical Excursions to register (413) 528-3359 or contact@classicalexcursions.com
Members at the Contributor or Individual ~ Professional level or higher are welcome to attend our tours. Members at the Donor level and higher receive Priority Registration E-alerts before the general public. Join online today or call (212) 730-9646, extension 104 to upgrade your membership.
In addition, participants are required to make a contribution to the Institute’s Annual Fund—which help to further our mission of advancing the practice and appreciation of the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts. This contribution is fully tax-deductible.