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Splendor of Sicily
Meeting Point: Palermo /
Departure Point: Catania
At dawn, watch
fishermen launch their brightly colored boats into the sparkling
waters of the Mediterranean as they have for centuries. Wake up
to the scents of espresso and freshly baked bread. Explore
ancient monuments, their stone walls fragrant with jasmine.
Immerse yourself in Sicily’s history, with ruins of the Greek,
Phoenician, and Roman civilizations as much a part of everyday
life as the striking beauty of Mount Etna, towering over this
lovely island.
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See the active
volcano site of Mt. Etna
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Explore
Agrigento's Valley of the Temples
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Ferry across
the Strait of Messina to Reggio Calabria
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View the
world's largest collection of mosaic art at the cathedral of
Monreal
DAYS 1 & 2,
Wednesday & Thursday - Depart for Palermo, ITALY
Depart your home city on Wednesday for Palermo. Upon arrival on
Thursday, you will be met and transferred directly to your
hotel. Relax in the Villa Igiea Hilton, one of Sicily’s most
famous hotels. Enjoy its jasmine gardens and dine beneath
glittering chandeliers in its famed restaurant, Belle Époque.
Built towards the end of the 19th century, its interiors are a
masterpiece of Italian Art Nouveau, featuring exquisite
hand-painted frescoes by Ettore de Maria Bergler. From your
deluxe room or suite, enjoy a spectacular view of the sunset and
the expansive horizon of the Mediterranean Sea. This evening you
will enjoy welcome cocktails and dinner to meet your Travel
Director and fellow travelers and to hear about the
unforgettable
journey ahead. Villa Igiea Hilton
DAY 3, Friday - Palermo
Situated on the Conca d’Oro at the foot of Monte Pellegrino,
Palermo is a city born to
seduce and it is perhaps no accident that the ancient
Phoenicians referred to the city
as Ziz, or “flower.” Stroll its intricate streets and admire the
blending of architectural
styles that mark its history. Palermo and its personality come
from the people
who have populated it over the ages – the Byzantines, Arabs and
Normans – all who
have left their indelible mark in the form of rich, artistic
heritage. Palermo is old, and in spite of certain beauty marks,
it looks it. The Phoenicians established a trading post here in
the 8th century B.C. When the Roman conquest came in 254 B.C.,
Palermo went into decline, as the new conquerors shifted their
power and trading to Syracuse on the east coast. Palermo's
Arab-Norman buildings have no equal and the entire city is a
treasure trove of museums and Baroque oratories. Its outdoor
markets, such as raucous Vucceria, evoke North Africa and are
still dominated by the influence of the Arabs who departed
centuries ago. Old and historic quarters, such as Kalsa, are
being restored and given a new lease on life with the opening of
restaurants, galleries, and cafes.
Palermo, Sicily’s regional capital, is a linchpin of
Mediterranean life a bridge between Europe and Africa. With its
magnificent geographical position, legendary climate, fertile
land and abundant water, Palermo was a cradle of civilization, a
transit point, landing place, and battlefield for territorial
ambitions. It is one of the few cities that has preserved
considerable traces of the culture of its successive conquerors:
from the Romans to the Byzantines, from the Arabs to the
Normans, from the Swabians to the French, from the Spaniards to
the Austrians, they have all left unmistakable marks of their
passing. The Pisan Tower of the Norman’s Royal Palace looks much
as it did nine centuries ago and the Palace's interior evokes
much of its former grandeur. A masterpiece of Sicilian Norman
architecture, it was founded in 1185 and not completed until the
19th century. The mosaics of the Palatine Chapel in the Norman
Palace are of exquisite craftsmanship. A few majestic corridors
crowned by vaulted ceilings are the Royal Palaces silent
testaments to another era, when the Normans polyglot Kingdom of
Sicily was the most prosperous country in Europe. You will
travel to Monreale, a town located on the slope of Mount Caputo
about four miles south of Palermo. It overlooks the Conca d'Oro,
the beautiful valley beyond Palermo. Monreale is world-renowned
for its 12th century cathedral, a dazzling mixture of Arab,
Byzantine and Norman artistic styles framed by traditional
Romanesque architecture. The beautiful mosaics in Monreale
Cathedral are said to be one of the world's largest displays of
this art, surpassed only by Istanbul's Basilica of Saint Sofia.
Monreale's mosaics emblazon practically every inch of the vast
interior more surface area than the splendid Church of Saint
Mark in Venice. A special treat awaits you as you will be
welcomed by the Countess Federico for delightful conversation
over cocktails at her mnsion Villa Igiea Hilton
DAY 4, Saturday - Segesta, Erice & Mazara del Vallo
If you love the grace and beauty of ancient Greek
architecture, you are wise to
visit Sicily. This morning, we explore Segesta, an abandoned
ancient city located
in the province of Trapani. It was built by the mysterious
Elymis with the help of
the Greeks of Athens in 500 B.C. Segesta is known for its
magnificent Doric temple
and ranked as one of the best preserved Greek architectural
sites to be found
any place. Continue to the beautiful Phoenician and Hellenistic
town of Erice, dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of
fertility and love. On the top of Mount San Giuliano, among the
silent clouds, Erice commands a superb scenic location. You’ll
be captivated by the seaside scenery, the intricate maze of
cobblestone streets,
and the churches and monasteries scattered throughout the town.
Continue
to Mazara del Vallo and your luxury hotel.Kempinski Hotel
Giardino di Costanza
DAY 5, Sunday - Mazara del Valo, Selinunte
This morning excursion is to Selinunte, an abandoned ancient
Greek city, with ruins
of an acropolis and numerous temples that overlook the
Mediterranean Sea
about twenty meters below. The city was founded in the seventh
century BC,
and effectively destroyed in 409 BC. Selinunte's glorious heyday
lasted for a period
of about two centuries, when it was one of the most progressive
Greek cities in Sicily, famous throughout Magna Grecia. Balance
of the day is at leisure to indulge in the fabulous facilities
of your luxury hotel Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza
DAY 6, Monday - Agrigento, Siracusa
Arrive in the classical city of Agrigento, founded as the
Greek city of Akragas around
582 B.C. The extraordinary saga of Agrigento includes being
renamed Agrigentum
by the Romans, and Girgenti by the Saracens, both of whom left
their mark on this
remarkable place. You’ll visit the Valley of the Temples, a
series of temples that were erected in the 5th century B.C. as a
testimony to the prosperity of the city at that time. The only
one to survive intact, the Temple of Concord, was converted into
a Christian church in the 6th century. Among the other temples
you will visit are the Temple of Hera Lacinia, traditionally
dedicated to the protector of matrimony and childbirth. Quaint
charm and historic grandeur mingle here. All the buildings face
east,
respecting the classical criterion (both Greek and Roman)that
the entrance to the cella (the central chamber or sanctuary of a
temple where the statue of the god was
housed) could be illuminated by the rays of the rising sun, the
source and blood of life. For lunch, we dine at a local Sicilian
trattoria, before continuing to Siracusa, the
great city of legend and home of Archimedes. Magnificent
remnants of the ancient
world surround you and commingle with modern life. We take an
expert guided walk around the island discovering the rich
history and tides of conquest that have shaped
this city since its birth. We will spend the night at the
prestigious Grand Hotel Des Etrangers in the heart of Ortigia
Island, with stunning sea views of the Mediterranean. Grand
Hotel Des Etrangers
DAY 7, Tuesday - Taormina
Ancient Siracusa was a Greek city that flourished from 733
until 211 B.C. when it was conquered by Rome. When the Roman
general Marcellus entered the gates, he was
so amazed by the richness and beauty of the city that he
refrained from destroying
the temples and buildings that were he legacy of the Greeks. The
highlight of your visit to Siracusa will be the archaeological
park, including the ruins of the Teatro
Greco, built in the 5th century B.C., where the great dramatist
Aeschylus staged
plays. The Amfiteatro Romano (Roman Amphitheatre) was used by
the gladiators and built in the 2nd century A.D. You also visit
the Archaeological Museum Paolo Orsi, which provides an
understanding of Sicily’s prehistory. The oldest portion of
Siracusa, an island called Ortigia, harbors the famous Spring of
Arethusa of Greek mythology, as well as the Temple of Apollo.
After a delicious lunch, you’ll embark on a walking tour of the
island, including a visit to the Cathedral. Arrive in Taormina
with its fabulous position high on the rocky plateau opposite
dramatic Mount Etna. Taormina is an ideal setting for a
Mediterranean getaway. Blessed with a mild climate, beautiful
landscape and serene outlook, it is considered one of the
world’s most picturesque resort cities.
It was famously celebrated as such in 1787 when German poet
Johann Wolfgang
Goethe described this place as “a strip of paradise on the
earth.” Taormina was
not much bigger than a village at that time a small fortress
between the walls built
by the Arabians almost one thousand years before. Goethe is only
one of the many poets and philosophers who have sung its praises
over the millennia. Taormina was a 19th century haunt of the
English aristocracy. It was here that a self-exiled D.H.
Lawrence was inspired to write Lady Chatterley’s Lover, one of
the most passionate and erotic love stories of its era. San
Domenico Palace Hotel
DAY 8, Wednesday - Taormina
On a funicular ride we’ll get up close and personal with Mt.
Etna, Sicily’s tallest peak and Europe’s tallest active volcano.
Visit the site of the Silvestri Crater and observe the lava
formations. As lava flows along the snow-covered slopes at
night, it leaves
a stream of steam and light in its wake. Taormina has endlessly
winding medieval streets and tiny passages, each with its own
secrets. Some of these intriguing places are secluded gardens
hidden by stone walls; others are set on terraces overlooking
the coast or in more public but equally pleasant squares.
Taormina is beautiful by day, but in the evenings its atmosphere
is simply enchanting. The highlight of your visit is the Greek
Theater, built just before the Roman occupation of Sicily. In
the 1st century A.D. modifications were made to the original
theater and its function was changed from the presentation of
music and drama to the Rman specialty of gladiator combat. Today
the theater continues to host prestigious events. On a walking
tour, you’ll view the fine palaces that dot the old town center.
There are many noble residences, like the wonderful Palazzo
Corvaja, Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano, and the churches,
every one built with a peculiar architecture style, from Chiesa
dei Cappuccini to Chiesa di San Pancrazio, which was built on
the remains of a Hellenistic temple. San Domenico Palace Hotel
DAY 9, Thursday - Taormina & Reggio Calabria
We drive to Messina to board a ferry and cruise across the
Straits of Messina to Reggio Calabria in mainland Italy. This
small town of less than two hundred thousand
inhabitants is surrounded by rich groves of olives, vines and
citrus trees. In fact,
half the world production of Bergamot comes from the region. Our
destination in Reggio Calabria is the National Archeological
Museum famed for its mysterious bronze warriors and the two Rice
Warriors. Made in Greece in the 5th century BC, these two
statues were discovered in the sea of Riace in 1972. They are
notable for their remarkable expressive features, enhanced by
the mix media used in the detail of their eyes; ivory and
limestone corneas, vitreous pupils and silver eyelashes. In the
evening enjoy a farewell cocktail and dinner party with your
fellow travelers. San Domenico Palace Hotel
DAY 10 , Friday - Depart for Home
This morning you will be transferred (approximately 1½ hours to
the airport in Catania for your flight back home or to your next
destination.
NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change
dependent upon local conditions and/or operational changes or
improvements. The specific times and order of inclusions within
each destination may also be altered to best accommodate
unscheduled closure, special events, weather, traffic, etc.
Please contact your Vacation Planner before scheduling any
coinciding appointments. You will receive an up-dated itinerary
approximately 30 days prior to your journey’s scheduled
departure date.
Wednesday, April
23, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Price From $7,195
* Other Pricing Categories Available, please call
Single Supplement $1,895
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