Classical Sicily before 2025

All Itineraries are tailor-made to suit the specific requirements of syllabus, budget and stamina. If you require a quotation, please send us your wish list!

Day 1

< Palermo Duomo

Flight to Palermo
Courier assisted transfer to hotel, Palermo. Visit the Archaeological Museum (repository of vast array of Phoenician, Sicel, Greek and Roman artefacts from across the island), Catacombe dei Cappuccini, Nornam Palace and Palatine Chapel, Duomo, Massimo Teatro, Churches and Art Galleries or simply wander the streets amongst the contrasting architectural styles: renaissance, Palladio, neo Classical, Art Deco.
Palermo Hotel and Evening Meal.

Day 2

< Segesta – Courtesy of Notting Hill and Ealing High-School

Drive westward to explore the Trapani Ring.
The first visit will be Monreale Monastery and Cloisters before stopping at Segesta, with unfinished 5C Doric temple and classical theatre. Lunch on Site.

 

< Erice, Sicily

Continue to mediaeval Erice, perched on a 2,500ft hilltop, complete with Norman castle built atop Punic Temple to Astarte, fountains and cobbled streets. Originally an Elym village of Anatolian colonists, occupied in turn by Pyrrhus, Carthaginians and Romans – evidence of its chequered history still remains within its many churches and museums.
Hotel and Evening Meal, after which you have the opportunity to explore the walled town free from Tourist day trippers

Day 3

< Mozia

Full day excursion to salt flats and small ferry across the lagoon to Punic Isola san Pantaleo Mozia for Circuit Walls, residential quarters, necropolis, Tophet and Famouus Charioteer in the small archaeological Museum.
Lunch en route

<Motya Charioteer

Visit Marsala Archaeological Museum, repository of Phoenician Warship, Tophet Exhibition and remains of Lillybaeum before visiting the Dancing Satyr of Mazaro del Vallo.
Selinunte Hotel and Evening Meal.

Day 4

< Selinunte

Selinunte (Megara Hyblaea) for the collection of ruined Greek Temples and separate Akropolis with houses, fortifications, multiple defensive gateways and small museum.
After an early lunch, detour (if time) to Cava di Cusa Temple Quarries with a brief stop en route at Herakleia Minoa.

< Telamon Statue, Agrigento Archaeological Museum – Courtesy of Tiffin School

Archaeological Museum of Agrigento for a tremendous collection, most notable of which is the reconstructed Telamon Colossus.
Agrigento Hotel and Evening Meal.

Day 5

< Telamon, Agrigento

Morning at Agrigento (Akragas) to visit both archaeological Sites and vast array of temples, including Juno, Herakles, Concordia, Jove and the Telamon Statues.
Lunch en route

 

< Islands of the Cyclops

Afternoon at Piazza Armerina (famous hunting lodge containing 36,000 square feet of intricate mosaics including the world’s first bikini)
Acitreza Hotel and Evening Meal

Day 6

< Odeon, Taormina, photo courtesy of Giovanni Dall’Orto

Drive through the National Park of Mount Aetna en route to Taormina. Optional Cable car and 4×4 Mini bus to the higher fumaroles.

 

 

< Mount Aetna

 

 

 

 

Lunch at Taormina (Sicil Tauromenion) with its wonderful Greco-Romano theatre, small archaeological museum and archaeological remains scattered throughout its mediaeval streets, played a prominent role in both Syracusan and Roman politics before becoming a playground for the European jet set and film set for the ‘Godfather’ movies.
Acitreza Hotel and Evening Meal

Day 7

< Epipolae (Castello Eurialo) photo courtesy of Giovanni Dall’Orto

Visit Epipolae, scene of Athenian military disaster as vividly described by Thucydides Syracuse, a city so powerful it once rivalled Athens. Archaeological Museum, Amphitheatre, Theatre and Quarries.
Lunch and time to explore the original settlement on the island of Ortigia now accessed by two causeways.

< Siracusa, Temple of Apollo

Explore the narrow streets, Baroque Squares, two Temples (Apollo & Athena, latter one in the Duomo), Pythagorean Museum, 3D Syracuse Museum and oldest known European Jewish Mitzvah (originally a Greek, then Punic Cistern).
Acitreza Hotel and Evening Meal

Day 8

< Morgantina

Full day coach excursion to Giardini Naxos and Morgantina.
Giardini Naxos, now a pleasant fishing port with beach, was the site of the first Greek Cleruchy on Sicily and boasts a small museum and archaeological park largely ignored by tourists.
Morgantina – a vast settlement ranging from and boasting remains of Sicel, Greek and Roman residential quarter, Agora, Ekklesiaterion, Prytaneion, Bouleterion, Mint and Thermopolium, Granary and Thermae.
Aidone for lunch and small archaeological museum housing the Morgantina Treasure, spectral statues of Demeter and Kore, the Morgantina Venus and a blue haired bust of Hades.
Acitreza Hotel and Evening Meal.

Day 9

< Amphitheatre

Catania, originally a C7th BC Sicil Polis which fell to Syracusan, Roman, Goth, Byzantine, Aragon and Bourbon rule.

 

 

< Greco Romano theatre

Archaeological remains include a Greco-Romano theatre (where Alkibiades once spoke), Termae Achilliane and della Rotonda, Archaeological Museum in Castello, Punic remains and archaeological composite elephant fountain outside the Duomo.
Transfer to Catania Airport and your return flight to the UK.

< Archaeological Composite Elephantine statue

Feel free to contact us to tailor your own tour. 01342 324727