The Italian School Committee in association with Go Travel and the Regione Siciliana is proud to

offer the Splendor of Sicily tour.

Splendor of Sicily

T o u r 2 0 1 2

PALERMO: LA CONCA D'ORO

Sicily is the stuff of legends: at one time Europe's grandest city, Palermo is forever linked to the great histories of Norman Kingdoms and the Middle East. Unlike the more heavily touristic Italian cities of Florence or Rome, many of Palermo's most stunning treasures are the hidden ones - discover them with a private Palermo tour! A knowledgeable local guide will help you explore the city's ancient palaces, castles and churches, with their unique architectural fusion of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.

Experience the rich colors this fascinating city affords in the bustling open-air market. Crammed in the narrow alleys of the Old Town is one of the World oldest and most renowned open-air markets: the Vucceria – with its gorgeous arrays of fruit, produce and flowers and the animated haggling between vendors and shoppers. The Vucceria (Sicilian dialect for Noise) has not changed much since Phoenician times! You will spend a Saturday like no other you have ever experienced. It will follow a cooking demonstration at one of the city most renowned villas with some of the best Chefs trained in the ancient art of “Cucina Manzu’ ”. Even the Prince of Wales makes annual visits to learn this type of cooking discipline passed on for centuries from one generation to the next.

Then proceed to what has to be the most unique and certainly macabre, attraction of Palermo: the Capuchin Catacombs. Eight thousand mummies –

dressed in their 18th century finery - are perfectly preserved and on display in a labyrinth of corridors grouped according to class or profession – there is even a hallway of Brides!

E njoy the timeless history, culture, cuisine, and

sunshine of Sicily in a tour that will display the

grandeur of this mystical island like no other

tour before. All of this, while you learn to speak

Italian...

Welcome to Sicily, the largest

of the Mediterranean Islands,

and compendium of the

greatest civilizations and

cultures of all time.

You will cross the island from

Palermo to Agrigento, Siracusa to Taormina; you will visit

the beautiful small town of Scicli in the southeast of Sicily,

nominated World Heritage Site due to its fanciful Baroque

buildings.

The wonderful and mystic Island of Ustica, the charming

town of Cefalu’ and Gibilmanna as well as the haunting

region of Mount Etna.

The Palaces will enthrall you

the panoramas will inspire

you and the local will charm

you. Relive the history of the

Gattopardo, in a specially

themed night of cooking,

movie magic and culture. Visit regal vineyards and

legendary market places.

THE PALACES

Experience the unique legacy

of the Greeks, Carthaginians,

Romans, Byzantines, Saracens,

Normans, crusading Knights of

St. John, the Bourbons, and Ottoman Turks.

From the ancient Roman villa

of Piazza Armerina through

the Arab castles, baroque

masterpieces such as Villa

Pallagonia, to the art-nouveau

Villa Bordonaro alle Croci-

visit dwellings built and

furnished by Italy's greatest architects and artists over the

centuries.

Luxuriant gardens full of

flowers and statues, antique

tapestries, glorious frescoed and

priceless furniture appear in

hundreds of full-color

photographs. History, art, and

anecdote intertwine in the text

for an enchanting view of

AGRIGENTO

Travel in comfort in our specially designed tour bus to the historical city of Agrigento The birthplace to Sicily’s renowned playwright: Luigi Pirandello. (2 hours’ drive from Palermo). Explore the Valley of the Temples, considered the finest Greek sanctuary in Sicily. Especially impressive are the massive Temple of Concordia and cliff-top Temple of Juno overlooking the sea. Pindar praised Agrigento as well as Goethe. In the Hellenistic-Roman quarter, you can see the 4th century BC grid of main streets crossed perpendicularly by secondary lanes established by the Greeks. Stroll along the weaving streets of the medieval part of town. Check out the 13th century Monastery di Santo Spirit with its Gothic portal, Serpotta’s stuccowork, and Gagini’s statue. For some evening entertainment, Teatro Pirandello generally puts on works by the local composer.

SIRACUSA and SCICLI

Cicero, once described Syracuse situated on the eastern coast of Sicily, as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all." with an interesting mixture of

ancient and modern. Situated on the eastern coast of Sicily, Syracuse is an amazing city of culture and history ready to be explored and savored.

The Greek Theater, the largest theater in Sicily, was begun in the 6th century BC and held 15,000 spectators.

The Roman Amphitheater, one of the largest arenas of its kind, dates from the 3rd century AD.

The Castle of Eurialo was an important Greek military installation built in the 4th century BC.

The San Giovanni Catacombs hold burial chambers for children, adults, and families. See Sicily catacombs

Santa Lucia Church incorporated a Greek temple to Athena into its building and added a Baroque facade. It's built on the spot where Santa Lucia, Syracuse's patron saint, was martyred in 304AD. On Santa Lucia Day, December 13, a huge silver statue is paraded

from the duomo to the church.

Visit the Teatro Massimo and the baroque Quattro Canti Square, glimpse at the beauties of the ‘fountain of shame’. See Palermo Cathedral, a mixture of styles altered over the years. Then drive out to visit the finely decorated cathedral of Monreale - it’s magnificent gold mosaics are a masterpiece of Arab-Norman art.

Enjoy the Teatrino dei Pupi and the shopping along Via Liberta’. Visit the charming seaside town of Mondello and the historical townships of Bagheria. Visit studios and bottegas of some of the best artists and artisans of the island. Get an insight on the extraordinary culture and lifestyle of the city.

USTICA

An hour boat ride from Mondello, Ustica is a true find and a longtime favorite of the locals. This tiny volcanic

island, the summit of a large submerged volcano, is the oldest of the Sicilian outer archipelago, having emerged long before the Aeolian Islands. One the most interesting features of the island are the houses with their external walls painted with artistic murals depicting landscape scenes, trompe-l’oeils, portraits, still life paintings, and fanciful compositions. Discover the Torre di Santa Maria (Tower of St. Mary), now accommodating an Archaeological Museum displaying relics recovered from the prehistoric village at I Faraglioni. The Odyssey relates that these gigantic rocks sprouting from the captivating sea were hurled by Polyphemus against Ulysses, who had blinded him by thrusting a flaming stake into his only eye. Visit The Marine National Park, designated in 1987 to preserve and protect the huge natural diversity of flora and fauna present in their submarine habitats off Ustica’s coastline. Ustica has been long renowned as a scuba diver’s paradise. Special underwater excursions can be arranged.

CEFALU’ One of the Mediterranean's undiscovered jewels, Cefalu’ is the epitome of picturesque grandeur. Cefalu’ has a beautiful beach, winding, narrow, medieval streets, and delightful restaurants overlooking a rocky coast. All under the ever-present gaze of the Norman-Arab-Byzantine cathedral, one of the greatest churches of southern Europe. Stroll down to the medieval stone fountain, and seek out the Gothic arch of the Porta Marina for a picture perfect view of the little harbor, maybe enjoy some lunch down by the

beach. Cefalù's mountain boasts the ruins of a large fortress and an ancient Sicanian-Greek temple. The view from the summit is inspiring

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Mt. Etna is Sicily's tallest peak and one of Europe's most famous active volcanoes. This volcano has more than 400 craters, split all over the Catania County. To the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna was the realm of Vulcan, god of fire. We will first visit the Alcantara Gorges, with their wonderful waterfall created from an old lava eruption. We then continue the drive through Francavilla, stop at the most charming and unspoiled Sicilian village of Castiglione di Sicilia and take a walk to the old Greek fortress to admire an amazing spot with a breathtaking view over the Alcantara valley. Finally in a full day excursion, we will ascent to the top by funicular on the slope of the central crater at around the 3.000 mts, site of the former Torre del Filosofo. Please join us for this once in a lifetime opportunity to discover the Splendors of Sicily in a Tour designed to entertain, educate and enlighten your senses in the discovery of one of the greatest Islands in the World. This tour is restricted to a group of 15 people.

Bookings are required by July 30th 2012

From there we will travel by bus to Scicli (1 1/2 hour). Scicli is one of the UNESCO-listed Baroque towns of south-east

Sicily, but it is rather off-the-beaten-track and a jewel waiting to be discovered. Called the bomboniera (the jewel box) of Sicily Scicli has a scenic location and charm that are truly unique. Scicli is one of the filming locations for popular Sicilian detective drama Il Commissario Montalbano, and viewers will enjoy spotting familiar scenes. Scicli can offer not just the elegance of its Baroque buildings, built after the 1693 earthquake, which devastated the area, but also the thrill of discovery, as visitors uncover the town's various charms. The heart of Scicli still lies around the foot of the dramatic ridge dominated by the church of San Matteo. On either side of the ridge lie the valleys of Santa Maria la Nova and San Bartolomeo, with the grand churches for which they are named. Directly in front of San Matteo are the main streets and squares of the town. Pleasantly stroll or have a lazy drink in the sunshine, on charming Via Penna, an elegant street lined with Baroque palaces and churches. Visit Scicli's most striking Baroque palace: Palazzo Beneventano, on Via Duca d'Aosta, close to Piazza Italia and Via Penna . This is a grand show-off of a building, featuring leering faces, monstrous beasts and other architectural fantasies, partly eroded away. Spend a wonderful magical evening at La Grotta, a restaurant in a cave on Via Dolomiti.

TAORMINA

Taormina has been one of Sicily's top travel destinations since it became part of the European Grand Tour in the 19th century and Sicily's first resort. Taormina’s old town clings to the side of Mount Tauro, forming a balcony overlooking the sea and Mt Etna. Walk with your guide to the tiny courtyard of the Palazzo Corvaja. Visit the Greek Theatre, graced with the most spectacular of backdrops the Greco-Roman Theatre has the finest site of any theatre in the world and one of the most striking monuments of antiquity. Now stroll along elegant Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile for panoramic views. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Once the day-trippers have gone home, it’s easy to see why Taormina is a favorite summer resort for movie stars and aristocrats.