Isle of Man Decorative and Fine Arts Society

SICILY

Cultural Crossroads of the Mediterranean

Thursday 04 - Wednesday 10 May 2017

Lying at the crossroads between East and West in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has witnessed a succession of differing

peoples and cultures. For centuries the island provided the link between Europe and Africa, and it is hardly surprising that layers

of history have left a legacy of rich museum collections and fascinating archaeological sights. Its successive invaders, rulers and

opportunists have contributed to the island’s cultural make-up, and throughout Sicily reminders of its turbulent and colourful past

are much in evidence.

Following the trade routes established by the early Phoenicians, the Greeks discovered the potential of the island and left their

mark by way of some outstanding buildings, several of which have survived to this day. The Romans, too, found Sicily to their

liking and went to great lengths to establish an important colony. This period of prosperity was interrupted in turn by Barbarians

from the north and by the Byzantines prior to the arrival of the Muslims, who re-established the island as a centre of prosperity

and who oversaw a period of stability of some three hundred years. The arrival of the Normans in the 11th century saw the

beginning of a remarkable age in architectural achievements as the invaders introduced their aesthetic tastes and engineering

know-how: the magnificent cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalù are just two reminders of the flourishing of the Romanesque style

during this time. More recent times witnessed the construction of glorious churches and palaces as the Sicilian Baroque took hold

during the 17th and 18th centuries, adding to a beguiling and enchanting mix of architectural styles found throughout the island.

This kaleidoscope of successive cultures has also resulted in a varied cuisine which transcends even the ubiquitous culinary delights

of mainland Italy. Our tour therefore will introduce us not only to some of the island’s heritage but also offers the opportunity to

sample some of Sicily’s fine food and wines.

THURSDAY 04 MAY 2017

Independent travel arrangements to London Gatwick. We

depart on a mid-afternoon scheduled EasyJet flight to

Palermo (please note that flights are not included in the

tour price. Flight times are based on the 2016 schedule as

the 2017 schedule is not yet available, and may be subject

to change). We will be met on arrival by our tour escort

and local coach and will travel to the 4 star Mercure

Palermo Excelsior Hotel where we will check in for 3

nights’ bed and buffet breakfast accommodation.

Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant

this evening.

FRIDAY 05 MAY 2017

Today will be spent exploring Palermo, which is the

largest and undoubtedly the most interesting city on the

entire island, offering a fascinating kaleidoscope of

Sicilian history. The city enjoys a marvellous setting

against the harbour of La Cala, and its exotic flavour is

evident everywhere in its mix of oriental and European

architecture. Visits in Palermo will include the

magnificent Cathedral, built by the Archbishop of

Palermo in the late 12th century on the former site of a

Mosque. The cathedral boasts several different

architectural styles, including an impressive neoclassical

interior, and houses a collection of Royal tombs and a

fine treasury.

The Palatine Chapel, located inside the Norman

Royal Palace, displays a dazzling blend of mosaics and

marble inlaid with gold, stone and glass, traditional

Orthodox iconography and a painted Arabic ceiling.

Sicily’s National Gallery, the Galleria Regionale, is

housed in Palazzo Abatellis, an imposing building in

Gothic-Catalan style built in 1490. The collection

contains many famous paintings, including Annunziata by

Antonello da Messina and Eleonora D'Aragona by

Francesco Laurana. This will be followed by a visit to

two of the most important churches in Palermo, La

Martorana and San Cataldo. The church of La

Martorana, also called Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (St

Mary’s of the Admiral), was constructed by Admiral

George of Antioch in 1140. East meets West as the

orthodox Greek Christian combined Norman and Islamic

styles, and the church’s interior is decorated with

stunning mosaics, most notably the Mosaic of Christ with

Four Angels in the dome of the church.

The nearby tiny church of San Cataldo, distinguished

by its three pink cupolas, was erected in 1154 by Maio of

Bari, who was the Emir (Prime Minister) of King

William. The church has remained largely unchanged

since the 12th century and is a religious seat of the knights

of the Holy Sepulchre. There will be free time for lunch

and also some time at leisure at the end of the day for a

little individual sightseeing prior to returning to our

hotel. The evening will be at leisure.

SATURDAY 06 MAY 2017

After breakfast at the hotel, we will embark on a visit of

Monreale, with special emphasis on Norman-Byzantine

art. Our first visit of the morning will be the Cathedral

of Monreale. Monreale, from ‘Mons Regalis’ (Royal

Mountain), is a town of some 25,000 residents located

on the slope of Mount Caputo (764 metres),

approximately 7 kilometres south of Palermo's centre.

Its spectacular Cathedral is a striking mixture of Arab,

Byzantine and Norman artistic styles framed by

traditional Romanesque architecture, all combined in a

perfect blend of the best that both the Christian and

Muslim worlds of the 12th century had to offer. 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 famous Basilica of St Sofia, once an

Orthodox church. Also of note is the splendid

colonnaded Benedictine Cloister of the adjoining

Abbey, combining Arab and Norman architecture.

Relationships between Sicily and England during the

Norman period were strong and the mosaics in the apse

of the Cathedral depict one of the first representations of

Saint Thomas Beckett.

We will return by coach to Palermo and enjoy an

afternoon and evening at leisure.

SUNDAY 07 MAY 2017

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and travel

across the central hills en route to Agrigento, one of

the most powerful cities of the ancient Greeks. A light

lunch will be served in a local restaurant upon arrival.

This afternoon we will visit the Valley of the

Temples, a vast complex of ancient Greek structures

comprising mainly Doric temples, including the Temples

of Herakles, Juno and the Olympian Zeus. The

best-preserved temple is the Temple of Concordia, with

its perfect dimensions, which dates back to the 5th

century BC. The Archaeological Museum houses

many artefacts and sculptures from the temples and the

surrounding area.

Following our visits we will transfer the short distance to

our hotel, the 4 star Dioscuri Bay Palace Hotel

where we will check in for overnight accommodation.

There will be time to relax or walk along the

harbour-side prior to dinner, which will be served in

the hotel restaurant.

MONDAY 08 MAY 2017

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and travel to

the hill town of Piazza Armerina to visit the 4th

century Villa Romana del Casale, believed to be the

former villa of Maximianus Herculeus. This excavated

Roman villa dates from the late Imperial period and the

floor is covered with delightful mosaics depicting

mythological scenes and scenes from daily Roman life.

There will be free time for lunch.

In the afternoon we will travel to Syracuse, where we

will check in to the 4 star Hotel Villa Politi for 2

nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation. Dinner will

be served in the hotel restaurant this evening.

TUESDAY 09 MAY 2017

After breakfast at the hotel, this morning will be spent

exploring Syracuse. Located near the south-eastern

corner of Sicily on the Ionian coast, Siracusa (Syracuse)

was built on an ancient Greek settlement founded by

Corinthians in 734 BC and has been described as one of

the most beautiful cities of the ancient world. It was the

most important city in Magna Graecia, and for a time

rivalled Athens as the most important city of the Greek

world. More than any other modern city in Sicily,

Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient

Greek past, both historical and mythological. The

morning will begin at the vast Archaeological Site,

which is located in the Neapolis quarter of Syracuse and

contains a Greek theatre, the remains of a Roman

amphitheatre and the spectacular altar of the tyrant,

Hieron II. There are also notable stone quarries called

latomie, which include the so-called ‘Ear of Dionysos’,

with its curious acoustics. The Archaeological

Museum displays an extensive collection of artefacts

from Siracusian temples, ranging from the Paleothic era

to the Byzantine period, clearly illustrating the ancient

history of the entire province.

We will then continue to Ortigia (literally ‘quail’), the

town’s oldest quarter, situated on an adjoining island,

where we will visit the spectacular Cathedral, begun in

1728 by the architect, Andrea Palma. The cathedral has a

Baroque façade and contained within the cathedral is the

Temple of Athena, which dates back to the 5th century

BC. Further highlights include the remains of the Temple

of Apollo and the beautiful Fountain of Arethusa. There

will be free time for lunch during the day and the evening

will be at leisure.

WEDNESDAY 10 MAY 2017

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and travel south

of Syracuse to the small town of Noto, which is a perfect

example of Sicilian Baroque architecture. The whole

town was rebuilt following the devastating earthquake of

1693. Many building are carved from the local white

stone, tufa, and a walking tour will take us along the

central Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where many of the

town’s principal buildings are situated, and through the

surrounding narrow streets, passing the town hall,

numerous churches, including the elegant 18th century

San Domenico, charming old noble palaces and quaint

houses. The grand 18th century Cathedral is most noted

for its dramatic staircase, marble altar, and beautiful

frescoes, and houses the relics of Noto’s patron saint, St

Corrado Confalonieri. The cathedral has undergone

extensive repairs after the dome collapsed in March 1996

following an earthquake. There will be free time for

lunch before we transfer to Catania Airport for our

return EasyJet flight to the UK, due to depart late

afternoon (please note that flights are not included in the

tour price. The flight schedule for May 2017 is not yet

available and these times are based on the 2016 schedule

which may be subject to change for next year).

Independent onward arrangements.

Dependent on return flight times it may be necessary to arrange

overnight accommodation at London Gatwick (not included in

the tour price). Should you be interested in receiving further

information please indicate on the enclosed booking form. Full

details of accommodation options will be provided closer to the

date of the tour.

N.B. As this tour has been planned many months in advance, the

final itinerary may vary slightly from the above.

Charlotte House 12 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2NE

Tel: 01225 466620 heritage@grouptravel.co.uk