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Program Number: |
18212RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
16 nights |
| Location: |
Italy
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| Price starting at: |
$4,395.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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| Meals: |
39;
15 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 12 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian |
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Experience the dizzyingly diverse cultural influences that combined to create something totally unique in Sicily. Examine the ruins left behind as evidence of Magna Graecia, “Greater Greece,” including some of the most beautiful structures ever built by the Ancient Greeks; learn about the surprising, sometimes spectacular results of the clash between Norman and Arab civilizations; meet the proud, friendly Sicilians who are eager to share their villages, their cuisine and the beauty of their land.
Highlights
• At the National Museum of Greater Greece, examine the Bronzi di Riace warrior statues, preserved on the ocean floor until a scuba diver discovered them in 1972.
• Delve into the history of the Mafia from the 1860 unification movement of Sicily to recent attempts by the government to crack down on this famous organization.
• Discover the orchards and farms of the rich-soiled Mount Etna plains and share a lunch of freshly prepared Sicilian dishes at an agriturismo.
Activity Particulars
Walking up to two miles a day; uneven and hilly terrain at historic sites. Extended periods of standing.
Date Specific Information
9-9-2013, 9-30-2013, 10-21-2013, 3-10-2014, 5-5-2014, 5-26-2014, 9-8-2014, 9-29-2014, 10-20-2014
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Giardini Naxos, 4 nights; coach to Syracuse, 4 nights; coach to Palermo, 7 nights; departure
Overnight flight from the U.S.A. | 1 night | Arrival Giardini Naxos | 4 nights |
Learn about Sicily through expert history lectures on the island’s many colonizers. Journey to the charming mountainside comune of Taormina and investigate its stunning Greek theater ruins high above the sea. Examine the architecture of Messina, a city entirely rebuilt after its destruction by a 1908 earthquake.
Coach to Syracuse | 4 nights |
Experience the rich history of Syracuse, a city more than 2,700 years old. Visit the baroque Cathedral of Syracuse and the Paradise Quarry, where 7,000 Athenian soldiers were imprisoned. Venture to Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning churches, and meet the residents of the tiny, timeless village of Buscemi.
Coach to Palermo | 7 nights. | Departure |
Journey across Sicily to Palermo, the capital of the region of Sicily. Join a local family for a traditional Sicilian lunch in their home. In Agrigento, explore the finest extant ancient Greek temple complex anywhere, including Greece. Discover Palermo, strolling past the colorful fruit and fish carts of the morning market. In Monreale, view magnificent mosaics inside the Norman cathedral, manifesting Byzantine, Romanesque and Arab influences. In town, sample what locals claim are the best cannolis in Italy.
Italy
“Dolce far niente,” the “sweetness of doing nothing.” This ode to leisure is a distinctly Italian phrase, and yet the expression does not do justice to the hard-work ethos of the nation’s inhabitants. The monuments, art and civilization bequeathed to the people of modern Italy are a testament to the industry of their forebears, and the legacy lives on in today’s Italians, who work hard to better enjoy the sweetness of repose.
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Accommodations
Giardini Naxos: Four-star hotel with private beach. Syracuse: Four-star hotel with ocean views. Palermo: Historic, four-star hotel located in former Mercederian monastery.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Enrico Nucci
| | Enrico Nucci has been leading Road Scholar programs in Sicily and the Bay of Naples for more than a decade. He also serves as an Italian guide for the United Service Organizations (USO). Enrico graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Psychology and has worked at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C. He has a special interest in volcanoes, developed early as a young boy who went to school in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius in Naples. | | | | Angelo Fanara
| | Angelo Fanara is a retired high school English teacher who continues to practice his love of teaching by leading Road Scholar groups in his native Sicily. Enthusiastic, engaging and charming, Angelo loves sharing his extensive knowledge of Sicily’s most important archaeological sites and museums with participants. | | | | Catherine Paige
| | Catherine Paige was born in England and received her master's degree in social work from the University of Sussex. After working as a social worker in Brighton, she transferred to Sicily where she is an English Language Assistant at the University of Palermo. Since moving to Sicily, Catherine has developed an interest in local literature that she will convey in her talk on Sicilian writers. | | | | Laura Lanza
| | Laura Lanza received her degree in literature and philosophy from the University of Palermo. She taught Italian, Latin and Greek in local high schools and enjoys her present role as an excursion leader in the province of Palermo. Laura enjoys traveling to European destinations as well as other continents with her family, and resides in the city of Palermo. | | | | Michele Gallo
| | Michele Gallo is an English teacher and licensed excursion leader in Sicily, and shares his knowledge of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento with visitors. Michele has contributed to BBC and TBS documentaries featuring UNESCO World Heritage Sites. | | | | Elena Buscemi
| | Elena Buscemi, a native of Russia, is a licensed excursion leader. She lives with her family in Trapani, Italy, where she pursues her passion for sailing. | | | |
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