Winter in Italy: Palermo & Sicily’s Architectural Wonders

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After checking in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Unless specified otherwise, the majority of transportation will be provided via motorcoach and will necessitate ascending/descending a few steps. All lunches and dinners include wine and water, and the majority includes coffee. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day, about 1 hour, on flat terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet’s choices include an egg dish, a variety of sliced cold cuts and cheeses, breakfast breads, jams, hot and cold cereals, and fresh fruit, with coffee, tea, water included.

Morning: We will set out on an expert-led walking field trip of Palermo including the Cappella Palatina and Capo Market located in a concentrated section on the Via Volturno. While on site, we’ll enjoy a lecture given by local expert on the people of Sicily and multicultural legacy.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: We will continue our expert-led field trip by seeing Porta Reale, the Quattro Canti Baroque square, and Piazza della Vergogna. Admiring this Renaissance fountain built in Florence and moved to Palermo, we’ll notice how its impressive architecture features impressive sculptures, of which all figures are nude and therefore it bears the nickname: The Shame Fountain, Catacombe. We will then walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant in Palermo, we’ll have a plated meal featuring regional cuisine, plus a glass of wine, water, and coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking about 1.5 miles total throughout the day; flat terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: From the hotel, we’ll set out to explore Palermo on foot with our local expert and visit the Palazzo dei Normanni and the Church of San Giovanni degli Erimiti.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Palermo, we’ll have plated meals with wine and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we will visit the Palazzo Conte Federico—a cultural treasure chest and temple of art, antiquity, and marvel. The Countess, a descendant of Frederick II of Austria, will personally lead us through the museum during our visit. We will then return to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; cobblestone paths with some benches along the way.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, we will be joined by an art historian for a lecture introducing us to seventeen famous historical women of Sicily, including queens from the past as well as inspiring women from today. We’ll learn about their varied backgrounds and how they defied convention to make their mark in the annals of the complex history of the world's most conquered island. We'll then set out to explore Palermo on foot with our local expert, during which we will visit Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri and Palazzo Mirto. Palazzo Steri was constructed beginning in the last years of the 13th century, and essentially completed by 1320. The Steri represents much more than a view through the centuries; it was literally the cornerstone of royal power in Sicily, and therefore the central Mediterranean, for several centuries when most of the island's monarchs lived far away in Aragon and then in Madrid.

Lunch: On your own in Palermo to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Next, we will rendezvous at a predetermined place in the early afternoon and set out on a walk to Palazzo Abatellis where we will meet with a local expert for our visit before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal featuring regional cuisine, plus a glass of wine, water, and coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off the motorcoach; driving about 82 miles roundtrip; approximately 3 hours. Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; cobblestone paths with some benches along the way.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board the motorcoach and head to Cefalù for a full morning walking field trip led by a local expert. The charming historic fishing village of Cefalù is like a dream come true with its beautiful beach boulevard (or “lungomare” as they say in Italy), romantic buildings, and friendly people.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Cefalù, we’ll have a plated meal featuring regional cuisine, plus a glass of wine, water, and coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Afterwards, we will return to Palermo to enjoy a private puppet opera performance at the Teatro dell’Opera dei Pupi, a small but charming theater. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately 15 miles total throughout the day; about 1.5 hours total, with stops for field trips. Walking approximately 1.5 miles throughout the day; climbing approximately 100 wide, low steps to reach Monreale Cathedral; a taxi can be taken from the bus stop at the base of the stairs for a small additional cost per person each way. The Group Leader will accompany those who wish to take the taxi.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: With our Group Leader, we will walk from the hotel to visit the Opera House Massimo Theater, one of the largest opera theaters in Europe and one of Palermo’s most important buildings. Via motorcoach, we will transfer to Monreale, where we will meet with our local expert and visit the Cathedral with its beautiful mosaics representing the Old and New Testaments. After exploring Monreale, we’ll return to the motorcoach for our ride to the Sallier de La Tour winery where we will be led through the winery by their expert enologist.

Lunch: At the Sallier winery, we will have a light lunch accompanied by a wine tasting, which will be led by winery staff.

Afternoon: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon will be free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served farewell meal with wine, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11.00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet depending on departure time. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!