SICILY DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: November 8th 2016 Florence to Catania, Half-Day Walking Tour Depart Florence at 7:30am on a connecting flight through Rome to Catania. Upon arrival at Catania airport, you will be transferred to the city centre by bus for the check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon, your English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel for a walking tour of Catania’s city center. The chief wonder of Catania, Sicily's second city, is that it is there at all. Its successive populations were deported by one Greek tyrant, sold into slavery by another, and driven out by the Carthaginians. Every time the city got back on its feet it was struck by a new calamity: plague decimated the population in the Middle Ages, a milewide stream of lava from Mount Etna swallowed part of the city in 1669, and 25 years later a disastrous earthquake forced the Catanese to begin again. Today Catania is completing yet another resurrection—this time from crime, filth, and urban decay.

baroque architecture to give the city a singular appearance. Nowhere is this clearer than in the centro storico (historic center). Don't miss the stunning Piazza Università, a nerve center made interesting by the facade of a majestic old university building, and the nearby Castello Ursino. (D) Overnight at Hotel II Principe

November 9th 2016 Full day tour to Taormina and Mt. Etna Your English speaking guide will reach you at the hotel and you will leave by bus for a full day excursion to Taormina and Mt. Etna. Taormina, a town with a delightful medieval character, is perched on a natural terrace overlooking the beautiful coastline and Mount Etna. You will first stop to admire the famous Palazzo Corvaja, a 15th Century Palace. The building is indicative of the architectural style of the period, with a Gothic-Catalan style portal. In 1410 it was the seat of the Sicilian Parliament. The main attraction of Taormina is nevertheless the ancient Greek Theatre, a beautiful example of Greek architecture. Its setting, acoustics, preservation and care of construction is an ultimate reminder of ancient splendour. The monument dates back to the 2nd century BC and these ruins are still used for performances. The theatre has hosted in the past the David di Donatello prize, one of the most prestigious events in the Italian film industry. It now hosts Taormina Arte, an International review festival of cinema, theatre, ballet and music, which takes place during the summer months. Fantastic views overlook the bay of Naxos out to the Calabrian coasts, the bellowing volcano of mount Etna, and the majestic Castle Mola. These views are spectacular, especially in the morning as the sun comes up, spilling its light progressively upon the distance.

Although the city remains loud and full of traffic, signs of gentrification are everywhere. The elimination of vehicles from the Piazza del Duomo and the main artery of Via Etnea, and scrubbing of many of the historic buildings has added to Catania's newfound charm. Home to what is arguably Sicily's best university, Catania is full of exuberant youth, and it shows in the chic osterie (taverns) that serve wine, designer bistros, and trendy ethnic boutiques that have popped up all over town. Even more impressive is the vibrant cultural life. Many of the town's buildings are constructed from threecenturies-old lava; the black buildings combine with

Not to miss is the pleasant stroll on “Corso Umberto: along this peaceful street beginning at Porta Messina as it gently climbs up to Porta Catania, are elegant shops, restaurants and cafés. Behind this front, an intricate network of side-street featuring unexpected sights and smells (like the sweet scent of marzipan fruits and almond paste wafting up from back-streets sweet-shop kitchens). Just beyond Porta Messina, at the entrance of the street, lies the Chiesa di San Pancrazio, believed to have been the earliest Bishop of Taormina. The church was built from the ruins of a temple dedicated to Zeus Serapis (note the remnants of the old wall incorporated into the building’s left flank). The main front has a Travel Haus Exclusive Group to Sicily with Suzi Berry 1

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY gracious doorway made of Taormina stone, framed on each side by niches containing statues of saints. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some time at leisure for independent lunch in Taormina.

You will then proceed to Mt.Etna for the second part of the tour. Mount Etna, also known as Muncibeddu (beautiful mountain) in Sicilian, is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily. In Greek Mythology, the deadly monster Typhon was trapped under this mountain by Zeus, the god of the sky. Volcanic activity first took place at Etna about half a million years ago, with eruptions occurring beneath the sea off the ancient coastline of Sicily. Currently standing 3,329 meters (10,922 ft) high, Etna is the largest and most majestic active volcano in Europe: all around the craters, the lava flows confirming the ceaseless activity of the volcano. Today Etna, which dominates the entire province of Catania, looks like an enormous black cone (white in winter), visible from 250 km away. It is a presence of which all of Catania inhabitants, whilst wary of the threat it represents, are just as proud of this natural treasure as they were in the past. For the sailors, the volcano is "a natural lighthouse that does not need a lighthouse keeper"; once upon a time, its sight alone was enough to navigate, no need for a compass. (B) Overnight at Hotel II Principe

November 10th 2016 Transfer Catania-Syracuse This morning you will leave Catania and you will be transferred by bus to the town of Syracuse. You will reach your hotel (Grand Hotel Ortigia) for check-in Your English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel for a walking tour of Syracuse’s city center. Of all the Greek cities of antiquity that flourished on the coast of Sicily, Syracuse (Siracusa) was the most important, a formidable competitor of Athens. In its heyday, it dared take on Carthage and even Rome. Syracuse's Archaeological Park contains the town's most important attractions. The island of Ortigia is the

historical heart of Siracusa. There are fewer archaeological sites exposed to view here (the island has been heavily built-up ever since the time of the Greeks), but this is the part of Siracusa you're likely to be wandering around after you've 'done' the mainland points of interest. The tight-knit lanes are pleasant for strolling, and much of the island's charm lies in wandering down narrow medieval lanes, past romantically-crumbling - or lovingly-restored - Baroque palaces and churches. A walk around the perimeter of the island is a good way to begin to get your bearings. Ortigia has many gems to discover - one of our favorites was the small Chiesa of San Martino, a simple and ancient church with a lovely interior, decorated with a mosaic in the apse; abandoned palazzi where weeds and bushes swarm over the dilapidated balconies, corners where you catch glimpses of sky through once-grand windows, carefully-tended cactus plants, updated and inviting historic buildings, seafront churches, picturesque alleys and so on.

Ortigia is joined to the mainland by three bridges. The central bridge, Ponte Umbertino, continues the line of the wide Corso Umberto, one of mainland Siracusa's major thoroughfares. Straight ahead as you reach the island, you'll come to the majestic ruins of the Greek Temple of Apollo. Veering right up Corso Matteotti you'll pass a range of clothes and shoe shops, before arriving in Piazza Archimede, at the centre of Ortigia. Despite the stream of cars cruising around its central fountain, the piazza is nevertheless a fairly attractive focal point, and a good place to start your explorations of the island. The fountain depicts the myth of the nymph Aretusa, about which you will hear more. To head straight to Ortigia's most attractive piazza, turn right and head for Via Cavour (which continues as Via Landolina), a narrow thoroughfare lined with restaurants and souvenir shops. At its end lies Piazza Duomo, an Travel Haus Exclusive Group to Sicily with Suzi Berry 2

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: elliptical open space lined with harmonious and impressive buildings - and also a good place to sit and enjoy refreshments at an outdoors cafe table (check prices carefully and inspect snacks before you buy). Alternatively, taking Via Roma from Piazza Archimede will take you up the backbone of the island, and past the small tourist information office. (B) Overnight at Grand Hotel Ortigia

The agriculture, as in all Sicily, is still the main activity, notably the hothouse cultivation and breeding, the latter related to the production of world famous “caciocavallo” cheese, that is still hand-made along with the ricotta and other food specialties in the masseria (farm); honey, notably that of “satra”, which is a bush growing on the plateaus, is also much renowned. Ragusa’s craft production is as much renowned, notably copper and

November 11th 2016 Full day tour to Ragusa and Noto Today you will enjoy a full day tour to Ragusa and Noto. You will depart by bus and you will reach Ragusa. You will meet your guide directly on site for a walking tour of the city center (3 hrs).

wrought-iron’s, and embroidery. You will then board your bus again to reach Noto. The little town of Noto is set amid olive groves and almond trees on a plateau overlooking the Asinaro Valley. Noto dates from the 9th century and knew Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Aragonese, and even Spanish culture before 1692, when an earthquake destroyed it. The town was constructed somewhat like a stage set, with curvilinear accents and wrought-iron balconies. Many Sicilian artists and artisans have worked hard to rebuild Noto into a baroque gem, with uniform buildings of soft limestone. Ragusa – a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site - provides outstanding testimony to the exuberant genius of late Baroque art and architecture. It is the province’s capital city, interesting for both its artistical and historical heritage. Set on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, it is divided into two distinct areas: Ragusa Ibla (the lower side) and Ragusa (the upper side), separated by the so-called valle dei ponti (valley of the bridges), a deep valley that is crossed by four successive bridges, among which that known as dei cappuccini (of the Capuchins), dating from the 18th century, is especially renowned. Its diverse architectonic features are evidence for an intense seismic activity in past times. After the 1693’s earthquake the residents settled on the site known as Ibla, that, today, with its medieval layout and lovely baroque architecture, is a most attractive historical centre and a major goal of tourists. The new quarters developed on a more modern orthogonal grid, with large and versatile streets.

You will go back to your hotel in Syracuse afterwards. (B) Overnight at Grand Hotel Ortigia

November 12th 2016 Transfer Syracuse-Agrigento/Valle dei Templi walking tour Today you will leave Syracuse and you will be transferred to Agrigento by bus. Once there you will reach your hotel, Hotel Athena, for check-in. Your local English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel and together you will reach the entrance of the “Valle dei Templi” for the guided tour of the archaeological site (2.5 hrs). Agrigento's amazing Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) is one of the most memorable sights of the ancient world. Greek colonists from Gela (Caltanissetta) called this area Akragas when they established a beachhead in the 6th century B.C. In time, the settlement grew to become one of the most prosperous cities in Magna Graecia. A great deal of that growth is attributed Travel Haus Exclusive Group to Sicily with Suzi Berry 3

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: with pesto sauce made Trapanese style with cherry tomatoes. The best time to visit the town is in early May when its inhabitants don red shirts to re-enact one of the most important events in Italian history: The landing of Garibaldi and his brigade of Red Shirts at Marsala on May 11, 1860, which was the start of the freedom-fighter's campaign to unify Italy. In Marsala you will also have the chance to enjoy a wine tasting with a brunch, with local products.

to the despot Phalaris, who ruled from 571 to 555 B.C. and is said to have roasted his victims inside a brass bull. He eventually met the same fate. (B,D) Overnight at Hotel Athena

November 13th 2016 Agrigento-Palermo with stop in Marsala and Segesta Transfer Agrigento-Palermo with stop in Marsala and Segesta Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Agrigento and you will depart towards Palermo. On the way you will visit Marsala and Segesta. A thriving little port on Cape Boeo, the westernmost tip of Sicily overlooking the Egadi Islands and Tunisia, Marsala is where the world-famous Marsala sweet wine is produced thanks to the area's fertile red earth, sunshine and sea breezes. This is an elegant town with baroque buildings, Roman ruins, a lively fish market and a long sandy coastline stretching to the north and south. Like the town itself, Marsala wine has antique origins, but it was first popularized in 1770 when an English trader, John Woodhouse, was forced to anchor here during a violent storm. Woodhouse headed for a tavern, downed some local wine, and realized it had commercial potential: The rest is history. You can drink some of the amber yellow Marsala in one of the town's quaint wine shops, or head through the hills along roads lined with prickly-pear cacti to one of the vineyards nearby. Townspeople drink the dark, vintage Marsala, which is best sipped as a dessert wine with hard piquant cheese, fruit or pastries, and it's also used to flavor the local cassatelle cakes made from fried ricotta and cinnamon. Wine isn't the only gastronomic delight in Marsala; it's a good place to try what's considered to be the oldest handmade pasta in the world, busiati. The curly pasta has a firm texture and mealy taste, and is good eaten

You will then proceed to Segesta for the second stop. Segesta is the site of the Tempio Dorico (Doric Temple), one of Sicily's most impressive, constructed on the side of a windswept barren hill overlooking a valley of wild fennel. Virtually intact today, the temple is considered by some to be finer in its proportions and setting than any other Doric temple left standing. The temple was actually started in the fifth century BC by the Elymian people, who some believe were refugees from Troy. At the very least, evidence indicates that they were non-Greeks; for example, they often sided with the Carthaginians. However, the style is in many ways Greek. The temple was never finished; the walls and roof never materialized, and the columns were never fluted. A little more than 1 km (½ mi) away, near the top of the hill, are the remains of a fine Greek theatre, with impressive views, especially at sunset, of the sea and the nearby town of Monte Erice. Concerts and plays are held here in summer.

At the end of the tour, you will reach Palermo for the check-in at the Hotel Piazza Borsa. (B, L) Overnight at Hotel Piazza Borsa

November 14th 2016 Full day tour: Palermo and Monreale You will meet your local English speaking guide at the hotel for a walking tour of the city centre. Palermo is an interesting city. Narrow lanes that look the same as they did centuries ago, contrasted by wide tree lined boulevards - there is a mix of culture here from the ancient Phoenician and Byzantine through to Arab and Travel Haus Exclusive Group to Sicily with Suzi Berry 4

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: Norman, and of course the more modern urban sprawl. These different cultures are reflected in the architecture and customs of this large city.

Palermo's cathedral is known officially as "Santa Maria Assunta" or Saint Mary of the Assumption. Some scholars believe that a temple existed here in Roman, or possibly even Punic, times. There is no doubt that the site once had a large Byzantine Greek (Orthodox) church. Arab records mention the existence of a large "pagan" temple present on this site when they conquered Palermo in 831. This was turned into a mosque. In 1072, when the Normans wrested control of Palermo from the Saracens, Count Roger promptly saw to it that the Great Mosque was reconsecrated as a Christian church. The present cathedral was not completed for another century, and greatly modified through the ages. The chapel that is located near the main entrance of the church is famous for its royal tombs. You will walk through Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street of Palermo. Not to be missed are Quattro Canti (Four Corners), where Corso Vittorio Emanuele intersects with Via Maqueda, the latter street a famous piece of Palermitano civic planning, carved out of the surrounding neighbourhood in the 16th century by the Spanish viceroy. Architecturally, Four Corners is a melting pot of Arab-Norman magnificence, Palermitan baroque, and the work of craftsmen of the Middle Ages. Each sculpted angle of the Four Corners celebrates seasons, a patron saint, or a Spanish viceroy. Piazza Pretoria, a lovely square with its beautiful but controversial fountain is Palermo's most famous. The fountain was called Fontana della Vergogna, or "fountain of shame," by outraged churchgoers. Originally intended for a Tuscan villa, the fountain is bedecked with nude statues and mythological monsters. This was the first landmark churchgoers saw as they left services at San Giuseppe dei Teatini, the church directly to the west. The eastern end of the square is flanked by Chiesa Santa Catarina. On the south axis stands Palazzo Pretorio, the city hall. Note the plaque on the front of the building

commemorating Garibaldi's 1860 triumph, ending the Bourbon reign in Sicily. Chiesa della Martorana, with its handsome Norman bell tower, is a very intriguing church. It is the loveliest Greek church remaining in Sicily. It was founded in 1143 by George of Antioch, called Roger II's "Emir of Emirs." Regrettably, the linear symmetry of the original Norman church is today covered by a baroque facade. Located near the Royal Palace, the Abbey Church of St. John of the Hermits (San Giovanni degli Eremiti) is a fine example of 12th century Norman-Arab construction here in Palermo. That it was built upon a mosque may account for its particularly Arabic style, with five reddish cupolas. (Incidentally, we do not know for certain whether these cupolas were originally red.) The bell tower is the only part of the building that has a distinctively Norman appearance, with its Gothic lines and mullioned windows. Were it not for the bell tower, Saint John's could easily be mistaken for a mosque. The construction of St. John of the Hermit's was ordered by Roger II in 1130 for the Benedictine Order. St. John's visual impact results mostly from its external features, with its charming Arabesque domes amidst the surrounding trees and gardens, and an elegant cloister, probably a 13th century addition constructed in the Romanesque style, though it combines harmoniously with the Church and its surrounding gardens. You will then proceed to Monreale by bus for the second part of the tour. The town of Monreale, from the Latin "Mons Regalis" ('Royal Mountain'), is suggestively located 300 metres above the sea level, on a terrace overlooking

Palermo and the Conca d’Oro, as the valley beyond Palermo is known. Monreale is worldwide famous for its magnificent Cathedral, situated in its beautiful old town. Travel Haus Exclusive Group to Sicily with Suzi Berry 5

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: Monreale Cathedral was built from 1174 to 1185. It was commissioned by William II (1154-89), the Norman ruler of Sicily, who wished to demonstrate the magnificence of his kingdom and outdo the splendid Palatine Chapel built by his grandfather, Roger II. The project employed both Sicilian and Byzantine craftsmen, resulting in a magnificent fusion of eastern and western influences. The exterior of Monreale's Duomo is pleasant enough, but gives no indication of the golden splendor within. The undisputed highlight of Monreale Cathedral is its richly mosaicked interior. Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, the golden mosaics completely cover the walls of the nave, aisles, transept and apse - amounting to 68,220 square feet in total. The mosaic cycle is second only to the Hagia Sofia in size, and much better preserved. The eye is drawn immediately to the apse, where a magnificent portrait of Christ Pantocrator ("Ruler of All") gestures in blessing and gazes serenely off to one side. The Greek inscription reads, "Jesus Christ, the Pantocrator." Old Testament stories are depicted in the nave, while scenes from the life of Christ adorn the aisles and transept.

The lovely cloister adjoining the south side was built at the same time as the cathedral. Consisting of 228 double columns supporting Arab-style arches, it is richly decorated with Romanesque figurative carvings on the columns and capitals. Mosaic work appears on some of the columns as well. Overlooking the south side of the cloister (opposite the cathedral) is a wall of the original monastery. A mini-cloister at the southwest corner contains a beautiful fountain with lion-head spouts. The cathedral and its cloister represent the largest concentration of Norman, Arab and Byzantine art in one place. This wondrous place is much more than "just another church." (B) Overnight at Hotel Piazza Borsa

November 15th 2016 Flight to USA After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel for transfer to the Palermo airport for your flight home.

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