|
Day
1: Arrival in Palermo
You are greeted at Palermo airport and transferred
to your hotel. Later in the afternoon, meet your tour director, Moshe Ben Simon,
for an orientation talk and enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.
(Dinner
included)
Day 2: Palermo, Monreale
After breakfast,
we will explore the historical centre of the city, walking through the narrow
streets of the Jewish quarter and its fascinating remains. We will visit
to the site of the Synagogue and with the help of some descriptions made
by Jewish mediaeval travellers, we will discover the biggest Jewish community
of the capital city.
Later, we will walk to the Duomo and the imposing
building of the Norman Palace for a deeper understanding of the social
intercourse between Jews, religious power and political power.
The tour ends
in the splendid Norman royal palace of the Zisa, built in Norman Arab style,
that still keeps a Hebrew
inscription and a Jewish candle-holder.
(Breakfast
included)
Day
3: Palermo - Erice - Trapani - Marsala
Early departure to tour western
Sicily. We will reach Erice city- centre by cableway. The mediaeval town
of Erice was settled by the Elymians and was an important religious site
associated with goddesses of fertility. Wander through its' ancient streets and
visit some of the famous home-made pastry-shops, world-famous for marzipan
candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. In the
afternoon, we will drive between Trapani and Marsala along the Salt Route
to tour the historic saltpan works. Arrive in Marsala, visit a local winery's
cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Later, we'll return to Palermo.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
(Breakfast and dinner included) Day
4: Agrigento - Leonforte (Enna)
Today's'
drive across the vast countryside enables us to enjoy Sicily's great variety of
sceneries. Upon arrival in Agrigento, whose history dates back to 6th century
B.C., guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, a magnificent cluster of
Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Later, we'll drive to Leonforte
near Enna. The region boasts a rich production of wheat, citrus fruits, olive
oil. Tonight, we lodge in the green heart of Sicily at Villa Gussio, a typical
Sicilian old-country hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
(Breakfast
and dinner included) Day
5: Leonforte - Piazza Armerina - Caltagirone - Leonforte
After breakfast,
we will go to Piazza Armerina to see the ruins of a Roman Villa of
Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity.
In the afternoon, we visit the baroque town of Caltagirone known as "the
city of ceramics". Ceramics have been produced here for over 1000 years.
Climb the Steps of Santa Maria del Monte, city's symbol made out
of 142 steps decorated with splendid glazed majolica tiles. Time at leisure. Return
to our hotel for dinner.
(Breakfast and dinner included) Day
6: Mount Etna - Santa Venerina - Taormina
Short drive to the town of Agira.
Visit the Synagogue site and the magnificent stone portal of the aron hakodesh
with its Hebrew iscription. The portal, unique example of Jewish architecture,
will give us an insight into the life of a small Jewish community in the heart
of mediaeval Sicily. Then, we will continue to the slopes of Mt. Etna.
Weather and volcanic conditions permitting, we experience the lava fields and
incredible views of Europe's highest and most active volcano. After a stop at
a winery and farmhouse located in the lovely village of Santa Venerina for
wine tasting we will drive along the coast to Taormina, the world famous
resort of Sicily with its views and atmosphere. Dinner at a local restaurant.
(Breakfast and dinner included) Day
7: Taormina - Syracuse - Taormina
Departure
to Syracuse, once the most important rival of Athens, founded by settlers
from Corinth in 735 B.C. Our first stop is at Acradina, the site
of the earliest Jewish settlement. We will visit the catacombs of S. Giovanni
and the crypt of S. Marciano, who, according to the legend, was
killed by the Jews of the city. Then, we'll move to the island of Ortigia
and walk in the narrow streets of the Giudecca (the ancient Jewish
quarter). See the site of the Synagogue and the Miqwè-
Jewish ritual bath, 11 metres below ground level, the most archaic that has ever
been found in all Europe.
The tour ends in the Bellomo Gallery,
where some of the tombstones from the Jewish medieval cemetery are displayed.
(Breakfast
included)
Day 8: Taormina- Messina - Taormina
In the
morning we will drive to Messina to explore the city - centre and its ancient
Jewish quarter. Visit the Norman Cathedral- with its latin iscription
against the Jewish city- community and the beautiful Palazzo Penso-
Jewish family heritage. It will follow a visit to the Regional Archeological
Museum that, amongst its artistic treasures, has a Hebrew synagogal inscription
of unestimated linguistic value. Then, we will drive back to Taormina.
Visit of the Greek Theatre and its antiquarium, where Greek inscriptions
demonstrate the Jewish presence in the city since the classic age. Later, walk
to the site of the Jewish quarter and the mediaeval convent of S. Domenico.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
(Breakfast
and dinner included) Day
8: Catania departure
Transfer to Catania airport for departure.
(Breakfast
included)
|
