Join Us for an Unforgettable

Journey Through Sicily!

Dear Friends,

Please join us for an exciting insider tour of Palermo and Western Sicily. Together, we will explore the complex cultural history of Palermo, the second capital of The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies under the Spanish Bourbon dynasty, whose rich history goes back over three thousand years.

Palermo is Sicily's largest city, an enigmatic metropolis with centuries of Phoenician, Greek, Arab, Norman, Byzantine, and eventually Spanish influence. It began with seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks who were attracted to the fertility of the land and its spectacular natural beauty. They founded cities that grew in importance until they rivaled Athens, Carthage, and Rome itself. Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, Austrians, and Spaniards then came and brought their own cultural influences that can still be discerned today in Sicily’s art and cuisine.

Like Naples, the other capital of the Two Sicilies, Palermo had a golden age in the 1700s when the Spanish Bourbons took power. Under them the city flourished and continued to be one of the major urban centers of the Mediterranean. Northwestern Sicily has many UNESCO World Heritage sites: two palaces, three churches, a cathedral, and a bridge are in Palermo proper, which was the capital of the medieval Arab-Norman kingdom. There are also two spectacular cathedrals in nearby Monreale and Cefalù that are also World Heritage sites.

You will stay in the historic Grand Hotel et Des Palmes, in the heart of the city within the historical center. This sumptuous hotel was built by the Ingham-Whittaker family who made their fortune in the Marsala trade. It became a Belle Epoque destination; Richard Wagner was a guest and finished his composition of Parsifal there.

Highlights of the tour are the Cathedral and the Arab-Norman heritage site with several important adjacent churches, but there is much more to the city for you to enjoy, including world-class art museums, spectacular palaces, two beautiful villas in Palermo and Bagheria (the Villa Palagonia, or “Villa of the Monsters”), and even one of the most famous and fascinating food markets in Italy.

The nearby cathedral of Monreale and the picturesque seaside town of Cefalù have additional Arab Norman splendors. You will also have the opportunity to visit the saltpans of Marsala, the dramatically poised town of Erice, and the Baroque spectacle of Trapani. A longer daytrip will take you to the “Valley of the Temples” at Agrigento, ancient Greek Akragas, yet another World Heritage Site. Several special experiences have been planned for you on this carefully curated tour, including an organ accompaniment at Monreale Cathedral, and a private dinner at the Villa Whitaker, where you will have the chance to see the famous “pupi,” Sicilian marionettes that enact centuries-old narratives of chivalry and valor.”

A prequel to the tour is an optional three-day visit to Taormina, literally under the volcano, with ancient Roman ruins and dramatic views of Mt. Etna from our hotel, the Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel situated on the hillside in the heart of Taormina. The volcanic soils on the slopes of the volcano and surrounding area yield the fabled blood oranges, the best pistachios, and the excellent wines (Etna DOC). An optional afternoon trip will take you to scenic Ortigia in the heart of ancient Syracuse, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean.

I look forward to sharing this wonderful tour with you. Jerry and Darla Baird from Baird Tours will be handling all the tour details. Reach out to me or them with any questions. Register now as space is limited.

Warm regards,