Day 1: Arrival

Arriving in Sicily, we settle in to our hotel in Syracuse, where we stay for all four nights. Join your tour leader for a welcome meeting followed by an included evening meal.

Day 2: Ortygia and Neapolis

This morning we stroll through the narrow, winding streets and small piazzas of Ortygia, the heart of Syracuse and a sublime blend of distinguished past and colourful present. At the sacred Fountain of Arethusa we find a freshwater spring still bubbling into the sea just at it did in the 8th century BC, when it encouraged the first colonists to settle in Syracuse. The 6th century BC Temple of Apollo is one of the earliest surviving stone temples from the whole Greek world, while the city’s cathedral, which began life in 480 BC as a Temple of Athena, and has seen an unbroken tradition of worship for 2500 years. The building still retains the original ancient columns and temple walls, embedded in its medieval masonry, allowing us to experience what it felt like to stand inside an ancient temple. Looking out over the Great Harbour we can imagine the historic naval battles which saw victory over Athens in 413 BC, heralding Syracuse’s golden age, and the defeat against Rome 200 years later, in which Archimedes was slain. At the Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Bellomo we discover many priceless works of art, such as the Annunciation by the 15th century Sicilian painter, Antonello da Messina.

We dedicate the afternoon to to the treasures of the World Heritage Archaeological Park of Neapolis, where we see the famous Greek theatre of Syracuse, one of the largest theatres of ancient times. Originally built in the 5th century BC, it was rebuilt in the Hellenistic and Roman periods and survives remarkably well as it was carved directly into the limestone. Also hewn out of solid rock is the colossal Altar of Hiero II, tyrant of Syracuse from 270-215 BC. At 195m long it is the largest altar known from antiquity. We also discover the stone quarries which were used to build the ancient metropolis, and to imprison 7,000 Athenian soldiers in 413 BCE after the disastrous Sicilian Expedition. They are now set in a delightful botanical garden.

Day 3: Paolo Orsi Museum and Noto

We continue our exploration of Syracuse with the exceptional Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi, which exhibits artefacts from the area around Syracuse. Given the breadth of the city’s history, these include elements as diverse as 200,000 year old dwarf elephants and burial goods from Stentinello, Castellucio and Thapsian cultures of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The many statues and vases dating to the Classical period pay homage to the city’s heyday, and the museum’s treasury displays a world-class collection of coins and jewellery.

The nearby Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro was built to commemorate the martyrdom of Saint Lucy in AD 304. Today it is famed for housing the Caravaggio painting of the burial of Saint Lucy, executed in the painter’s characteristically dramatic style.

In the afternoon we take a trip to the delightful town of Noto, another World Heritage site. After a disastrous earthquake in 1693, the town was meticulously rebuilt in exuberant baroque style, cleverly using the contours of the city to theatrical effect. Nearby we find the little-known Roman villa of Tellaro, whose intact mosaics are reminiscent of contemporary ones found at the world-famous Piazza Armerina, which we visit later in the week.

Day 4: Villa Romana del Casale and Aidone

We set off early this morning to the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina, to see one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Sicily. The 4th century villa is remarkably well preserved because it was buried by a landslide in the 12th century. The villa’s walls, many of which retain frescos, survive to a considerable height, but it is the 3,500 square metres of exceptionally well produced floor mosaics which really take the breath away. The scenes feature a wide range of subjects, including vivid hunting scenes, important depictions of the capture and transportation of wild animals, circus games, feast days and, most famously, a series of women exercising, known as the Bikini Girls. The portrayal of movement and action is remarkable and has been attributed to skilled North African craftsmen. At the centre of a large agricultural estate, the villa is often regarded as the most impressive residence built in Italy since Nero’s Golden House in Rome.

After an included lunch, we visit the extraordinary, and yet little visited, nearby museum of Aidone, which displays artefacts from the ancient site of Morgantina. These include the Morgantina Treasure, a collection of 16 pieces of silverware from the 3rd century BC which was returned to Sicily after it was illegally excavated and trafficked out of the country. Also on display are some beautifully curated ancient statues, including a more than life-size statue of the goddess Demeter.

We round off the tour with an included a farewell dinner to celebrate our time together enjoying the splendid World Heritage archaeology, art and architecture of one of the Mediterranean’s most interesting islands.

Day 6: Departure

Head home after a leisurely breakfast, or why not stay longer in Sicily?