Highlights of Ancient Sicily — Italy to the Adriatic — Page & Moy Europe Holiday Collection 2009 online holiday brochure

ITALY TO THE ADRIATIC Highlights of Ancient Sicily 8 days from �819 Greek ampitheatre, Taormina Segesta " Specialist lecturer on selected departures " Special departures to Calabria or the Aeolian Islands Discover fine mosaics in a luxurious Roman villa, take a bow on the stage of an ancient Greek theatre, stroll through the Romanesque cloisters of a Norman cathedral and explore the well-preserved legacies of Sicilys chequered past, all under the watchful eye of towering Mount Etna. ITINERARY DAY 1 UK/Cefalu We fly to Catania, meet our Tour Manager and transfer north to Cefalu and our hotel, where we stay for four nights on a half board basis. Cefalu is a pretty, relatively unspoilt seaside town fronted by a curve of golden sandy beach. Youll find one of the finest Normal cathedrals in Sicily, its twintowered facade dominating the skyline; inside are splendid mosaics. DAY 2 Palermo We spend the morning exploring Palermo, one of the most colourful and fascinating cities on Sicily. Lying in a natural amphitheatre known as the Conca dOro (the Golden Valley) and sheltered by Monte Pellegrino, the city occupies a stunning location. Its eclectic range of architecture ranges from Norman to Art Nouveau and our tour takes us to the Palazzo Reale, where we see the sumptuous Cappella Palatine. Its lavish interior is covered in mosaics and marble inlaid with glass, stone and gold. We also visit La Martorana, a 12th-century church with Arabic decoration; and the cathedral, the last resting place of many Sicilian kings. DAY 3 Agrigento Our full-day excursion today is to the site of Agrigento, an ancient city dating back to the 6th century. The Valley of the Temples is dramatically situated on a high ridge overlooking the sea and is one of the most impressive ancient Greek complexes outside Greece. We will walk down the Sacred Way; see the magnificent Temple of Concord with its surprisingly well-preserved columns; and the ruined Temple of Zeus, the largest temple built by the Greeks. DAY 4 Monreale & Segesta Today we visit the fine Norman cathedral at Monreale, famed for its majestic Romanesque cloisters. The interior glitters with magnificent Byzantine mosaics depicting tales from the Old Testament and the Gospels. In the afternoon our tour continues to the picturesque ruins at Segesta. Here we visit the massive unfinished acropolis, standing proudly on a remote hillside, and the ancient theatre, brought to life again by summer concerts. DAY 5 Piazza Armerina & Giardini-Naxos We head inland today to Piazza Armerina. Here we visit the luxurious Villa del Casale, which houses some of the finest Roman mosaics in existence. Adorning almost every room, the mosaics are renowned for their richness and high quality. We continue to Giardini-Naxos and our hotel for the next three nights. The welcoming resort of Giardini-Naxos is close to Taormina and offers a good choice of cafes and bars, a pebble beach and a waterfront promenade. DAY 6 Siracusa Our full-day excursion takes us to Siracusa, one of the most important sites in the ancient Cetraro Aeolian Islands Lamezia Terme Palermo Monreale SICILY CEFALU Piazza Armerina Taormina GIARDINI-NAXOS Catania Agrigento Siracusa Ortigia 20 To view dates & prices click here To book click here

Italy to the Adriatic contd… Highlights of Ancient Sicily