CAU > Seminars and Study Tours > Western Sicily Walking Tour

Western Sicily Walking Tour

May 21-30, 2005

The registration period for this program has passed.
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Overview

Literally the crossroads of the Mediterranean, the island of Sicily bears witness to the power, wealth, and tastes of Mediterranean rulers over more than two millennia. To think of Sicily only as the far corner of southern Italy is to miss the point about this fascinating island. As we stroll the streets of its busy cities, visit its incomparable archaeological zones, and take in the beauty of its coasts and highlands, our goal in this walking tour will be to uncover Sicily's longer, deeper, richer past, the age that made Sicily one of the great repositories of architecture and art in the Mediterranean world.

Faculty

Our walking tour will be led by CAU favorite, architectural historian Jeffrey N. Blanchard, academic coordinator of the Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning's center in Rome and a member of the faculty of the college. This will be Jeffrey's fourth CAU journey through Sicily (and his second walking tour). Complementing his extensive knowledge of architecture--not to mention his love for all things Italian--Jeffrey will be assisted throughout by our excellent guides from Country Walkers, our tour operator for the program.

Itinerary

We'll convene on May 22 at the Hotel Centrale Palace, an eighteenth-century palazzo in busy Palermo, with its lively streets and delightful restaurants. During the following days, we'll encounter Sicily's remarkable architectural past as we visit unique chapels, such as San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Cappella Palatina, two of the finest Norman structures in Sicily. Just outside the city, the cathedral and cloister of Monreale will provide one of the highlights of the journey. Constructed during the reign of William II, this enclave of Arab-Norman architecture is one of the wonders of the medieval world. Its lavish scale is equaled only by the ecclesiastical giants of Rome and Byzantium, and its interior mosaics are unmatched anywhere in the world. Also outside Palermo, we will traverse the northern coast of Sicily, stopping at Bagheria and Cefalu, one of the most charming villages in Sicily, whose medieval streets and structures have survived virtually intact for centuries.

From Palermo we'll head west, through lovely country, to several of Sicily's most marvelous sites and cities. At Segesta we'll explore what many regard as the Mediterranean's most beautiful Doric temple after the Parthenon, set in splendid isolation among valleys and rolling hills--a great place to walk. From Segesta we'll head toward Erice, where we'll stay at the Hotel Moderno. Erice is a perfect medieval village set atop a craggy little mountain overlooking the Mediterranean (on a clear day one can glimpse the coast of Africa). We'll visit and hike through the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, spanning the virgin coastline north of Scopello, with its beautiful, secluded beaches and habitats for kestrels, eagles, and peregrine falcons.

From Erice we'll take a day trip to the lovely islands off the Sicilian coast for more splendid scenery and hiking. Heading south and east, we'll once again encounter lovely coastlines as we approach Agrigento, whose setting between deep valleys overlooking the Mediterranean has awed visitors for millennia (Pindar called it "the most beautiful of mortal cities.") Here we will explore the Valley of the Temples, the largest group of Greek temples at a single site anywhere in the world, once again enjoying ample opportunities for walks as we examine the ancient sites. Bidding farewell to Agrigento, we'll head north, returning to Palermo, for a final chance to explore and relax before heading home. With marvelous settings at a perfect time of year, wonderful company, and the chance to exercise both body and mind, we're certain you'll prize this special way of seeing Sicily. We hope you'll join us!

Program Cost and Travel Arrangements

The program fee of $4,990 (per-person, double-occupancy) includes all lodging, most meals, all ground transportation and site visits, all taxes, gratuities, escort services, emergency medical-evacuation insurance, and the full educational program. The supplement for single occupancy is $600. A group flight will be available from New York at additional cost, but you are free to make your own international air arrangements if you prefer.

Physical Requirements

This will be a physically active program. You must be able to walk easily for several hours at a time, three or more miles at a stretch on many days, over uneven, occasionally rugged, hilly terrain, climb numerous steps at many sites, and stand for prolonged periods of time. We will also provide opportunities for several rigorous hikes for those who would really like a challenge!