A Tour of Sicily, with an Extension to Malta

“To have seen Italy without seeing Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all – for Sicily is the key to everything.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

The enchanting island known as Sikania to its most ancient peoples was at one time a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom. Because of its size and strategic location at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, Sicily had always been coveted by leading powers. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Byzantines, Saracens, Aragonese and Bourbons, after having made Sikelia their very own, left behind an eclectic heritage which has distinguished Sicily as the most important island in the Mediterranean.

Since time immemorial, Sicily is home to glorious beaches and majestic mountains. Its coasts are gold with orange and lemon orchards while vineyards, olive groves, almond orchards and wheat fields thrive on the rolling hills. Imposing ancient temples, medieval fortresses and Baroque cathedrals punctuate the landscape whereas awesome volcanoes of all shapes and sizes light up the night sky. Witness the legacy of Phoenician merchants, Greek philosophers, Arab emirs, Norman knights, Byzantine bishops and Holy Roman Emperors through centuries of artistic traditions expressed in the Classical, Romanesque and Gothic styles and embellished by the intricate motifs introduced by the Moors and enriched by the Renaissance spirit of the Baroque.

The trip is now full. We are grateful to members for their enthusiastic participation which gives our committee a greater incentive to plan for more exciting trips in the future. Thank you!