info@tourofsicily.com

Venus castle in Erice (Trapani province)
Jewish Heritage in Sicily 2009 HOME

Jewish Heritage in Sicily 2009
(9 nights/10 days):
An amazing tour of Sicily from Palermo, ON REQUEST departures, Villa lodge experience, First class and Deluxe properties, main Sicilian Highlights and Jewish sites...if this is the tour you are looking for read on!

 

 

Jewish symbol

 

RATE IS LAND ONLY

Double/Twin Occupancy

(price per person, based on a minimum of 2 paying people)

 

Base 2: Euro 5.100,00 per person

Base 3: Euro 4.100,00 per person

Base 4: Euro 3.700,00 per person

Base 5: Euro 3.500,00 per person

Base 6: Euro 3.350,00 per person

 

featured properties:

Palermo: Hotel Plaza Opera

Leonforte: Villa Gussio Nicoletti

Taormina: Hotel Villa Angela

Hotels may be substituted with similar category

 

Special DEAL for groups

ITINERARY (9 nights/10 days):

Palermo (3 nights) Leonforte (2 nights) Taormina (4 nights)


Day 1 (Saturday): Palermo
You are greeted at Palermo airport and transferred to your hotel. Late in the afternoon after a brief introduction made by your Tour Director, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 (Sunday):  Monreale & Palermo
After breakfast, we will start the tour in the historical centre of the city, walking through the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter and its fascinating remnants. We will visit the site of the Synagogue and with the help of some descriptions made by Jewish medieval travellers, we will learn about the large, ancient Jewish community of the capital city. Later, we walk to the Duomo and the imposing building of the Norman Palace for a deeper understanding of the social intercourse between Jews and religious and political power. Then to the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, which was the crowning architectural achievement of Roger II. The tour ends in the splendid Norman royal palace of the Zisa, built in Norman Arab style, that still keeps a Hebrew inscription and a menorah. (BB)

 

Day 3 (Monday): Palermo/Erice & Olive Oil Factory/Trapani/Marsala Winery/Palermo
Early departure to tour western Sicily. We begin in the medieval town of Erice, settled by the Elymians.  Erice was an important religious site associated with goddesses of fertility. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade p
astry shops, world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. Then to an olive oil factory and farmhouse to enjoy our light lunch. In the afternoon, we travel between Trapani and Marsala on the Salt Road to tour the historic saltpan works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced. Arrive in Marsala and visit a local winery’s cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Later back to Palermo. (BB L)
 

Day 4 (Tuesday):  Palermo/Agrigento/Leonforte (Enna)
Today’s drive across the vast countryside enables us to see Sicily’s great variety of sceneries. We soon arrive in Agrigento whose history dates back to 580 BC. A guided tour displays the Valley of the Temples, a magnificent cluster of Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Later, we depart to Leonforte near Enna which boasts a rich production of wheat, citrus fruits, and olive oil. Tonight we lodge in Villa Gussio, a traditional Sicilian old-country hotel. The hotel is a jewel set in the green heart of Sicily, a magic place where history and nature blend to celebrate a spontaneous hymn to beauty. Dinner at the hotel. (BB D)

Day 5 (Wednesday):
Leonforte/Enna/Piazza Armerina/Caltagirone/Leonfonte

(From November 1, 2008 the Roman Villa of Casale in Piazza Armerina will be closed for a hard renovation and honestly, we absolutely don't know which will be the estimated new opening date)
Our first stop is Enna. It was a centre of great military importance under the Greeks and Romans. On the upper part of the town stands the Lombardia Castle, the most ancient and well-preserved castle in Sicily. Continue to Piazza Armerina to visit the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. In the afternoon, we visit the Baroque town of Caltagirone--known as “the city of ceramics.” Ceramics have been produced here for over 1000 years. Climb the Stairway of Santa Maria del Monte, the city’s symbol of 142 steps decorated with splendid glazed majolica tiles. Time for leisure. Return to our hotel for dinner. (BB D)

Day 6 (Thursday) Leonforte/Agira/Mount Etna Winery/Taormina

A short drive takes us to the picturesque city of Agira. Visit the Synagogue site and the magnificent stone portal of the aron hakodesh with its Hebrew inscription. The portal, a unique example of Jewish architecture, will give us an insight into the life of a small Jewish community in the heart of medieval Sicily. Then continue to the slopes of Mt. Etna. Weather and volcanic conditions permitting, we experience the lava fields and incredible view of Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Afterwards, we drive to a charming local winery to visit the cellars and taste local wines. Light lunch at winery/farmhouse. Then drive along the coast to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily known for its views and atmosphere. (BB L)

 

Day 7 (Friday) Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina

Following breakfast depart for Syracuse.  The tour starts in Acradina, the site of the earliest Jewish settlement. We will visit the Catacombs of S. Giovanni and the Crypt of S. Marciano, who, according to legend, was killed by the Jews of the city. Then, we'll move to the island of Ortigia and stroll through the narrow streets of the Giudecca (the ancient Jewish quarter). See the site of the Synagogue and the Miqwè--a Jewish ritual bath, 11 metres below ground level and the most archaic that has ever been found in all of Europe. During the afternoon, our guided visit through the archaeological area showcases the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Then back to Taormina. (BB)

 

Day 8 (Saturday) Taormina/Messina/Taormina

Short drive to the centre of Messina to visit its ancient Jewish quarter. Visit the Norman Cathedral--with its Latin inscription against the Jewish city-- the community and the beautiful Palazzo Penso--belonged to a Jewish family. We will follow this with a visit to the Regional Archaeological Museum that, amongst its artistic treasures, has a Hebrew synagogal inscription of unestimated linguistic value. Afternoon back to Taormina to visit of the Greek Theatre and its antiquarium, where Greek inscriptions demonstrate the Jewish presence in the city since the classic age. Later, walk to the site of the Jewish quarter and the mediaeval convent of S. Domenico. (BB)

 

Day 9 (Sunday) Taormina

All day long at leisure to explore the town on your own or shop. Tonight we gather for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. (BB D)

Day 10 (Monday) Taormina/Catania 
Time to say goodbye to Sicily as we are transferred to Catania Airport (CTA) for our return flight. (BB)


MEAL LEGEND: BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner


HOME HOME  | SEND TO A FRIEND Ask for enquiry  |   ASK FOR INQUIRY Ask for CUSTOMIZED 


 

CLICK HERE for general information

 

SICILY WINE»

MEDITERRANEAN DIET»

SICILY OLIVE OIL»

 

WHY SICILY?»

MAP OF SICILY»

GETTING TO SICILY»

LOCALITY INDEX»

 

SICILIAN MAGAZINE»

 

SICILY CONCIERGE»

FAMILY & FRIEND PLAN»

 

How Can I Book & Pay?HOW TO BOOK?»

HOW CAN I PAY?»

 

TERMS and CONDITIONS»

TRAVEL FAQ»

TESTIMONIALS»

 

CONTACT US»

 

CAR RENTAL

2008 2009

 

 

We are NTA Member: TID 034 185

 

 

We are ASTA TOP Member: 900166379

 

 

JEWISH  SICILY
Hebrew Captions

Religious and cultural diversity is at the heart of the Sicilian heritage. This tour is designed to show how Jews lived among, and made contributions to, various Italian cultures during the Middle Ages.

 

Jewish presence in Sicily lasted for over a millennium, for the most part in a tranquil state of cohabitation with their Gentile neighbours, except towards the end, under Aragonese- Spanish rule. The main cause for the change was the Catholic Church, chiefly the mendicant friars, whose conversionary sermons and rabble rousing preaching resulted in Jewish persecution and massacre.

Not only the Church undermined the position of the Jews in Sicily--the Spanish rulers exported to Sicily some of their anti-Semetic policies. There the approaching completion of the reconquista and the resulting end of the political and economic usefulness of the Jewish element brought about major change. All the same, in Sicily relations between Jews and Christians appear to have been at times cordial and at other times at least tolerable. There existed no compulsory separate Jewish quarters, only voluntary ones such as the Cassaro in Palermo. But there too Christians lived interspersed with Jews.

 HOME | CONTACT Us | Work With Us  | B2B | Travel Agent | RSS | sitemap | TERMS & CONDITIONS HOW TO BOOK HOW CAN I PAY

 

Copyright 1999-2008 © Tradizione Turismo by Chat & Tour  -  Full Travel Agency Licence Nr. 996/VII/Tur

Address: Via dell'Autonomia Siciliana 23/25. PALERMO, Sicily