“To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to
everything.”      Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, after visiting the island in 1787

Discover the heart of Sicily on this unforgettable journey, blending history, culture, food, and stunning landscapes with esteemed Italian professor, Rosa Zagari Marinzoli. Rosa transports you to the Sicily of her childhood, shows you the island's treasures, and even takes you to her hometown!

Explore vibrant Palermo, ancient Agrigento, and charming towns like medieval Erice, Taormina, and Rosa's hometown, Furci Siculo. Marvel at iconic landmarks such as the Monreale Duomo, the Valley of the Temples, and Mount Etna. Savor Sicily’s renowned flavors with market tours, wine-tastings, incredible dinners,  and even an optional cooking class.

With top-notch accommodations, expert guides, and following Rosa’s lead, this trip offers a seamless blend of relaxation, discovery, and authentic Sicilian charm. 

Sicily:  Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations  

Sicily is often referred to as the "Cradle of the Mediterranean Sea."  Due to its strategic location,
it sits in the center of the Mediterranean Sea; therefore, for centuries, 3000 years to be exact, it
was considered a “treasure trove” for invaders. Surprisingly, each invading civilization, rather
than obliterating the indigenous social and cultural patrimony, enriched it. In fact, each
civilization left its mark on the island, resulting in a unique fusion of cultural, historical,
architectural, and, of course, culinary imprint. Rightly so, Sicily is often defined as a “crossroads
of cultures and civilizations.” 

Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish, just to name some of the 11
dominations, all wanted to control this fertile and idyllic territory and benefit from its richness.  

The goal of our itinerary is to demonstrate the importance of Sicily to Greek civilization at the
great Greek Theater in Taormina and in the majestic Doric temples in Agrigento.  Roman
remains, especially the wealth of Imperial Rome, will be clearly visible in the 3rd-century Villa
del Casale, near Piazza Armerina. The changes brought to Sicily in the early Middle Ages, that
clearly exhibit the workmanship of Arab, Byzantine, and Norman artisans, are predominant at
the Cappella Palatina, in Palermo’s Royal Palace, and at the majestic cathedral of Monreale.  

Custom Air Requests 

If you would like assistance purchasing flights for this trip other than that offered in the group air reservation, you can obtain personalized quotes here:    

Business class  - these fares price $5000 or higher, serious inquiries only please.

Email:  [email protected]  

Premium economy or main cabin economy - please make your request on this form:

 https://form.jotform.com/243575046497265

We have a group air reservation on Lufthansa Airlines from Newark available for this tour. If you would like to purchase these flights, select them as an 'Add-On' to your trip when you register.

Please read the terms and conditions of group air below the flight schedule in this box before making your purchase. 

Lufthansa & United Airlines - $ 1595 per person including taxes & fees:

LH #413    14SEP    NEWARK-MUNICH    8:30PM - 10:15AM arrive 15SEP

LH #1916   15SEP    MUNICH-PALERMO  3:10PM - 5:15PM

LH #1905  22SEP   CATANIA-MUNICH   6:00AM - 8:10AM
UA #031   22SEP    MUNICH-NEWARK    9:35AM - 12:25PM

*Flight times subject to airline schedule changes
Terms & Conditions of Group Air with Lufthansa & United Airlines

-Seats are assigned at the airport. Specific seat requests are not guaranteed.
-Group seats cannot be upgraded in advance and must be requested or purchased directly from the airline at the airport  (extra legroom, preferred location, exit row, etc...)
-Group seats are only offered in Main Cabin Economy.  Premium Economy & Business class upgrades are not available as part of the group.
-No date or gateway deviations permitted.

Reach out to our office if you have any questions or need assistance in any way.

If you would like to purchase your own flights, please adhere to the following flight parameters:  

September 15:  Arrive Palermo any time.  

Touring  begins the morning of September 16.  On the evening of September 15 dinner is included at your hotel at approximately 7PM and there will be a short meet and greet at that time.  

There  will be complimentary group airport transfers from the Palermo airport available at 6PM.

September 22  Depart from Catania any time. Breakfast is included at the hotel. There is no touring today.  

There  is one complimentary airport transfer from the Catania hotel to the Catania (CTA) airport  for flights departing 6:00AM or later. 

Please send us your flight  information if you purchase your own air. You must make a reservation for a spot on one of these transfers if you are not purchasing air  through our office.