An Archaeological Study Tour
Sicily & Southern Italy
October 2 – 17, 2010
Led by Dr. Robert S. Bianchi


The sites and museums of Sicily and Southern Italy contain some of the best-preserved monuments ever created by the ancient Greeks. Historically and aesthetically, they are important and beautiful homages to the art of their era. The Doric temples at Agrigento and Paestum are the most admirable examples of their kind anywhere in the Mediterranean world. The endless suites of perfect mosaics decorating the floors at the Villa Imperiale at Casale are unique, and the famous bronze Warriors of Riace are unparalleled in their execution and breathtaking in their impact. The wall paintings at Pompeii, and the sculptures in the National Museum of Naples, provide an unsurpassed collection of classical art. This archaeological study tour presents these monuments in their cultural context against the historical background of great men such as Pliny and Archimedes, who lived, worked and died in this spectacular region.

Saturday, Sunday, October 2 & 3: PALERMO: Depart from our home cities on Saturday, arriving into Palermo on Sunday. This evening we will meet with Dr. Bianchi for our orientation lecture and dinner. Centrale Palace Hotel.
Meals: Dinner

Monday, October 4: PALERMO: This morning our touring begins at La Ziza, a Norman-Arab mansion housing the Museum of Islamic Art. We then continue to the Archaeological Museum, where the Salone di Selinunte contains a fantastic array of architectural sculpture from the Greek temples of the Archaic period. Lastly, we view the magnificent Byzantine mosaics in the Cappella Palatina, one of the oldest Palermitan churches and a wonderful example of Norman-Saracenic art.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, October 5: PALERMO: After a stop to see a newly excavated Phoenician necropolis, we continue to Cefalù to visit its Cathedral and to stroll in this charming town before a seaside lunch at Porticello. The full afternoon will be spent in Monreale, where we will visit the single most important Norman monument on the island, the Cathedral and its cloisters. We then return to Palermo for dinner on our own in one of the city’s charming trattorias.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, October 6: MAZARA: A lovely drive through the countryside to Segesta, where a pretty Doric temple and Greek theater are nestled between the mountains. In the afternoon, we visit the island of San Pantaleo to tour the Phoenician site of Motya. The museum houses an outstanding statue in charioteer dress dating to the 5th century BCE. The day ends at the Marsala Museum, renowned for its reconstructed Phoenician ship. Ruggero II Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Thursday, October 7: AGRIGENTO: After viewing the dancing bronze Satyr of Mazara del Vallo, touring continues at Cusa, site of stone quarries used in the construction of the temples of Selinunte. We next visit Selinunte, starting with the important Greek temples of the Acropolis. After lunch in seaside Marinella, we complete our touring at the Western Acropolis and drive on to Agrigento (ancient Akragas), founded in 581 BCE. Baglio della Luna Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, October 8: AGRIGENTO: This wonderful day begins at the National Museum, with its reconstruction of the Atlas-like Telamones and outstanding collection of vases. We continue to the Oratory of Phalaris and the Hellenistic and Roman Quarters. Lastly, we visit the temples of Akragas Hercules, the oldest, the beautifully preserved Concordia and Hera, dramatically set on the edge of the ridge. Crossing into the western zone, we will see the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest known Doric temple. The huge telamone we saw in the museum was part of this amazing structure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, October 9: SIRACUSA: Our day begins with a lovely drive into Sicily’s hilly interior to Morgantina, a Greek city excavated by Princeton University. After lunch, we drive to the Roman Villa Imperiale at Casale, where fine mosaics of the Roman-African school date from the 4th century. This fabulous villa was the summer home of an important person, possibly Maximianus Herculeus, co-emperor with Diocletaian. The many rooms of exquisite mosaic floors include the famous hunt scene, the scene of ten maidens in bikinis participating in gymnastics and an array of mythological scenes. Grand Hotel Ortigia.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Sunday, October 10: SIRACUSA: Touring this morning begins in the Archaeological Park, with its wealth of remains, including the Roman amphitheater, the Altar of Hieron II, the Greek theater and the “Ear of Dionysius” quarry. We continue with a walking tour in the Old City of Siracusa, visiting the temple of Athena, now incorporated into the Cathedral, and the Fountain of Arethusa, famed in Greek poetry. After lunch we will visit the fine collection of Greek marbles at the Regional Museum.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Monday, Tuesday, October 11 & 12: TAORMINA: After completing our touring at the Euryalus Castle, the largest military construction in the Greek world, we drive along the coast to the charming medieval town of Taormina, arriving at the lovely Monte Tauro Hotel in time for lunch. This afternoon we will visit Taormina’s famous Greek theater. Tuesday will be completely at leisure to take an excursion to Mt. Etna, relax at the beach or explore this beautiful resort town.
Meals: Breakfast daily & 1 lunch

Wednesday, October 13: PAESTUM: We depart early for the Messina ferry to Reggio Calabria. A high point of the tour will be our visit to the National Museum to view the spectacular “Warriors of Riace,” found in the Ionian Sea and considered the finest bronze statues from the Greek world. Then a spectacular drive through the Sila Massif, covered with Italy’s most extensive forest of pine, evergreen, oak and beech, brings us to the Savoy Beach Hotel in Paestum.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, October 14: PAESTUM: This morning we drive to ancient Paestum to tour its well-preserved Doric temples and extensive ruins of the ancient city. We will also visit the excellent site museum, which displays an important group of tomb paintings, including the mural paintings from the “Tomb of the Diver.” This afternoon we will visit the Poseidon Shrine and museum.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, October 15: NAPLES: A wonderful day touring Pompeii, whose remarkably preserved villas and wall paintings are the most renowned to have survived from the Roman period. We will have lunch within the ancient city, giving us ample time to see the site in depth. We will then make the short drive to Naples and the Santa Lucia Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, Sunday, October 16 & 17: NAPLES: This morning we will visit Herculaneum, sister city to Pompeii, also buried by the eruption of Vesuvius. The tour ends with a visit to the National Museum, where wall paintings and mosaics from Pompeii are well displayed. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. This evening we will gather for our farewell dinner. Sunday we will transfer to the airport for our departure flights.

Meals: Breakfast & dinner