Ancient Sicily

Few places in the Mediterranean have absorbed so many cultures—and preserved them so clearly—as Sicily. For over three thousand years the island stood at the centre of ancient sea routes, drawing settlers, traders, and conquerors whose buildings and beliefs still shape the landscape today. Greek temples rise above almond groves, Phoenician harbours lie quiet in coastal lagoons, and medieval cities rest firmly on ancient foundations.

This journey traces Sicily’s historical arc from west to east, beginning in Palermo and moving through some of the island’s most important archaeological regions. We visit the great classical sites of Segesta, Selinunte, Agrigento, Morgantina, and Syracuse, alongside museums that bring their histories into sharp focus. Time is also given to later periods, where Norman, Byzantine, and Baroque monuments reveal how the ancient world continued to influence Sicily long after antiquity.

ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Palermo
Depart London Gatwick for Palermo then transfer by coach to our hotel for a two-night stay. Evening welcome drink, dinner with wine, and talk from your tour lecturer, Dr Jamie Sewell: ‘Sicily: Crossroads of the Mediterranean’.

Day 2: Palermo
Today is devoted to Palermo, whose historical centre is a living record of Mediterranean civilisation. We begin at the Archaeological Museum, Sicily’s principal archaeological collection, housing material from prehistoric times through the Roman period, including sculpture, inscriptions, and architectural fragments that chart the island’s ancient development. A short walk brings us to the Norman churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana), masterpieces of the twelfth century. Their austere exteriors conceal interiors rich in Byzantine mosaics. At the Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita, we see Giacomo Serpotta’s extraordinary stucco work—an exuberant Baroque counterpoint to the medieval architecture seen earlier. We conclude at Palermo Cathedral, a monument continuously reshaped since its foundation in the twelfth century. Its structure reflects successive rulers’ ambitions, from Norman kings to Spanish viceroys.

Day 3: Segesta and the Island of Mozia
Leaving Palermo, we travel west to Segesta, one of the most compelling sites of classical Sicily. The unfinished Doric temple, dramatically poised on a hilltop, stands as a testament to the Elymians. Nearby, the theatre demonstrates how architecture was designed with the surrounding landscape in mind. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we continue to the Stagnone Lagoon at Marsala and cross by small boat to Mozia, once a thriving Phoenician trading colony. Now preserved as an archaeological island, Mozia retains the remains of harbours, sanctuaries, and houses that speak of Sicily’s earliest maritime networks. The island museum houses the celebrated marble statue known as the Youth of Mozia, a rare masterpiece from the Punic world. We then continue to Marsala for dinner with wine.

Day 4: Marsala and Selinunte
Our morning begins at the Museo Archeologico Baglio Anselmi, home to the remains of a first‑century BCE Roman ship, discovered just offshore. The museum provides an insight into ancient naval warfare and the strategic importance of western Sicily. After lunch, we visit Selinunte, one of the largest archaeological parks in Europe. Founded by Greek colonists in the seventh century BCE, the vast site contains multiple sanctuaries and monumental temples, dramatically positioned between sea and plain. The scale of the ruins conveys the former wealth and ambition of this ancient city, destroyed in the late fifth century BCE. We continue eastward to San Leone.

Day 5: Agrigento
Today is dedicated to Agrigento; here we explore the Valley of the Temples, where a series of remarkably preserved Doric temples line the ancient processional route. The Temple of Concordia, in particular, is one of the best‑preserved Greek temples anywhere in the world. Beyond the main ridge, we examine lesser‑visited excavation areas and urban remains that reveal how the ancient city was organised. The day concludes at the Regional Archaeological Museum.

Day 6: Piazza Armerina and Morgantina
Travelling inland, we reach Piazza Armerina and the Villa Romana del Casale, a late Roman elite residence famed for its mosaic floors. These vivid scenes of hunting, mythology, and daily life provide an insight into aristocratic life in the fourth century CE. After lunch, we visit Morgantina, an important Greek city continuously occupied from the Bronze Age to Roman times. The excavated agora, houses, sanctuary, and theatre illustrate the structure of a Hellenistic city, while many artefacts recovered here are now displayed in Sicilian museums. We continue to Syracuse.

Day 7: Syracuse and Ortygia
Syracuse, founded by Corinthian Greeks in the eighth century BCE, was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean. We begin at the Neapolis Archaeological Park, home to the Greek theatre, Roman amphitheatre, and the vast limestone quarries known as the Latomie. The Greek theatre, substantially rebuilt under Hieron II, remains a defining monument of classical architecture. The visit is complemented by the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum, which houses an exceptional chronological collection from prehistoric Sicily through the Roman period. In the afternoon, we explore Ortygia, the historic heart of Syracuse, on foot. Time is allowed to appreciate its ancient street plan, cathedral square, and layers of Greek, medieval, and Baroque architecture. Farewell dinner tonight. 

Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Catania Airport for our return flight to London Gatwick.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 travellers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as demanding due to the amount of time spent walking and standing for viewing at attractions. Most sites will be very uneven underfoot, with no handrails, and limited places to sit. Any paths may be cobbled, grassed, or gravel. For further information, please visit the mobility page on our website, or call our team if you have any questions prior to booking. 

INCLUDED

• Flights from London Gatwick to Palermo, and returning from Catania to London Gatwick
• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at NH Collection Palazzo Sitano, Palermo, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• One nights’ bed and breakfast at President Hotel, Marsala, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at Hotel Costazzurra Museum & Spa, San Leone, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at Grand Hotel Villa Politi, Syracuse, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Welcome drink 
• 5 dinners
• 3 lunches
• All tours and entrance fees as detailed
• Airport transfers and full coach touring itinerary
• Accompanied by Dr Jamie Sewell throughout
• Tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - from £574
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano, Palermo - 2 nights
Located in Palermo’s atmospheric Kalsa district, just a short stroll from the waterfront and the city’s baroque landmarks, this four-star hotel occupies a sensitively restored 18th‑century palazzo that once belonged to Sicilian nobility. The building offers a mix of original features—arched courtyards, stone staircases and decorative flourishes—while its interiors have been updated with the polished, contemporary comfort. Facilities include a wellness area with sauna and steam room, a small fitness space, bar and restaurant, along with comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities.
Hotel Website

Hotel President, Marsala - 1 night
Hotel President offers a relaxed and practical base just a short distance from the historic centre and the region’s celebrated salt flats and vineyards. Designed with a contemporary, functional feel, the hotel centres around a generous outdoor pool and sun terrace, alongside a restaurant, and bar. Guest rooms are spacious and simply styled, with a clean, modern finish, and come with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, minibar, and hairdryer. 
Hotel Website

Hotel Costazzurra Museum & Spa, San Leone - 2 nights
This four-star hotel is located in the seaside quarter of San Leone, just a short walk from the Mediterranean and a short drive from Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. The hotel is classed as an “archaeo-hotel,” housing the private Gaipa collection—an eclectic array of artefacts spanning Magna Grecia, Egypt and Rome. Facilities include a spa, outdoor swimming pool with sun terrace, private beach access, restaurant, and bar. Rooms are comfortable and classically styled, offering air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibar, safe and hairdryer.
Hotel Website

Grand Hotel Villa Politi, Syracuse - 2 nights
Occupying a striking position on the edge of Syracuse within the ancient Latomie dei Cappuccini—a series of atmospheric stone quarries dating back over 2,500 years—Grand Hotel Villa Politi is one of the city’s most characterful historic stays. This elegant late‑19th‑century palace, enhanced with early 20th‑century Liberty-style flourishes, has welcomed notable guests over the decades, including Winston Churchill, and retains a sense of grandeur amid its cliffside setting overlooking the Ionian Sea. The hotel is set just outside the historic centre, within easy reach of Ortigia and the archaeological park, and is surrounded by gardens and natural rock formations. Facilities include classic style bedrooms, a large outdoor swimming pool with sun terrace, a restaurant, and the Winston Lounge Bar, along with a private rocky beachfront area. 
Hotel Website