City of Art
Visited by Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Normans and Arabs, Sicily is a miscellaneous of the major cultures and civilizations of anytime. All these dominations have left evident heritage and culture signs.
For an unforgettable stay, we suggest excursions in place rich of history, charm and suggestion to add to your journey diary……the small details, the delights, the astonishments.
Panormus from the Greek "all Harbour". Here there are Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabic, Normans, and Spanish witnesses. Ruggero II , becoming king of Sicily in 1130, Built here his precious royal palace, building the Palatina Chapel. It is characteristics of blunted corners of Barocco palaces, adorned with statues and fountains, a mix of architectural stiles, Greek, Roman, Norman, Arabic, Islamic. Today walking on the main Palermo’s streets we can see the modern and trendy shops, the Massimo and Politeama theatres; but there also the out of the ordinary Palermo, like the loudly and crowded Vucciria and Ballarò markets. Many are the monuments, the state of arts, the museums, the Churches and the Palazzos to be visited in Palermo.
The beautiful Monreale.It is one of the main Sicilian Touristic attractions. Coming up among sharp turns and wonderful view of the valleys at just few kilometres from Palermo, we arrive to Monreale. Magnificent its Arabic-Norman Dome, with the Cristo Pantocratore, with its entourage of angels, prophets and Saints, in the Apse, a typical Byzantine style paint.
Agrigento
According to the legend, Agrigento has been founded by Dedalo and his son Icaro, after the escape from Creta with their wings. Agrigento has been the native land of many important people from the past, among them the philosopher Empedocles. Pindar celebrates the city as "the most beautiful mortals’ city ". Honestly, still today we admire the greatness and the beauty of the famous “ Valle dei Templi built in the V° century. From the city, like a view point above the valley is possible to admire from any angle the Craggy surface, the beauty of the Greek Akragas. There are many interesting old ruins; the craggy temples, the roman monuments, the Christian necropolis, are today a heritage of the magnificent and the greatness of the old Greece.
Erice
His name becomes from Eryx, son of Venus. It not possible asserts to have seen the Western Sicily without seeing Erice, centre of myths and civilization. There was venerating the Venus Ericina, fertility and beauty goodness. Its millenary walls, its churches, the tiny and windings middle age roads and the beautiful view on the Tirremum sea, like a coast town, , from the suggestive and enchanted appearance, enchant any visitor. He is in the middle of a sight where human being and nature have been able to maintain a monastic peace.
Trapani
"Drepanum" meaning sickle style harbour. Some very old legends explain the foundations of Trapani. It born as a coastal town by Phoenicians, becoming famous for its salt, for the marble and the coral. Its presence in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea has attributed indelible traces of the past dominations and civilizations.
Mazara Del Vallo
Our walk start from Mokarta square, the pulsing heart of the city. Form there we can admire the Norman Arc in front of the seaside, the Episcopal building (late 500), the Cathedral from the primary implant from the XI° century, the Satire’s Museum, the mythological dancing figure of the orgiastic demon. We will continue our visit on the way to the channel harbour and from here we proceed into the narrow street’s labyrinth of the city centre, following the old Arabic traditions: a “medina” full of colours and flavours of Maghreb. Just at few kilometres from the city, following the seaside road to Torretta Granitola, there is the integral natural reserve of Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi, round sheet of lake water full of fauna and vegetation, in total contrast with the surrounding area.
Gibellina
From the Arabic Gebel (mount), in the middle age it was an agricultural village born around a castle built up in XIV century by Chiaramonte. Ribuilt after the hearthquaque of 1968, it is now like a permanent sculptures museum of contemporary itlian artists as P.Consagra, A.Burri, A.Pomodoro, all around the streets.