World Class Travel & Tours

Sicily Tour of Scenic & Historic Sights

Palermo, Taormina, & Mount Etna.

Royal Palace, Cathedrals, & Archaeological Sites.

Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, & Normans.

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Brief history of sicily

Sicily has a strategic location in the Mediterranean with a desirable climate. So it is not surprising that many peoples through the years have invaded, fought for, and controlled for a time that island. As a result, Sicily has been a melting pot having been influenced by many different cultures. The civilizations that have ruled Sicily include the Ancient Greeks that migrated there as early as the eight century BC. Include also the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Goths, Byzantines, and Arabs. During medieval times the Normans were there for awhile. In later years down to the present more peoples followed leaving their imprints on present day Sicily.

Royal Palace in Palermo

For centuries the Royal Palace in Palermo was the house of Sicily 's rulers; it is now the Sicilian parliament building. Because it is the seat of government much of the palace is closed to the public. Fortunately, the Palatine Chapel within the palace is open. The palace was built by the Arabs. It was abandoned and later restored by the Normans when they conquered the land. The Palatine Chapel was built from 1130 to 1140, and it is covered with spectacular mosaics. The art work was produced by Normans and Sicilians in the tradition of eleventh century Greek Byzantine mosaics. The scenes depict stories of the Bible illustrated with examples of Arab daily life, and the overall effect is outstanding.

Cathedral in Palermo

The Cathedral in Palermo has an interesting history. It was once the site of a Christian basilica which was replaced by a Muslim mosque. Then in 1184 the Normans built a cathedral. The bell towers were added in the fourteenth century, porches were added in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and a baroque and neoclassic interior was added in the eighteenth century. The different styles have been criticized as inconsistent, but the Cathedral has considerable charm and beauty. The tombs of royalty are found inside including that of Roger II, the first king of Sicily who died in 1154.

Monreale Norman Cathedral

The Monreale Norman Cathedral is located six miles (ten kilometers) southwest of Palermo. It was built by the Normans in the twelfth century, and it is considered to be the finest Norman church built. The interior of the Norman Cathedral is decorated with a large number of beautiful mosaics which depict stories from the Bible. There are beautiful paintings on the ceiling. The bronze doors, which contain scenes from the Bible, were created in 1185 by Bonanno Pisano, who was the architect of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Next to the Cathedral is a highly regarded cloister.

Agrigento: Valley of the Temples

Agrigento is located 80 miles (129 kilometers) south of Palermo. It was originally settled by the Greeks, and they named the town Akragas. In Agrigento is found the Valley of the Temples; the temples were built from about 450 BC to 350 BC. These are rated as the best preserved temples of Ancient Greece, being in better condition than even those found in Greece. The architectural style of the temples is Doric, which is the simplest of the Greek styles. The most attractive of the temples and the one in the best shape is the Temple of Concord, which was built around 430 BC. In the sixth century it was converted into a Christian church. It has since been restored to its original form. Nearby the Temple of Jupiter exceeded 330 feet (100 meters) in length, and was considered the eight wonder of the world. It was destroyed by an earthquake.

Ruins at Selinunte

Selinunte is 76 miles (122 kilometers) southwest of Palermo overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was founded in the seventh century BC and was an important Greek colony. There were seven temples, but they were destroyed in 409 BC by the Carthaginians, and most of the temples now lay in ruins. In the battle an army led by Hannibal slaughtered 16,000 of the people of Selinunte. One of the temples was reconstructed in 1958. It is referred to as Temple C.

Syracuse, the birthplace of the great mathematician Archimedes, is located 205 miles (330 kilometers) southeast of Palermo. It was founded by the Greeks in 734 BC, and became the wealthiest city-state in the West. This disturbed the Athenians, and they attempted to conquer Sicily, but were defeated in a naval battle in 413 BC by the powerful Syracuse navy. The defeated Athenians became slaves. They were kept prisoner in a series of quarries where they chiseled and hammered away at the rock. One of the quarries has what is described as an ear shaped entrance called the Ear of Dionysus, which was so named as the quarry has unusual acoustics. It is said that the ruler Dionysus could listen at the top of the quarry and hear what the prisoners were plotting below.

There is a very fine Greek theater where 15,000 people could and still can watch the performance of a Greek tragedy. The theater was carved out of a rock in a hillside. There is also a Roman theater built by the Ancient Romans after they conquered the Greeks. It was built in about the second century AD. The Roman amphitheater was a place for spectators to watch gladiators and animals in combat.

Mount Etna

Taormina

Taormina was found by Greeks in the sixth century BC. Its lofty location on cliffs provide great views of the sea below and if clear Mount Etna nearby. This is a favorite place for tourists to enjoy the shops and restaurants in an attractive setting. Below Taormina beaches are found at Taormina Mare and Giardini-Naxos.

Photos by Sunny Breeding. We sell images and prints.

Acknowledgments.

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