It's more cultures than you can imagine. Sicily, the world's most conquered
island, has a perennial appeal to students of all ages for the gifts bequeathed
us by its trimillennial history of rule by civilizations from Europe, northern
Africa and western Asia. Seeing Sicily is like visiting a dozen civilizations,
over dozens of centuries, in one magical place.
And it belongs to all of us. Sicily is the world's island. It's yours to discover.
Sicily boasts some of the most impressive Greek temples, at Segesta and
Agrigento, the most extensive display of medieval Byzantine mosaics, at
Monreale, and the largest single display of Fatimid art, the painted muqarnas
ceiling of Palermo's uniquely Norman-Arab-Byzantine Palatine Chapel. The
cathedral of Siracusa is a Greek temple whose pillars are still visible.
Europe's two oldest mikvehs are in Palermo and Siracusa.
Behind the
place are its people. Over time, Sicily has been home to Greek
philosophers, Phoenician traders, Roman governors, Byzantine emperors, Muslim
emirs, Jewish sages, Norman kings, German emperors, and some of Europe's
most intrepid queens.
The landscape is stunning, with its rocky mountains, rolling hills, Europe's
largest volcano, and a seemingly endless coastline. The winters are mild
and the cuisine, a timeless fusion of centuries of diverse influences, is
always enticing. Rice balls, sea urchins, aubergine salad, gelato and cannoli
are just the beginning.
Sunny Sicily is one of Europe's most intriguing regions. It is an increasingly
popular travel destination. We're part of Italy, of course, but Italy is
just one part of Sicily's eclectic soul.
While Golden Sicily can plan a tour for any group, the information on
this site is oriented to those thinking about coming to Sicily with students.
They may be university undergraduates, high school students, or even college
alumni. We have also organized conferences and events.
We speak your language. We even wrote a book, Sicilian Studies, for professors seeking to teach their students about our island.
Our tours aren't only for students studying history and languages specifically.
As the world becomes increasingly complex, an appreciation of the collective
memory epitomized by Sicily should be part of every student's education.
We love Sicily, and we think your students will fall in love with it
too. Our staff has been in this business for decades. You can expect attention
to detail and a memorably enjoyable experience that is also educating, even
illuminating. Our tours are formulated by experienced travel professionals,
but they're conceived by scholars. Like Sicily's Norman-Arab architecture,
it's an effective synergy.