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tour calendar
2025 2026

Palermo, cloisters of S. Giovanni degli Eremiti, watercolour by W.W. Collins, publ. 1911.

Palermo, Palatine Chapel, watercolour by F. Fox, publ. 1913.

Mount Etna and Catania, engraving 1804.

Cultural tours in Sicily

Our small group tours of Sicily take you further and deeper. Whether it’s on a private tour of Palermo’s Palatine Chapel or a guided walk on Etna with an expert vulcanologist, you will be fully immersed in dazzling cultural inheritance.

Browse Sicily tours by theme

Exploring Sicily on a cultural tour

Every wave of Mediterranean civilisation has washed across this island and mixed with those that came before. At Segesta we see how the local Elymians aped the style of the incoming Greeks - and half-built their own Doric temple. In Palermo, intricate Islamic ceilings abut glittering Christian mosaics, while the sprawling remains of the Villa Romana del Casale remind us just how prosperous life could be amidst Sicily’s agricultural abundance.

Our expert lecturers breathe life, light and colour into every scene. Whether we’re exploring Noto’s Baroque piazzas, sipping Marsala wine or wandering the glittering island of Ortigia - where the sea seems to sparkle at the end of every street - we can expect a giddy mix of landscape, history, archaeology and art.

Expert speakers

Spotlight on Sicily

Segesta

Set in an unspoilt hilly landscape, the almost complete but fascinatingly unfinished fifth-century temple at Segesta was built by indigenous, if thoroughly Hellenised, Sicilians. On an adjacent hill is a spectacularly sited theatre with views to the sea.

Visited on: 'Civilisations of Sicily'

Palazzo dei Normanni

In Sicily, the 12th century was a golden age of church building and mosaic decoration. The Palatine Chapel in the palace of the Norman kings is entirely encrusted with Byzantine mosaics. This is perhaps the finest assembly of Byzantine art to survive anywhere.

Private out-of-hours visit on 'Palermo at Christmas'

Cefalù

Cefalù is charming small coastal town dominated by a massive Norman cathedral on the slopes behind, which contains outstanding mosaics. The art gallery of the Museo Mandralisca has a painting by the enigmatic 15th-century Antonello da Messina.

Visited on: 'Sicily: from the Greeks to the Baroque'

Important information

Currency

Euro (€)

Timezone

GMT+1

Flight time from London

4hrs

Our bases in Sicily

Palermo

Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes

Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa

Taormina

Hotel Villa Belvedere

Marsala

Hotel Carmine

Syracuse

Algilà Charme Hotel

Catania

Palazzo Sangiorgio

Hotel Villa Neri, Linguaglossa

Civilisations of Sicily
Historic Musical Instruments
Palermo Revealed
Gastronomic Sicily
Civilisations of Sicily
Civilisations of Sicily
West Coast Architecture
Gastronomic Sicily
" The quality of the planning, the lecturer and the size of the group provided an excellent tour that would be hard to match. " Civilisations of Sicily - Mediterranean crossroads: three thousand years of creativity
" Being granted access to private collections, I saw keyboard instruments I had never heard of before, and heard them played, so I was delighted! " Historic Musical Instruments - Museums and private collections in northern Italy, with recitals
" It was all perfect, and a beautiful balance between detailed visits and free time to explore alone, or just to relax. " Palermo Revealed - Art, archaeology, architecture and gastronomy
" A good mix of visits to food and wine producers and historical sites, putting the produce into context with Sicily's varied history and landscape, and both the lecturer and tour manager were excellent. " Gastronomic Sicily - Food & wine in the west
" So many unexpected treasures - that's what makes a Martin Randall holiday so special. " Civilisations of Sicily - Mediterranean crossroads: three thousand years of creativity
" Excellent, very well thought out, a rich combination of the obvious places where people would want to go, combined with the unexpected. " Civilisations of Sicily - Mediterranean crossroads: three thousand years of creativity
" Our lecturer was excellent – deeply knowledgeable but patient and informative in responding to questions. " West Coast Architecture - A century of building in Arizona and California
" This holiday took my experience of Italian wine and food to a new level. We had some sensational meals and enjoyed the variety of fresh sea food. " Gastronomic Sicily - Food & wine in the west
View more testimonials

Related news

Best Sicily Attractions: an Island of Treasures
Posted on 11th June 2025
Looking back: behind the scenes at 'Music in Bologna' – by Lizzie Watson
Posted on 1st December 2024
'Palermo Revealed' with Christopher Newall
Posted on 5th November 2024

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