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2026 2027 Late availability tours

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
Palermo Revealed
Palermo Revealed
Palermo Revealed
Civilisations of Sicily
Civilisations of Sicily
Palermo Revealed
Gastronomic Sicily
" So many unexpected treasures - that's what makes a Martin Randall holiday so special. " Civilisations of Sicily - Mediterranean crossroads: three thousand years of creativity
" We saw the most wonderful things and I was extremely impressed. " Palermo Revealed - Art, archaeology, architecture and gastronomy
" Meticulous attention to detail, a carefully devised itinerary, and very special private visits. " Palermo Revealed - Art, archaeology, architecture and gastronomy
" It was magical visiting Roger II's mosaics at the Palazzo Normanni after hours—and we had so much time to take it all in. That was an experience I will never forget. " Palermo Revealed - Art, archaeology, architecture and gastronomy
" A superb introduction to Sicily. Very well thought out. " Civilisations of Sicily - Mediterranean crossroads: three thousand years of creativity
" 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
" 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
" I had high expectations of this tour and they were substantially exceeded! I thought the planning and execution of it were both excellent. Thank you! " Gastronomic Sicily - Food & wine in the west
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