Become immersed in the richly diverse history of Sicily, which has been occupied by myriad civilisations since the Bronze Age
Explore Sicily’s seafaring past with visits to the beautiful Phoenician island of Mozia
Engage with a wealth of cultural delights at Syracuse including the archaeological park with its Roman amphitheatre, Greek theatre and forbidding quarries
Click here to view details of our first departure in May 2026
“His relaxed approach to a complex subject excited our imagination and made each tour thoroughly enjoyable. We would be very happy to join another of his tours”
- ACE customer on a previous Ancient Sicily tour with Jamie Sewell
As the largest island in the Mediterranean and a strategic crossroad, Sicily's narrative is marked by trade and invasion. From the Phoenician invasion in the Bronze Age, Greek and Roman occupation in the classical period, and domination from the Byzantine Empire, to the Norman Golden Age, western Baroque influence from Spain and France, and the unification of Italy in the modern era, Sicilian history has been intricately interwoven with myriad of civilisations and cultures, resulting in a richly diverse culture and people.
Beginning in Palermo, which became Sicily’s capital after the Norman conquest, we will delight in the magnificence of Sicily’s classical heritage. We will marvel at the city's monumental architecture, including the orate Arabo-Norman designs of Palermo Cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Norman-Byzantine Cathedral of Monreale, built by William II. The Palatine Chapel within the Palazzo dei Normanni is particularly breathtaking, renowned for its stunning Byzantine mosaics, which rival the golden masterpieces found in Monreale's cathedral.
Journeying through the area of Magna Graecia, a term used to refer to the Greek influence on regions of Italy and Sicily in antiquity, we will explore an abundance of significant archaeological sites that will illuminate Sicily’s ancient past – from its early history at Segesta, to signs of Greek and Roman occupation at Syracuse, Selinunte and Naxos.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus at Agrigento was amongst the largest in the entire Greek world, presenting an astonishing display of wealth and power, while the Roman Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina contains some of the finest mosaics in existence, with remarkable depictions of mythological figures and ancient life.
Syracuse, “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all” in the opinion of Cicero, conceals the Doric columns of the ancient Temple of Athena behind the Baroque façade of the cathedral. Its archeological park presents one of Sicily’s largest collections of antiquities, charting the city’s expansion from prehistory.
New for our 2026 departure, our enhanced Ancient Sicily tour will take you on a deeper dive into the island's Phoenician and seafaring history with new visits to Marsala and Mozia, offering a fuller understanding of Sicily's place in the Mediterranean.
Surrounded by a shallow lagoon with shores lined with salt flats and windmills, Mozia held a coveted strategic position, similar to Carthage, and became a chief Carthaginian stronghold and one of their most important commercial cities in Sicily. Founded by the Phoenicians in 800 BCE, it likely began as a commercial station and trading drop within the Mediterranean, before flourishing into a busy port city by 650 BCE, with maritime trade expanding across the central and western Mediterranean. After being sacked by rival Carthage in the mid 6th century BCE, the island city was fortified with defensive walls, some of the earliest to be found in the central Mediterranean, the remains of which line the landscape. During our time on the island we shall also be able to view the Moyta Charioteer – housed in the Giuseppe Whitaker museum – a rare 5th century BCE Greek marble statue of a chariot race victor, as well as the Villa of Mosaics and the Kothon – a Phoenician port.
We will stay in four comfortable hotels throughout the tour, chosen for their beautiful and convenient locations as we journey around Sicily.
Jamie Sewell
Jamie has many years’ experience supervising excavations across Europe, including in Italy, and he has authored a book and many articles on the archaeology of towns in Hellenistic Italy and the broader Mediterranean.
This tour will be led by expert in ancient history, Jamie Sewell, PhD. Jamie has many years’ experience supervising excavations across Europe, including in Italy, and he has authored a book and many articles on the archaeology of towns in Hellenistic Italy and the broader Mediterranean. His ongoing research is focused on how and why larger settlements in Italy transformed as a result of the Roman conquest of the peninsula. Jamie has lectured at Durham University and Humboldt University in Berlin, and has more than a decade’s experience working as a historical guide.
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£4995
ANS2-26
Tour is fully booked- please contact the office on 01223 841055 to be added to the waiting list.
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, ten breakfasts, two lunches, eight dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £565.
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