Join Archaeological Institute of America lecturer and host Laetitia La Follette, Professor of Greek and Roman Art and Architecture, on a summertime cruise circumnavigating Sicily aboard the luxurious, 47-cabin, three-masted barque Sea Cloud II. Begin and end on the island of Malta which, together with Sicily, has witnessed and bears the stamps of all the major civilizations that the Mediterranean cradled: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Christians, Jews, Byzantines, and Muslims. Each civilization left important stylistic traces in major architectural, urban, and artistic monuments.
Classical temples, open-air theaters, villas adorned with mosaics and frescoes, magnificently adorned churches and chapels, Islamic cloisters, and Baroque cathedrals are all found here in abundance. Begin in Valletta, the vibrant capital city of the island nation of Malta and one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. Then embark Sea Cloud II for a splendid, seven-night cruise circumnavigating Sicily. Explore the island’s treasures with stops in Trapani (with options to visit Segesta, Erice, or Marsala), Palermo, Giardini Naxos (for Taormina or Mt. Etna), and Syracuse. This itinerary also includes a day in the Aeolian Islands, one of seven UNESCO sites visited during this cruise, as well as a specially-timed sailing to enjoy up-close views of the still-active Stromboli volcano. Also available is an optional, pre-trip extension on Malta and Gozo, with visits to remarkable Neolithic and medieval sites.

Your host vessel, the Sea Cloud II, offers excellent cruise accommodations while capturing the timeless elegance of sailing. To be on deck when the sails are fully extended is an unforgettable experience. Thus, this itinerary is planned to ensure ample sailing time to enjoy the majesty of this vessel and the thrill of sailing.

A robust educational program rounds out this outstanding journey. AIA lecturer and host Laetitia La Follette, an archaeologist and Immediate Past President of the AIA; Elihu Rubin, an expert on architecture and urbanism; and Wendy Heller, a leading scholar in the field of Baroque music, will offer a series of illustrated lectures and informal discussions along the way. This cruise is being co-sponsored by other organizations so, with only 47 cabins aboard ship, I encourage you to reserve your preferred cabin today by contacting AIA Tours at aia@studytours.org or (800) 748-6262.