Discover the Saga of Sicily
For thousands of years, Sicily’s central position in the Mediterranean made it one of history’s most coveted lands, drawing successive powers eager to control its wealth and strategic reach. Each empire left enduring marks in stone, building castles and fortresses to assert authority over land and sea. Traveling across the island today reveals this layered history firsthand, as shifting landscapes and regional strongholds tell the story of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Lombard, Aragonese, and Holy Roman rule. Join us to explore these fortifications and experience Sicily transformed from merely a beautiful destination into a living narrative of empire, resilience, and the forces that shaped the Mediterranean world.
From antiquity to nearly the modern era, the Mediterranean has had no more prized piece of real estate than the island of Sicily. Floating regally in the very center of the inland sea, it has long been the Holy Grail for aspiring empires—Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, North Africans, Normans, and Spanish—each determined to secure this fertile, sun-drenched crossroads and claim both its bounty and its strategic might. And with every new conqueror came a fresh wave of fortifications: towering castles, cliff-top citadels, and coastal strongholds built to announce power, safeguard riches, and ensure that Sicily remained firmly—if only briefly—in their grasp.
Traveling across Sicily today is like stepping into a living chronicle of shifting empires, and our journey begins in the island’s vibrant northwest, where the foundations of power laid by Byzantine, Arab, and Norman rulers still shape the landscape. From coastal ramparts to hilltop citadels, each region reveals a distinctive layer of influence. As we travel inland, along the northern coast, and through the rural heartland, you’ll gain an ever-deepening understanding of how each conquering power fortified Sicily to secure its wealth and strategic position. Throughout these early stages of the tour, panoramic viewpoints, relaxed guided walks, and expert interpretation illuminate how castles became tools of authority—and symbols of ambition—for centuries of competing empires.
Continuing around the island, the journey leads eastward and southward into territories shaped by Lombard, Aragonese, and Holy Roman rule, where massive stone walls, commanding towers, and dramatic coastal defenses still stand sentinel over the sea. Moving across varied landscapes—mountain ridges, fertile plains, and volcanic foothills—you’ll witness how Sicily’s topography inspired fortifications designed to control trade routes, defend harbors, and dominate inland passageways. The tour concludes on the island’s eastern shores, bringing together all the threads of this remarkable story. By journey’s end, you will have circled Sicily and explored a remarkable spectrum of castles and fortresses—each one a testament to the island’s pivotal role in Mediterranean history and to the many powers that vied to possess it.
To journey among these castles is to witness Sicily’s extraordinary saga—one of ambition, conquest, resilience, and reinvention. Join us on an expert-led exploration that brings these fortresses to life: walk their battlements, wander their echoing halls, and feel the island’s history unfurl beneath your feet. With each castle visited, you’ll see how Sicily became not merely a prize to be taken but a jewel that shaped the destinies of empires.
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- See the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Albi and Carcassonne
- A night in the picturesque spa village of Ax-les-Thermes, nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains where the rivers Oriege, Ariege, and Lauze converge
- Two days exploring the stunning ancient city of Toulouse, the capital of the Haute-Garonne region of southwestern France
- A Scholarly Sojourns signature picnic in the stunning Languedoc countryside
- A visit to the magnificent Church of St. Sernin—the largest Romanesque-style church in Europe—which contains an array of high-quality Romanesque sculpture
- Two nights in the stunning, fortified walled-city of Carcassonne
- In-depth explorations of five fairy-tale-like Cathar castles, including the breathtaking Chateau de Montesegur—the last Cathar Castle to fall during the Albigensian Crusade
- A visit to the charming town of Albi—which gave its name to the crusade set against the Cathars—beautifully set on the banks of the Tarn River
- A guided tour of historic Abbaye de Fontefroide, a beautifully-restored, 11th-century abbey that is indelibly linked to the Albigensian Crusade
Toulouse | 1 Night
Paul Martin Remfry
Author & Historian
Your tour leader, Paul Remfry, is arguably one of the greatest castle scholars of our era. He is a meticulous researcher who has spent over 30 years studying medieval history, genealogy, and architecture. As an historian with a passion for telling the stories of castles and the people who once lived in them, Remfry lectures throughout the United Kingdom and also frequently appears as an expert on television documentaries exploring the history of castles. He has also written extensively about castles, abbeys, and battles and his list of published works now includes some 20 books and over fifty booklets and scholarly articles for academic and archaeological journals. His scholarship, particularly on the castles of Wales and the Marshes is widely praised as superlative and his research approach to the study of castles has garnered widespread acclaim from the academic community.
PAUL REMFRY ALSO LEADS THESE SOJOURNS:
GREAT CASTLES OF BRITAIN
GREAT CASTLES OF IRELAND
LOST CASTLES OF WALES
Travel Information
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:
The meeting point for this sojourn is Hotel Albert 1er in Toulouse, France. Participants making their own travel arrangements should plan to arrive here between 11:00 and 13:00 on the first day of the sojourn. The first official sojourn activity begins at 14:00 that day.
OPTIONAL AIR PACKAGE FROM $1,199/PERSON
Our air package includes round-trip, trans-Atlantic flight, airport transfers in the destination, and 100% travel assurance. This travel package can be booked once you have registered for this sojourn and paid the deposit of $500 per traveler. Scholarly Sojourns can arrange your travel from any North American gateway.
FAQs
Q: What kind of weather can I expect in Southwestern France in June?
Average daytime temperatures will range from high-70’s to low-90’s. Rain is fairly infrequent at this time, but participants may wish to bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket or a small umbrella just in case.
Q: Can I arrive before or remain after the sojourn?
Yes. If you would like to arrive at the start location in advance or remain at the end location after the sojourn has concluded, Scholarly Sojourns can help you arrange your hotel accommodation and is often able to secure attractive rates. Please indicate these preferences to us after you have registered for a particular sojourn.
Q: How much walking will be required on this sojourn?
Many of the sites we visit require uphill walks of approximately one-half mile. Most of these have a fairly moderate incline, but a few do get steep in sections. In general, participants should feel comfortable walking up to a mile at a time and be capable of climbing up to three flights of stairs at a time.
Q: I am a single traveler, can you help me find a roommate?
Scholarly Sojourns will do all we can to match single travelers with a suitable roommate if they desire. But we cannot guarantee that roommates will be available. Therefore all single travelers should register as such and be prepared to pay the single traveler rate should a roommate not be identified.
Q: Is this sojourn appropriate for children?
This sojourn is not appropriate for children. Young adults, however, will find the program quite enjoyable, and they may find it gets them extra credit in their Art History class.
Castles at the Crossroads
DEPARTURE:
Land price per person (double occupancy): $---
Land price per person (single occupancy): $---
Optional air packages from: * $---
Special Offers:
This Sojourn Combines Nicely With:
Land price per person (double occupancy): $4695
Land price per person (single occupancy): $5495
Optional air packages from: * $1199
Land price per person (double occupancy): $4895
Land price per person (single occupancy): $5645
Optional air packages from: * $1249
*Optional air packages include: round-trip international airfare from select North American gateway, airport transfers at destination, and 100% travel assurance.
Price includes: Complete, guided tour program of sightseeing, presentations, discussions, and visits, 8 nights hotel accommodation, all breakfasts and other meals as per itinerary, 2 cocktail receptions, all entry fees, private guides, ground transportation, water transportation, all gratuities except porterage, and all sojourn activities as detailed in the compete itinerary.
Price does not include: Airfare (unless noted otherwise); airport transfers; meals not stated in the complete itinerary; beverages options other than wine, beer, or soft-drinks with group meals; passport or visa fees and necessary photos; immunizations; travel insurance; excess baggage charges; airport taxes; medical, hospitalization or evacuation costs; gratuities for porterage; laundry and other personal items.
Payment and terms: A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is due within fourteen (14) days of a confirmed registration. The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the starting date of the sojourn. For more information, please see our complete Terms & Conditions.
