About Sicily
Thanks to its history, Sicily is one of the most important places in the Mediterranean area. The most important historical sediments span from the Punic and Greek (VIII B.C.) era to the Roman domination followed by the Arab-Norman (800-1200) period, containing seven sites listed in the World Heritage List. Particularly, three of those sites, such as the Archaeological Area of Agrigento (listed in 1997), the Villa Romana del Casale (listed in 1997) and the Arab-Norman architectural itinerary in Palermo, Monreale (listed in 2015), are involved in the practical activity of the laboratory work. The program has its main base in Palermo, the regional capital, but throughout the program the students will visit many sites around the island under the guideance of archeologists and biologists involved in the preservation and restoration of archeological sites. This will include a short-stay upon arrival in Sicily in the Arab-Norman town of Cefalú that recently has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Moreover, on Fridays students will participate in guided field trips, with the assistance of the Regional Ministry for Cultural Heritage, to visit the museums and the archeological excavations in Himera; the Greek temples of Selinunte and Agrigento; the Romanic Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina; the Norman cathedrals of Cefalu’, Monreale and Palermo.
About Palermo
Palermo is the capital of the region of Sicily and has a population of about 700,000. It is located in the central north coast of Sicily and is connected with the mainland by boat and air, and its airport offers two direct flights per week to JFK airport, and multiple flights every day to Italian and European airports.
About Cefalú
The small fisherman-town of Cefalú is a renowned summer resort located 40 miles from Palermo. It has a population of about 15,000 people and is divided between a picturesque medieval historic center, dominated by a rock and the 900 year old Norman Cathedral, and a more modern part of the town. It has a 2.5 km long beach as well as a popular musuem, Museo Mandralisca, which stores the “Ritratto di Ignoto” painted by Antonello da Messina and Greek and Roman artifacts and coins. The restored “Convento di San Giacomo” contains classrooms and laboratories dedicated to artifact restoration and conservation.
Housing
In Cefalú, students are hosted in a basic bed and breakfast.
In Palermo, students may stay in student housing at the University of Palermo or in a centrally located bed and breakfast or shared apartment.
Further details will be provided to accepted students.