SICILY
A PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY ON THE ISLAND OF LIGHT
During tradition-rich Holy Week
Welcome to our Sicily Trip's info page! We just completed our 2024 trip in April, and had a fantastic experience. While we are working to develop the next Sicily trip, please reference our 2024 brochure below, and feel free to inquire if you have questions or interest!
TRIP INTRODUCTION
Early spring on Italy’s largest island is a time of great vitality and remarkable light. Winter has receded: the almond trees blossom, the scent of orange blossoms fills the air, and fields are alive with wildflowers. Sicily has woken.
The energy is palpable: in the fields, in the cities, and in the incredible warmth of the locals. Nourished by winter yet prior to a dry summer, the colors are as vivid as they get. And in the old quarters of the island’s medieval cities, a week of processions and re-enactments culminates in the festivities and folk dramas of Good Friday & an Easter Sunday inflected with ancient traditions.
We invite you to join us on a meticulously crafted itinerary for photographers during Holy Week, in the middle of the spring bloom! Our last trip could not have been more joyously successful, and we can’t tell you how excited we are to run this trip again!
ITINERARY
OVERVIEW
March 24, 2024 - Depart home
March 25 - Arrive Palermo, Italy
March 26 - Palermo | Monreale
March 27 - Palermo | Northwest Coastal Region
March 28 - Palermo | Cefalu
March 29 - Cefalu | Good Friday Procession in Enna
March 30 - Enna | Hilltop Towns Around Etna
March 31 - Taormina | Mt. Etna | Alcantra Valley
April 1 - Taormina | Siracusa
April 2 - Siracusa
April 3 - Siracusa | Modica | Marzamemi
April 4 - Siracusa | Fly home from Catania
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Discover beautiful, historic, energy-filled Palermo—staying three nights in the old Arab quarter—with photo walks in the markets and port, plus key sights in town – and travel to nearby Monreale to marvel at and capture its incredible mosaics.
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Explore the northwestern corner of the island and photograph the Greek city of Segesta in its stunning setting, gorgeous Castellamare del Golfo over a seaside seafood lunch, and the Marsala salt flats in late afternoon light.
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Experience and photograph the famous Good Friday procession in Enna, a beautiful off-the-beaten path mountaintop town in the center of the island.
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Partake of and photograph Easter celebrations with Sicilians in the beautiful Alcantara Valley, after an afternoon exploring imposing the striking slopes, lava fields and vineyards of Mount Etna.
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Enjoy and capture the essence of the dolce far niente (sweetness of doing nothing) in enchanting Taormina.
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Absorb the beauty of historic Siracusa on our three final nights, via the magically wander-able streets of its lovely old town, Ortigia.
TRIP LEADERS for SICILY
David H. Wells
Photography Instructor
PHOTOGRAPHY INSTRUCTOR - David Wells is a freelance documentary photographer and photo educator based in Providence, RI. He specializes in inter-cultural communications and the use of light and shadow to enhance visual narratives. David’s “Light Studies” have appeared in a wide range of exhibitions and publications like the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday Magazine and Rhode Island Monthly. He has received two Fulbright Fellowships, a grant from Nikon/N.P.P.A. and a fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. His work has been shown around the world in over fifty exhibitions and publications including American Photographer, Camera and Darkroom, & more. He has taught workshops at the International Center for Photography in NYC and the Maine Media Workshops. David launched an online educational tool with video podcasts and other useful information for photographers called “The Wells Point.” Check out his portfolio site at www.davidhwells.com.
Alex Ros
Trip Host & Leader
Open Sky Founder
HOST AND TOUR LEADER - Alex Ros is the founder and President of Open Sky Expeditions. A Harvard graduate who speaks six languages and has traveled to over 80 countries, Alex has extensive in-depth knowledge of the travel business. Prior to founding Open Sky in 2010, for over eight years he directed dozens of international programs for one of the world’s top operators of high-caliber educational programs aboard small ships. Among Alex’s unique experiences, he has conducted reconnaissance missions to over 15 countries in Africa alone, and has personally led hundreds of travelers on scores of international tours. Alex speaks Italian and has been leading tours to Sicily since 2003—an island that he’ll unabashedly tell you is his favorite place in the Mediterranean.
BOOKING THIS TRIP
To Book This Trip
Book now by filling out the trip's registration form with the button below, and pay a $900 per person deposit to confirm participation on the trip.
Have More Questions?
We're happy to assist! Please contact us at info@openskyexpeditions.com, or call us at 1.844.OPENSKY or +1.212.441.0024.
FYI, Once You Book
Once you are confirmed for the trip, we'll provide helpful pre-departure information including a pre-trip timeline & insurance recommendations. Flight booking guidelines and a private portal for participants will follow at the appropriate time.
Trip Requirements
To participate on this trip, you will need to:
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Passport: Carry a passport valid for at least 6 months after the trip ends
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Travel Insurance: Have travel insurance that at least covers emergency medical evacuation. This can be obtained after booking the trip. CLICK HERE to view details on the options offered via our partner Travel Insured International.