The Great Tours: Experiencing Medieval Europe

Begin with an immersion into the sights, sounds, and smells of the medieval city. Explore the rich sensory details of markets, monasteries, churches, and religious and civic events. Learn about life in the townhouses of the rich, the tenements of the poor, and the diverse daily activities of medieval societies.

In this beautifully preserved German medieval city, explore the imposing mansions of the city’s former elite, the grand fountains, and the market square with its remarkable gothic Town Hall. Also visit St. Jakob’s Church, a treasury of medieval and early Renaissance art, and walk the powerful bastions of the city walls.

Discover Malta’s Mdina through the history of the legendary Knights of Malta, who ruled the island for nearly 300 years. Visit the great palaces of the knights and Maltese nobility, with their striking Gothic and classical architecture, and the sumptuous cathedral, and find the city’s medieval atmosphere in the winding Moorish streets.

Learn about the Roman history of Malta and St. Paul’s internment on the island. In Rabat, experience key sites such as the splendid Roman villa, the Grotto of St. Paul, and the remarkable catacombs where Christians sought refuge. Visit rich gardens and palaces, and study the historical events of the Great Siege of 1565.

The sumptuous interiors of the Norman Palace are your entry point to Palermo and its rich multicultural history. Grasp Norman Sicily’s historical role as the richest and best-governed state in the West. Explore the complex architecture of the city’s churches, cathedral, and Palazzo Abatellis, and the cosmopolitan past of the seaport.

Visit the most magnificent of the city’s medieval palaces, the Palazzo Chiaramonte. Learn about the eras of German, French, and Spanish rule, and explore the Zisa Castle, richly decorated churches, and the Norman summer palace. Finally, ascend Monreale, overlooking Palermo, to enjoy the finest Norman ecclesiastical architecture in the world.