Author Archives: nnichols

Warm sun greeted our first trip to Syracuse, where we were able to compare Cleomenes' Temple of Apollo (c.600) to Gelon's Temple of Athena (c.480), as well as spend some time exploring the island of Ortygia with its beautiful spring… Continue reading →

Today was the first field trip of the Mediterranean cultures class, to Megara Hyblaea, a relatively pristine archaeological site, nestled between two large oil refineries. Rain threatened, but held off until the afternoon, though it was a little cold.For more… Continue reading →

We had our first non-academic field trip yesterday to the wetlands of the Vendicari nature reserve on the southeastern corner of the island. The wetlands represent one of the main crossing points for migrating birds to and from Africa, though… Continue reading →

The new semester has begun, with 20 ICCS students making their own Sicilian expedition:On Athens' Sicilian expedition, try this strange musical link that I was recently sent……. Continue reading →

Stesichorus, the greatest native Sicilian poet until Theocritus, is claimed by many west Greek cities. Himera on the north coast, claims to be his birthplace, but so does Matauria in Italy, and even Pallantium in Arcadia (according to the Suda)…. Continue reading →

For new students wondering where they will be later this month, you might watch Coldplay's video for Violet Hill — it was filmed not only on Mt Etna, but also in the palazzo where the study center is located. View… Continue reading →

Today, we visited our final two major Greek colonies, and our luck with the weather finally ran out. Fortunately, both sites are primarily museums, but that did not stop some venturing out into the Camarina agora, a rather gothic scene,… Continue reading →

Today we had an extra-curricular field trip to the ancient cities of Messene and Rhegium, to see their modern museums. The Messene one is famous for its paintings, especially those of Antonella of Messina (and his various nephews) and Caravaggio:From… Continue reading →

Today we were regaled by Hanno, Agorastacles and Milphio in Plautus' Poenulus in the grand theater in Taormina, Roman Tauromenium. The weather was glorious, the tourists few and we got to experiment with the acoustics, consider who exactly was foreign… Continue reading →

No field trip this week — as it is Thanksgiving Break. Many students have gone traveling — Athens, Rome, Turkey, Sicel sites in Italy — depending on taste! Next week Taormina…… Continue reading →