Gran Tour is an instruction journey undertaken at the end of university studies. It begins in XV century. The main towns visited were Paris, Roma, Firenze, ... ln Italy the travellers finished their voyage at Napoli. Just in XVIII century scientiphic interest in natural and electrical phenomenous and a renewed enthusiam in classical culture, after the discover of Ercolano and Pompei, took the visitors, for the first time in Sicily. They left their memories in jorney diaries, and today we can read their enthusiastical descriptions or their delusions for places or ran people into, riliving an ancient and forgot magical untouched island, such as in a time machine.
Gran Tour Itineray Back
Eastern Sicily: Eolie Islands: Alicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli, Messina, Mascali, Catania, Nicolosi, Etna, S. Alfio, 100 Horses Cestnut-tree, Melilli, Siracusa, Avola, Noto
South-Eastern Sicily: Ragusa, Capo Passero, Marzamemi, Gela
Central Sicily: Caltanissetta, Enna (Castrogiovanni), Leonforte, Sperlinga, Nicosia
Southern Sicily: Agrigento: Temples Valley, Piana degli Albanesi, Solfatare (sulphurica area - Acquapia), Aragona di Sicilia: Macalube desert, Campobello, Castelvetrano, Sciacca, Palma di Montechiaro, Licata, Selinunte, Segesta, S. Pantaleo Island (Mozia)
Nortehrn Sicily: Trapani, Marsala, Mazzara del Vallo, Palermo, Monreale, Bagheria
Grand Tour Foreign Voyagers in Sicily Back
- Barone Von Riedsel
- Jean Houel
- Patrick Brydone
- Denon
- Didier
- Francis Elliot
- Emerson
- Farjasse
- Alexander Dumas padre (la Sicilia in barca)
- Goethe
- Hessmer
- Knight
- Emily Lowe (il viaggio in carrozza)
- Claude de Marcellus
- Guy de Maupassant
- Munther
- Swinburne
- Toqueville
Von Riedsel was one of the first german travellers in Sicily. He was a lover of archeology too, and in his voyage in Sicily he interested in archeological and etnic observations. The travel took place on 1767 from March to May. He wrote his sensations and report of his jorney in letters sent to Wincklemann friend. His visit began from Palermo. He visited Monreale Cathedral and the ashes of the Bad and the Good William. From Palermo to Trapani he complained the street, for their conditions and cause he had to travel escorted, but he was strucken by people hospitality. He carried careful measurements out of Segesta Temple, "the best Doric Temple of every time", in his judgement. He visited the Saline at Trapani, the remains of Erice Temple, Marsala and San Pantaleo Island, even if he didn't think it could be the phoenician Mothya town. He measured Greek Temple at Selinunte too, and took the street for Agrigento. He was totally entusiastically of Temple Valley, than to believe that Giove's Temple was greatest then San Pietro Church in Rome. After ten 10 spent in Malta back in Sicily at Capo Passero (south-eastern Sicily cape). Marzamemi, according to him, eas the richest Sicilian "Tonnara". After he went to Syracuse, but he he got down for the condition of Arethusa Fountain and for the state of the ruins of the ancient Greek town. After few days he set off to Catania. He was stricken from the low houses, just one floor, in case of earthquakes. He visited Benedettini Museum and Prince Biscari private collection. The prince was a pleasant company for his wisdom, hospitality and culture. Nicolosi was the first Etnean country crossed, getting the top of Etna mountain. He tasted Mascali wine and visited "100 horses chestnut tree" at Sant'Alfio, nearby Trecastagni. At Messina, after 2 months in Sicily, ended his voyage, after visiting Taormina theatre, exceptional for its acustic.
Jean Houel was a French engraver, born in Rouen in 1735. He was in Sicily 2 times: first, accompaning the Knight of Havrincourt he was stricken from particulars that Brydone hadn't mentioned in his Sicily Diary. So he thought to partecipate at the Saloon in Paris on 1775, selling his paintings. That gives him the chance to come back in Sicily. In his Sicily Diary he alternated writing and painting, 264 engravers, sold at his back in France at Prussian Catherine and the French King. In his diary his interet for nature and landscape is joined with archeological interests and curiosity for people, festival, and local traditions. Houel began his Voyage in Sicily landing in Palermo on the Spring 1776. First he assisted at Pentecoste Feast at Alcamo, and here performed his first incision. He measured Segesta Temple, visited Mothya and Lilybeo (Marsala). Here enchanted him Sybil's Cave, where the sacred and the profane verged. At Castelvetrano he took part at Corpus Domini Feast. He pinted Selinunte Temple and fisherman deicated to their daily occupation at Sciacca. He didn't like Prince Palagonia' House, at Bagheria, and "Mattanza ryth". Palermo was his favourite town. He spent here too much time, taking also part at Santa Rosalia Feast, painting its in his engravings. Left Palermo for Tindari had a nice sight of Patti Gulf. Beginning Etna ascend he crossed Messina and Taormina. On Etna top he painted "Vetta Tricorne" sight, nowaday no more visible for the next Etna eruptions, which changed the landscape. No more trees and green here, just black lava and white snow, sulphur smell in the air and just the sound of the wind. A great satisfaction possessed him, when he reached the crater. Most Sicilian people, living nearby the vulcan, never ascend the top of Paradise in their life, that's a Houel remarkable reflection. He visited Sant'Alfio, painting 100 Horse Cestnut Tree, Randazzo, Tissa city remains, and proceeded towards Catania, going up Simeto River. He lived Saint Agata Feast in Catania, even if he liked Santa Rosalia more. He visited Castrogiovanni (Enna) and Naftia Lakes with its spatters waters too. In Iblei countries he liked smal centres, like Ispica, but didn't love Baroque towns. The nostalgia for Classical ruins took him to Agrigento. From here he reached Malta, ending his Voyage in Sicily, in 1780 after 4 years spent in Sicily. THANKS JEAN FOR GIFTING US A DREAM ! ! !
To get more information about Gran Tour and Foreign Voyagers in Sicily between XVIII and XIX century go to the link: www.leinchieste.com/viaggi_sicilia.com
