Sicily 1943: Phil Stern’s Return – A Journey Through Memory
In the summer of 2013, Phil Stern returned to Sicily, 70 years after landing there as a young war photographer during World War II, to inaugurate an exhibition of never-before-seen images from the summer of 1943. At just 24 years old, Stern had landed near Gela alongside American troops to document the liberation of Sicily and the Allied advance across the island. After the war, he became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after photographers, a close friend and portraitist of James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and the personal photographer of President John F. Kennedy.
His return to Sicily marked a deeply emotional chapter: his final journey, the fulfillment of a dream, and the closing of a personal circle that began on this very land.
This tour follows in his footsteps, beginning in Catania at the Sicily Landing Museum, and continuing through the splendid Sicilian Baroque cities, Noto, the "stone city", and Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes and a crossroads of ancient religions. The itinerary includes key sites of the 1943 landing such as Gela, Scoglitti, Portopalo, Agira, Troina, and the scenic landscapes near Castiglione di Sicilia and Mount Etna.
His return to Sicily marked a deeply emotional chapter: his final journey, the fulfillment of a dream, and the closing of a personal circle that began on this very land.
This tour follows in his footsteps, beginning in Catania at the Sicily Landing Museum, and continuing through the splendid Sicilian Baroque cities, Noto, the "stone city", and Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes and a crossroads of ancient religions. The itinerary includes key sites of the 1943 landing such as Gela, Scoglitti, Portopalo, Agira, Troina, and the scenic landscapes near Castiglione di Sicilia and Mount Etna.
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Availability: year-round
Day 1 – Arrival in Catania
Transfer to the hotel. Welcome meeting with the tour guide.
Overnight in the Catania area.
Day 2 – Catania
Visit of Catania and the Sicily Landing Museum at the "Le Ciminiere" exhibition center.
Overnight in the Catania area.
Day 3 – Mount Etna and Taormina
Excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Continue to Taormina, jewel of the Ionian coast.
Overnight in the Catania area.
Day 4 – Syracuse, Marzamemi, Portopalo, Noto
Explore the Ionian coastline: Syracuse, the fishing village of Marzamemi, Portopalo, and remnants of the coastal defense system. End the day in Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight in the Catania area.
Day 5 – Scoglitti, Gela, Agrigento
Visit to the historic landing beaches in the Ragusa area and Gela. Continue to Agrigento.
Overnight in the Agrigento area.
Day 6 – Agrigento, Assoro, Agira, Troina
Morning visit to the Valley of the Temples. Afternoon journey through Assoro, Agira, and Troina, significant sites of the Allied campaign.
Overnight in the Catania area.
Day 7 – Catania / Departure
Free time. Transfer to the airport and end of services.
Note on Customization
The program can be customized to suit the specific needs of each group, both in terms of content and duration. The arrival airport may vary (Catania, Comiso, Palermo, or Trapani), and the itinerary can be adjusted with a different distribution of days in Sicily, depending also on the requested season.
