Rebuilding The Renaissance

Often called the "Pearl of the Mediterranean," Taormina, Italy is set on Mt. Taurus and surrounded by endless magnificent views of both sea and mountains, offering Mediterranean beauty everywhere you look. Taormina is also home to the second largest ancient theater in Sicily after Siracusa. As is customary for Greek theaters, it is carved into the stone slope of a natural hill, using the backdrops of Mt. Etna and the Ionian Sea to create a jaw-droppingly beautiful natural panorama.

The archeological park of Siracusa, Sicily is in one of the five ancient districts of Siracusa known as the Neapolis - "the new city." Its two major ancient monuments are a massive ancient Greek theater from the 5th century BCE carved directly into the limestone rock of the Temenite hill and an equally impressive ancient Roman amphitheater which had a seating capacity of some 20,000 spectators. But the park's most famous site is the so-called "Ear of Dionysius" which was named by the celebrated painter Caravaggio and has extraordinary acoustic properties.

Ortygia is a small island forming the historical center of the Sicilian city of Siracusa. While already inhabited by native Sicels in ancient times, Siracusa became an ancient superpower after Greek colonists settled there in the 8th century BCE and became part of Magna Graecia. In fact, Ortygia contains many of the city's oldest landmarks, including the Greek Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Arethusa, and the Temple of Athena, which is today the Cathedral of Siracusa. It was later home to the legendary mathematician and inventor, Archimedes.

Covering nearly 3,500m2 of floor surface, the mosaic decoration of the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, are almost unique not only in their scale, but also in their extraordinary state of preservation. The two most noteworthy and famous mosaics are the "Great Hunt," which is nearly 70m long and the surprising "Bikini Girls"  mosaic which has gained international notoriety.

Located in the very heart of Sicily in a town called Piazza Armerina, the Villa Romana del Casale is an archeological site containing the remains of an ancient Roman "Latifundium," or agricultural estate.  The massive building is incredibly well preserved and provides us with a vivid glimpse of Roman life in the early 4th century CE. It is also home to an extensive mosaic program covering 3,500m2  (38,000ft2) of surface and including the famous "bikini girls" mosaic.