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YOUR journey
J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.
IMPORTANT Please register for the post-trip after registering for the main-trip.
Archaeology 
Art & Culture 
Food & Wine 
Heritage
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
PALERMO - A SICILIAN GEM
Tue. Oct 20, 2026
- Check out of the hotel and transfer to Venice Airport.
- Fly from Venice to Palermo on the island of Sicily. Enjoy your Sicilian journey!
- Sicily is one of Italy's twenty regional zones. However, Sicily enjoys autonomous status to preserve its unique culture and way of life.
- Founded over three thousand years ago by the Phoenicians, they called Palermo - Zyz - 'The Flower.' Understand why as you visit Palermo’s historic center, including the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel, showcasing a blend of Norman, Byzantine, and Islamic art.
- Explore Harat El Yahud - the former Jewish quarter of Palermo, learning about its history from Roman times through their expulsion in 1492. Visit the site of the medieval synagogue that since the expulsion houses the Church of San Nicolò da Tolentino.
- Check into the hotel.
- Dinner at the hotel or at a local restaurant. Enjoy the cuisine, wine, and olive oil for which Sicily is renowned.
Overnight: Palermo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 2
THE MAGIC OF SICILY
Wed. Oct 21, 2026
- Drive to Monreale to tour the stunning 12th-century Monreale Cathedral, famous for its golden mosaics and Jewish motifs within the art.
- Proceed to the Benedictine Cloister, adjacent to the Cathedral. The cloister is a magnificent garden and the columns are decorated with a series of crafted Romanesque capitals depicting scenes from the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Scriptures.
- Continue to Cefalù, one of Sicily's most evocative coastal towns. The imposing stone promontory above the town was connected in ancient times with Heracles and the goddess of the hunt - Diana.
- Our tour will include a visit to Cefalu's Cathedral. The gold mosaics depicting Jesus and Mary are considered the finest Byzantine mosaics in all of Italy.
- Explore the charming streets of Cefalù. Discover its medieval alleys, soak in the vibrant atmosphere of the historic port, or relax with a glass of local Nero d'Avola or Grillo wine as you savor the essence of this picturesque Sicilian town.
- Return to Palermo.
- Visit the Oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie - near the Church of San Nicolò da Tolentino. It is also known as the "Saturday" oratory and is located in the heart of Palermo in the area of the ancient Jewish quarters of Guzzetta and Meschita. In 2017, the Archbishop of Palermo Corrado Lorefice granted the Oratory free loan for use to the local Jewish community. This place has become a new space for study and worship, after more than 500 years since the decree expelling the Jews from Palermo which was signed by the sovereigns Ferdinando and Isabella of Aragon.
- Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Palermo
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3
THE JEWISH AND THE GREEK
Thu. Oct 22, 2026
- Check out of the hotel and depart for Syracuse, a city whose ancient Greek history is parallel to the time of the prophets of Israel (8th Century BCE). One of the wealthiest and most important cities of the ancient world, the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero said, “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all.”
- Tour Syracuse, focusing on Jewish heritage sites, including the Giudecca (Jewish quarter) and the ancient Mikveh (ritual bath).
- The Syracuse Mikveh - carved into the limestone - is Europe's oldest Jewish ritual bath as yet discovered. Archeologists date the bath to the 6th century and it was in use until the 1492 expulsion.
- Tour the Neapolis Archaeological Park, including:
- The Ear of Dionysus. Named after the bawdy god of drink and revelry, the quarry and holding cell for slaves and prisoners reveal the underbelly of classical civilization.
- Seating over 15,000 people and with a spectacular sea view, the theater would have been a central cultural institution for Neapolis from fine drama to boisterous comedies to social-political commentaries on the day's events.
- Much like the iconic Colosseum in Rome or the dramatic scenes from Gladiator, the Roman Ampitheater was the setting for some of history's most violent spectacles and contests. We will delve into the culture of gladiatorial combat, uncovering the lives of the gladiators themselves and examining how these brutal games intersected with the experiences of Jews during that era.
- Travel to Catania and check into the hotel.
Overnight: Catania
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
BETWEEN VOLCANO AND SEA
Fri. Oct 23, 2026
- Spend the day exploring Taormina, one of Sicily's most charming towns and visit an ancient Greek theater.
- The striking Greek Theater above the town creates a striking frame between the ancient town, the surrounding hills, and the sea. A port from ancient times, the town became particularly popular with affluent international tourists in the 19th century. Celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and artistic spirit, it became known as "the Provincetown of Sicily."
- Stroll through the enchanting medieval streets and take in the stunning panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. These iconic landmarks are tied to the legendary journey of Odysseus, as he navigated his way home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at the hotel, followed by a festive Shabbat dinner. Share thoughts about your Sicilian experience.
Overnight: Catania
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
MAKING SICILY YOUR OWN
Sat. Oct 24, 2026
- Leisure day: Explore Catania at your own pace. Enjoy our recommendations below to get you started:
- Recommendation: Visit the lush gardens cascading down the lower slopes of Mount Etna, Europe's largest live volcano.
- Recommendation: Wander the alleys of town from the Elephant's Fountain to discover small shops and old-time market streets.
- Recommendation: Take a boat ride from the port and take in the sights and scents and tastes of the local fish market.
- Take part in a Havdalah ceremony, and say goodbye to Shabbat - until next week.
Overnight: Catania
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6
PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
Sun. Oct 25, 2026
- Transfer to Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) for flights back to the US. Travel safely.
Meals: Breakfast
RATES & LODGING
Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
10+
Cost p/p in double room
$3,270
Cost p/p in single room
$3,980
or similar hotels. Registration open
Palermo: Hotel Plaza Opera
- Nights: 2
- Hotel Website
Catania: Katane Palace Hotel
- Nights: 3
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 5 nights' accommodations.
- 4 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and local guide, in a luxury, air-conditioned vehicle.
- 1 Group flight from Venice to Palermo.
- All departure transfers to Catania airport.
- Daily breakfast & 2 dinners.
- The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 7 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- International flights.
- Touring on Saturday.
- Gratuities are excluded. For groups of 9-19 participants traveling to Italy: We recommend the following guidelines for tipping (amounts are in US dollars): J² Expert Educator: $14 | Local Guide: $12 | Driver: $6. Amounts are per day per person.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
- Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
- US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
- Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
- Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
- How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $750 is required in order to complete the registration process.
- For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
- Payments | The balance of your payment is due 120 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
- Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
- Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
- J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
- Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
- Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 120 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 119 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
- Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
- Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
- Please click here to view our full terms (T&C’s). These T&C’s apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.
JOURNEYS.
A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community.
Stuff.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
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