CYPRUS AND CRETE - SACRED ICONS, CHURCHES, MUSEUMS OCTOBER 8 - 24, 2012

Our trip is intended as an in-depth introduction to the history of Byzantine Sacred Art on the two Mediterranean Islands of Cyprus and Crete.  The relative remoteness of certain parts of the island saved some of the monuments and they are in very good shape, despite a turbulent history that permeated that part of the world for centuries. We will see some of the earliest examples of the Byzantine basilicas on the islands; however, our main focus will be on the 12^th to 15^th century monuments, representative of the Golden age of Byzantine Sacred Art. In order to show historic continuity and give an overall presentation of the diverse history and culture of the islands, we will visit some of the famous archeological sites and museums. The locations of most of the hotels will be in close proximity to the city centers, so that in their leisure time, participants will be able to explore the Venetian harbors of the cities and some of the delicious local cuisine abundantly available at the countless local restaurants.