Art historian Hanneke Lenders is one of KLU's lecturers as well as its manager. Her specialism is originally in early Christian art and late medieval prayer books, but over the years she has added other loves such as Mondriaan and modernist architecture. Hanneke teaches several courses for beginners such as the course Introduction to Art History. So she is the one who will guide you through the whole history of art.
The Splendour of Sicily
Online course
4 lessons
NL
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
In this course, ‘The Splendour of Sicily’, you will visit one of Europe’s most diverse islands from the comfort of your own home, over the course of four lessons. Sicily lies in the heart of the Mediterranean and has been a meeting place for cultures, religions and civilisations for centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards have all left their mark there. The result is an exceptional art-historical landscape full of temples, mosaics, palaces, churches and Baroque towns. Lecturer Hanneke Lenders will take you on a tour of the island’s highlights and hidden gems.
We begin with the impressive Greek temples of Agrigento, the theatres of Syracuse and Taormina, and the famous mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale. We then explore how Sicily developed from a Roman province into a Christian and Byzantine island. The highlight of the course is Palermo, where Arab, Byzantine and Norman influences converge in some of Europe’s most spectacular monuments. We’ll visit, amongst other places, the Cappella Palatina, La Martorana, the Palazzo dei Normanni and Monreale Cathedral. Nowhere else is the meeting of different cultures as palpable as it is here.
In the final lesson, we will focus on Baroque Sicily. We’ll visit towns such as Noto, Catania and Syracuse, which were largely rebuilt following the great earthquake of 1693. We’ll also look at Mount Etna, which has shaped Sicily’s landscape, history and daily life for centuries.
Along the way, we’ll discover famous destinations such as Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina, Palermo, Monreale, Catania, Noto and Cefalù. Naturally, we’ll discuss the major art-historical highlights, but there’ll also be plenty of focus on lesser-known stories, surprising locations and the island’s unique history. By the end of this course, you’ll know exactly which places you mustn’t miss when visiting Sicily and you’ll understand why this island is one of Europe’s greatest art-historical treasure troves.
How does that work online?
You take this course online from your own computer or tablet. All you need is a good internet connection and sound. Teacher and images will appear on your screen automatically. If you cannot attend 'live', you can watch the replay afterwards. Registration is therefore still possible until after lesson 2 of the course.
Free trial lesson
Want to know if this course and taking it online is for you? You can take lesson 1 of this course as a free trial lesson without any obligations. You can register for this free trial lesson directly via the button below.
Course details
4 sessions on Thursday evenings, starting 21 January
Registration closes on 7 February
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Frequently asked questions
What will I learn on a ‘Pracht en Praal’ course?
KLU’s ‘Splendour and Grandeur’ courses are excellent preparation for your own visit to a city or region. In each course, a KLU lecturer will guide you through the highlights and the hidden gems. From architecture to painting, you’ll gain a better understanding of what you’re looking at and where to look. But each course can certainly also be taken purely for enjoyment, without any travel plans. By the end, you’ll see the city through a completely different lens, whether you’re there in person or reminiscing at home.
Do I need any prior knowledge to take a course?
No, most of KLU’s online art history courses do not require any prior knowledge. The courses are aimed at adults with an interest in art and culture, even if they have not previously studied art history.
Are you completely new to art history? Then this course is Introduction to Art History a good place to start. You can also filter our course listings to show introductory courses.
What exactly does the taster lesson involve?
The taster lesson is the first lesson of a course, which you can attend free of charge and with no obligation. There’s no commitment: afterwards, you decide for yourself whether you want to take the full course. You can sign up for a taster lesson via the course page. An overview of all current taster lessons can be found at klu.nl/free-trial-lesson.
Please feel free to sign up for a free taster lesson, so you can see for yourself whether the course is right for you.
If I’m unable to attend one or more of the class dates, can I still take the course?
Yes, even if you miss a live class, you can watch it later on KLU. After each class, you’ll automatically receive a link to the recording by email. It’s valid for 14 days, and you can watch the recording as often as you like.
Many students even complete the entire course via the recording. This means you don’t need to be present on the scheduled date to complete the full course.
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