Location: Bagni di Cefala, Cefalà Diana, PA, Italy
Season: July 20, 2026 to August 14, 2026
Application Deadline: June 1, 2026
Deadline Type: Rolling
Website: https://www.genesisonline.it/corsi/cefala-diana-arab-baths-archaeology-field-school-2026/
Discount for AIA members: 10%
Program Type:
Field School
RPA Certified:
No
Affiliation:
Partnership with the Archaeological Park of Himera-Solunto-Iato, Director Arch. Domenico Targia
Project Director:
Andrea Masi (BA, MA, FSA)
Project Description:
The Cefalà Diana Arab Baths Archaeology Field School 2026 offers a unique opportunity to participate in hands-on archaeological work at a site with a rich history of ancient habitation.
This Field School is open to anyone with an interest in Sicilian archaeology and ancient history—undergraduates, graduates, and enthusiasts alike, with or without prior experience. Participants will join a small, collaborative team and engage in all aspects of archaeological work: from excavation and pottery washing to drawing site plans, recording finds, and uploading data to a database. On-site and afternoon lab training ensures you learn practical skills as you go.
In addition to fieldwork, afternoon classes will cover topics such as Indigenous, Greek, Phoenician, and Arab-Norman pottery, as well as Sicilian history and archaeology. On Saturdays, we will organize educational visits to some of the most significant archaeological sites and Museums in western Sicily, including:
Visits will be scheduled in consultation with participants, allowing for flexibility based on academic or personal interests. These excursions provide invaluable insight into Sicilian history and archaeology.
Period(s) of Occupation: The monumental complex of Bagni di Cefalà Diana (also known as the Arab Baths) is a former thermal bath in Sicily. It is located about 2 km north-northeast of the town of Cefalà Diana, in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. The architectural complex stands at the foot of Monte Chiarastella, against a rocky spur from which a hot spring once flowed. Its origins are believed to date back to the end of Arab rule in Sicily. Roman-era remains are incorporated into the bath’s walls, suggesting that a Roman thermal bath likely existed on the site in antiquity. According to earlier datings, some of the walls date back to Roman times, while the columns are of Arab origin, and the band with the Kufic inscription is from the Norman period. It remains unclear whether the thermal facility existed during the Arab domination of Sicily or was constructed at the end of the 11th century under the Norman kings of Sicily. The construction of an Islamic-style hammam is attributed to the late 10th to early 11th century. During the Norman period, the bath underwent a significant reconfiguration under Roger II of Sicily (around 1140–1141), as identified from the inscription decorating the exterior of the building. Some scholars, however, argue that because the Arab historian al-Idrisi does not mention the structure in his listing of thermal baths in the Book of Roger, the building may have been constructed in the late Norman period. At the beginning of the 14th century, the site was redefined with the establishment of a fondaco (a type of warehouse or trading post). In the mid-18th century, Niccolò Diana, Baron of Cefalà, created the current pool located south of the wall and divided the previously single large northern pool into three smaller basins. The last phase of restoration dates to the 19th century.
Notes:
Certificate of Attendance will be provided by Genesis and the Archaeological Park of Himera-Solunto-Iato which include the Arab Baths of Cefalà Diana. It can be exchanged for university credits at your college or university.
Project Size: 1-24 participants
Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 4 weeks
Minimum Age: 18
Experience Required: No experienced required. Join us for a hands-on, immersive experience in the heart of Sicily’s archaeological heritage!
Room and Board Arrangements:
Participants will stay in shared local apartments or houses, just 10 minutes from the excavation site, and will have the chance to experience authentic Sicilian cuisine and local wine.
Academic Credit:
Certificate of Attendance.
Andrea Masi
Contrada Sant'Anania snc
Ciminna
Palermo
90023
Italy
