Aegean Odyssey S. Mediterranean Cruise: Part 1 Sicily (Erice, Palermo,Taormina, Catania) April 2019

Erice Sicily

As part of the AM740 and Clarkson Cruise Holidays, we travelled in a group with 22 fabulous people we now call friends.  The people really made this trip extra enjoyable!

Our Voyage started in Malaga Spain and travelled to Sicily, Malta, Crete and Athens.  Unfortunately, to our great disappointment,  our stop in Santorini was cancelled due to engine problems.

Video Promo for our cruise




Our plane landed in Malaga mid afternoon, so we were too late to actually see the old city.  We did have a nice scenic drive from the airport along the waterfront.  Then checked into our floating hotel.

Our ship, the Aegean Odyssey is a small older ship that was once a car ferry.  Only about 350 people with a fresh updated, modern decor.  Unfortunately as we found out later, the engines were not as fresh and updated.

The Aegean Odyssey in comparison with the Eurodam (from our Panama Canal Cruise)



Our cabin was bright and airy with lots of modern storage.

Here's a youtube video of  room 522

Service was fantastic- they did not know the word no and we never had to carry a tray.

We sailed along the north coast of Africa on our way to 3 stops in Sicily.

 Algeria in the background



Enjoying a sea day with new friends and the warm weather.

ERICE
Our first stop in Sicily was the port of Trapani.  We took a bus to the medieval hill town of Erice - an exclusive tour just for our AM740 group.

We drove by the salt ponds, and then up the switchback roads to the town of Erice

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The interior of the church was renovated in the 19th century.  The ceiling looks like lace carved into plaster.

The cobblestone streets of Erice were in a very interesting grid pattern, and every street was constructed using the same pattern

The beautiful Sicilian Pottery

These people look like they are having a good time !!

The Norman Fortress of Erice is also know as the Castle of Venus - built in the 12th century

Erice is known for a very famous bakery,  Maria Grammatico.  And of course we had to stop in for a cannoli and a coffee

mmmm.... the home of Cannoli and a delicious light as air pastry called Genovesi or Genova cake 

PALERMO 

Our second day in Sicily was a tour of the city of Palermo.

For millennia at the crossroads of civilizations, Palermo delivers a heady, heavily spiced mix of Byzantine mosaics, Arabesque domes and frescoed cupolas. This is a city at the edge of Europe and at the centre of the ancient world, a place where souk-like markets rub against baroque churches and where date palms frame Gothic palaces.  ~Lonely Planet

Visiting the  Norman Palace (from 900AD ) - A UNESCO world Heritage Site. 

 Sicily was conquered so many times over the centuries, so all architecture is a blend of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Ottoman, Spanish, Venetian, etc, etc.  The Normans conquered here and were in their hayday in the 12th century.

 Norman's Palace .... oops The Norman Palace    haha

Indoor Courtyard

King Norman  :-)

Incredible Byzantine Mosaics

A romanesque style is seen in the courtyard with the rounded arches.

The Palatine Chapel is a masterpiece of medieval architecture and a perfect fusion of Norman, Arab, Byzantine style. Not to be missed.

 The Palatine Chapel  is the royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily situated on the first floor of the Norman Palace.  Real gold is used on the beautiful Byzantine mosaics.  

The gold tiles glittering in the light.  Arabic influences are seen on the geometric patterns on the walls and floors, and with the pointed arches.

Bible stories are depicted in murals.

A 16th century Baroque fountain in front of the 12th century Norman Castle



The Arabic influence  with the rounded domes seen on this church.

Palermo Cathedral

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Palermo is well known for its many street markets

Our group going through the Old Spanish gates to the Norman Palace

Quattro Canti -  The Four Corners:  A main intersection in Palermo

Teatro Massimo - the largest theatre and opera house in Italy (unfortunately we did not get inside) and 3rd largest in Europe after Paris and Vienna.

Next stop:  Catania , Mt Etna and Taormina Sicily  

Mt Etna

We sailed by a steaming Mt Etna early in the morning, before docking in Catania Sicily

Mt Etna as seen from our bus on the way to Taormina

Taormina

Spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is one of Sicily's most popular summer destinations, a chi-chi resort town popular with holidaying high-rollers and those wanting a taste of Sicilian dolce vita.  

Granted it's unashamedly touristy and expensive, but the town merits a couple of days for its stunning ancient theatre, people watching and breathtaking vistas.       ~ Lonely Planet

  

We had a walking tour of the hillside resort town of Taormina.  The bus parked in a large garage and we took an elevator up to central square of the town.

Mt Etna in background

Apparently,  we heard the ironwork on the balconies was shaped to fit the large skirts worn by women.

Mary in the Ancient Greco-Roman Theatre with Mt Etna in the background

Stunning views of the Mediterranean and Mt Etna from the theatre.

Catania

On the way back to the ship, we had the bus drop us in the main square of the port City of Catania

The famous Elephant Fountain

Catania is well known for the spctacle of the daily fish market .

A very fancy building renting scooters.

...to be continued in Part 2 -- Malta, Crete,  and Athens