


Sicily and Malta, 2014
August 2014
We flew to Malta for an overnight visit before we boarded the Island Sky for a nearly two-week "Circumnavigation of Sicily". We made more than a dozen on-shore visits, some by Zodiac, to explore the rich archeological and cultural history of Sicily. During the last 3000 years, it has been the military and trade crossroads for the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, Spanish, the Kingdom of Naples and, finally, Italy. Our tour was lead by an archeologist, an art historian, a geologist, experts in culture and history, and an anthropologist to help us understand and appreciate the impact and interaction of these cultures on Sicily. We enjoyed visits to Greek temples and Roman amphitheaters, wine tastings, village fish markets, the top of Mt. Etna, nighttime lava flows on Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, fresh seafood, and delightful restaurants.