Treasures of the Mediterranean

Treasures of the Mediterranean 29th August – 05th September

Having spoken about our recent cruise on the Thomson Majesty on my last blog, this time I will look at our itinerary and ports of call.

Palma, Majorca

The most striking feature of Palma is the stunning Cathedral, dominating the skyline. This is well worth a visit simply for the breathtaking architecture of this towering guardian of the city. If you are lucky enough to be there on a Thursday, head to Inca, the island’s biggest street market.

Trapani, Sicily

Next stop Sicily, birthplace of Mario Puzo`s The Godfather. Trapani is another beautiful port of call, with something for everyone.

The main attraction is Erice. After a relaxing cable car ride, you find yourself in a medieval town where you can lose yourself in the cobbled streets. Nowhere offers such a stunning view over the Trapani salt pans, turquoise sea and out to the Egadi Islands.

Sorrento, Italy

On to Sorrento, which required a tender to shore. You then have the choice of a walk up a steep hill, or a short bus ride, you can probably guess which one we did! We wandered around all the shops and restaurants, and admired the view of the Majesty out in the bay.

Civitavecchia(Rome), Italy

Civitavecchia is only an hour from the centre of Rome, so we were up early to catch the organised bus trip, as not brave enough to do it “on our own” by train. What can I say about the Eternal City? Breathtaking, wonderful, beautiful & busy are a few words that spring to mind. We visited ALL the must sees, including the Colosseum, the Vatican city, the Pantheon, the Piazza Navona, and our personal favourite, the Trevi Fountain.

Propriano, Corsica

Propriano was another wonderful port of call. We spent a leisurely day wandering around the small collection of shops, and admiring the amazing yachts moored in the marina. I don`t think we will ever have enough money to afford one of them! If you are feeling a little more adventurous, there is a wide choice of watersports available, from Scuba to boat trips. If its culture you are after, then I would suggest a trip to Sartene, which is known as ‘the most Corsican of the Corsican towns’. A Medieval fortified town of narrow, cobbled streets and grey granite houses, this should definitely be on your “to do” list.

Mahon, Menorca

If you ever have the chance to visit Mahon, you simply must get on deck as the ship comes in or leaves this picturesque port of call. The views were worth the visit alone. Think beautiful little churches, 18th century mansions and even a gothic cathedral. A particular favourite attraction, especially for my wife, was our visit to the Xoriguer Gin shop. Located on the sea front, you can sample more types of gin than I thought existed. Just be carefully not to try too many, as you may struggle to get back to the ship.