Italy/Malta
Western Sicily & Malta — A Small Ship Voyage
Program No. 25365RJ
Experience firsthand what calls so many travelers to the Mediterranean on this Floating Campus voyage through history and culture from Malta to Italy’s southern coast.
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11 days
10 nights
25 meals
9B 7L 9D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Valletta, Embark Ship
Valetta
6
Trapani-Erice Discovery
Palermo
11
Naples, Program Concludes
Naples
At a Glance
For thousands of years, the shores of Malta and Italy have inspired travelers with their magnificent views and fascinating cities. Discover the muse of this inspiration for yourself on this Floating Campus voyage from the historic island of Malta to the local villages of Sicily to Italy’s picturesque coast. Begin your voyage in Valletta, Malta’s walled capital established in the 1500s by the Knights of St. John, known for its museums, palaces and churches. Admire natural marvels including the white cliffs of the Turkish Steps in Sicily and the rugged yet unforgettable views from the Amalfi Coast. Throughout your voyage, come into port in cities like Palermo and Naples that will bring you closer to ancient history and modern life. This voyage will give you a taste of the Mediterranean’s stories and beauty that called to travelers years ago — and still does to this day.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 3 miles per day over various types of terrain; walking up stairs unassisted, getting in and out of motor coaches.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy the instruction of dedicated onboard experts who will be with you throughout your journey as you take in private lectures and educational activities on this Floating Campus voyage.
- Visit the city of Trapani in Sicily and taste local specialties, like the world-famous Sicilian olive oil.
- Spend overnights in Valletta and Naples, giving you additional time for discovery and exploration of these historic cities.
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Western Sicily & Malta — A Small Ship Voyage
Program Number: 25365
My Brilliant Friend
Set in 1960s Naples, Italy, Ferrante explores the complexities of friendship that spans decades. She weaves a story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it transforms in ways that also changes the lives of these two women.
Palermo, City of Kings, The Heart of Sicily
The first history of Palermo available, this invitingly short book is a standalone history of the city, but also surveys important monuments and sites.
Incontinent on the Continent: My Mother, Her Walker, and Our Grand Tour of Italy
"Incontinent on the Continent: My Mother, Her Walker, and Our Grand Tour of Italy" is a humorous and heartwarming memoir that chronicles the author's unforgettable journey through Italy with her elderly mother and her trusty walker. In this delightful travelogue, Christmas shares their misadventures, touching moments, and the challenges they face as they navigate Italy's beautiful yet sometimes challenging terrain. Along the way, they encounter colorful characters, savor delicious Italian cuisine, and explore the country's rich cultural heritage. With wit and candor, Christmas's storytelling captures the essence of a mother-daughter bond and the transformative power of travel. This book is a charming and relatable tale for anyone who has embarked on an adventure with a loved one, especially in the backdrop of a captivating destination like Italy.
Italy in Mind
A terrific collection of some of the best literary writing on Italy, including pieces by Melville, Lawrence, Henry James, Mary McCarthy and many others.
Italy, A Short History
Elegantly written, generous and informative, this compact book takes in the sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic through the Renaissance, World War II and up to the present.
Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Drawing on sharp, full-color photographs of more than 200 objects excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roberts, a curator at the British Museum, discusses what life was like in the ancient cities. He covers everything from birth certificates to the prevalence of bakeries and taverns.
Italian Folktales
A treasured collection of 200 lively folk tales presented by one of the modern masters of Italian fiction. Calvino's elegant rendering of these old stories reveals his great affection for the folkloric traditions of his childhood.
Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers who capture the spirit, history and allure of the country.
La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z
La Dolce Vita University (LDVU) is the perfect sampler for anyone curious about (or already in amore with) Italy and its remarkably rich cultural gifts, both past and present.
Street Fight in Naples: A City's Unseen History
Peter Robb's Street Fight in Naples ranges across nearly three thousand years of Neapolitan life and art, from the first Greek landings in Italy to the time of his own less auspicious arrival thirty-something years ago.