Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca – with Smithsonian Journeys

The entire capital of Malta, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage site located on a peninsula in the northeast of the island. From the Triton Fountain to Fort Saint Elmo, you’ll find numerous streets and narrow staircases to explore. The tall houses, with painted loggias and carved corbels, line the way, and traffic is minimal. Visit the Grandmaster’s Palace, adorned with coats of arms and frescoes, or explore Saint John’s Cathedral and the city’s 16th-century ramparts. The Barrakka Gardens, arranged in terraces, offer a peaceful break during your walk.

Trapani, located on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is the former port of the Greek city of Erice, with a strategic position in western Sicily. Explore its narrow streets to uncover cultural landmarks like San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Maria Santissima Annunziata sanctuary, and the Triton fountain, all reflecting diverse historical influences. Enjoy fresh fish from local waters at the shaded restaurant terraces or try a seafood couscous, a dish influenced by the region’s Arab heritage.

Palermo is the guardian of the Sicilian soul. Many have been attracted to this city, the largest capital of the Italian islands. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans... Palermo is a rich culmination of so many cultural influences as seen in the Moorish designs on the cathedral, and the Byzantine mosaics of the Palatine chapel, which is itself housed within the precincts of the Norman palace. You will fall under the spell of the palaces, and baroque splendours that grace the town with their obsolete beauty. It is thrilling to stumble upon one of those fabulous markets, high in color, and headily picturesque.

The capital of Sardinia, Cagliari, like Rome, is built on seven hills. Its Sardinian name means “castle”, in reference to the citadel, its historic centre, which dominates the city. The old ramparts are now pleasant panoramic terraces bordering picturesque streets. The city hosted the Nuragic, Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine civilisations before the rein of the Spanish Hapsburgs and the House of Savoy. The monuments of Cagliari bear the traces of these successive dominations, such as the Bastion of Saint-Rémy or the Sainte-Marie Cathedral. On the sea front, Art Nouveau-style public monuments give way to the Poetto beach, a magnificent stretch of sand that is 8 kilometres long.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, do some shopping in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

You will be welcomed by the colorful houses of Mahon, its narrow streets, and the pretty squares that appear as you stroll around this richly contrasting city. Mahon reveals its neighborhoods, alternating between monuments, villas, and white buildings. Discover the Santa Maria church, a building of neo-gothic inspiration, rebuilt in the 18th Century. It is worth a visit to see its monumental organ with more than 3,000 pipes and four keyboards. Around the Carmen church you will find a local market, full of stands selling avarcas, typical Menorcan sandals originally made by peasants. Let yourself fall under the spell of this Mediterranean treasure.

Palma de Mallorca will reveal its many treasures: idyllic coves, majestic limestone cliffs that plunge into the clear sapphire- and turquoise-colored waters of the Mediterranean, and vast plains planted with almond trees, olive trees, and vineyards. When your ship calls at the capital of the Balearic Islands, take a walk to discover its emblematic monuments, such as its famous cathedral, and amble through its old streets. Like a painting, the island’s historical heritage forms a backdrop to the Mediterranean's lively and warm cosmopolitan atmosphere.  

Located on the seashore between the mountains of Montjuïc and Tibidabo, Barcelona offers its many visitors a perfect blend of tradition and modernism. Truly an open-air museum, the “prodigious town” reveals an astonishing range of artistic treasures and museums, combining Roman ruins, medieval districts, and a number of avant-garde elements from the 20th Century. Over the years, it has been marked by some of the greatest artists, such as Picasso, Miro, or Gaudi, most of whose work has been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Take the time to stroll along the Ramblas and enjoy the gentle, typically Mediterranean lifestyle of the capital of Catalonia.