Ortigia , Siracusa , Sicily Flavian Amphiteater , Pozzuoli , Italy
island ’ s agricultural traditions . Return back to the island for a discovery walk . Later , gather on the Sun Deck for a scenic cruise through the Strait of Messina .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Artemis or M / V Athena
DAY 12 • Mount Etna • Italian geology conversation
Discover Mount Etna , Europe ’ s tallest active volcano , and embark on a hike along its slope . Explore traces of Etna ’ s lava flows before enjoying lunch in a mountain lodge . Later , we ’ ll enjoy a conversation onboard with an expert in Italian geology .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Artemis or M / V Athena
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
DAY 13 • Siracusa • Controversial Topic : The Sicilian Mafia
Discover Siracusa , including its historical heart , Ortigia , and admire architectural splendors . Later , two experts will join us onboard to discuss the Controversial Topic of the Sicilian mafia and hear first-hand accounts of this notorious crime syndicate .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Artemis or M / V Athena
DAY 14 • Valletta , Malta • Conversation about Maltese journalism
Cruise to Valletta , Malta ’ s walled capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and enjoy an included
tour . Later , we ’ ll be joined by a local with firsthand knowledge about a journalist who gave her life to expose the corruption within the Maltese government .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Artemis or M / V Athena
DAY 15 • Disembark ship • Mdina Disembark the ship and journey to Mdina , the former capital of Malta known as the “ Silent City ,” for a walking tour .
Meals : B , L | Grand Hotel Excelsior or similar
DAY 16 • Valletta • Three Cities • Hagar Qim Continue exploring Malta during a walking tour in one of “ The Three Cities :” Vittoriosa . Then , visit the megalithic temple complex of Hagar Qim , a UNESCO World Heritage Site which boasts remains older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids .
Meals : B , D | Grand Hotel Excelsior or similar
DAY 17 • Return to U . S . Transfer to the airport for your return home . Or , begin your Milan , the Lakes & the Piedmont post-trip extension .
Meals : B
See the full deck plan for the M / V Artemis or M / V Athena on page 324 .
On Day 7 , learn what it ’ s like to live and work in Sorrento when you join a family there for a Home-Hosted Lunch
For more details , visit www . oattravel . com / rma
242 Italy ’ s Western Coast & Islands : A Voyage from Rome to Valletta