We left the Adriatic behind and made our way through southern Italy and Sicily toward our final destination in Malta.
Back aboard Monet we were treated to a fabulous sunset.
Stromboli – And then came one of the most memorable evenings. As we approached Stromboli, the volcano rose dramatically out of the sea. Seeing it from our small ship was quite an unusual sight.
The Astronomical Clock of Messina
One of the highlights of our visit to Messina was watching the remarkable astronomical clock in the bell tower of the Cathedral. Inaugurated in 1933, it is considered the largest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock in the world. Each day at noon, the tower comes alive as its gilded bronze figures move through an elaborate performance depicting scenes from Messina’s history and traditions. A lion roars and waves the city’s flag, bells ring, figures move, and the intricate mechanical spectacle unfolds high above the Piazza del Duomo. We joined the crowd below and watched the performance—a wonderful combination of history, engineering, art, and a bit of theater.
Our arrival in Malta, a tiny island country, offered a sweeping view of the harbor and city.”
