Mediterranean Cruise: Italy & Malta

Our family was very fortunate to be able to take a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea last week. 

It was comforting to read the Psalm for Mass the day we embarked -- Psalm 29: "The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters.  The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of the Lord is majestic."

We flew from Vienna to Rome, and began our trip from the port outside of Rome (Civitavecchia).  The ship traveled to each location over night - except from Malta to Spain, which was a day at sea.  The boat was docked at each city from about 9am - 6pm, at which time we were on our own to explore!

Our first stop was in Palermo, Sicily (the island just off the "toe" of Italy's "boot").

We visited the Capuchin Catacombs - where skeletons hang on the wall.

We visited the Palatine Chapel in the Royal Palace of Palermo.

We visited the Palermo Cathedral.

Our next stop was Valletta, Malta.  Malta is the site of the shipwreck of Saint Paul, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles Ch. 27: 1-44.  The Bible explains how he spent three months on the island.

We had a beautiful view of the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.  (Underneath the Gardens are the Lascaris War Rooms, which during WWII were the headquarters for the British and Allies.  Eisenhower commanded from here).

We watched them fire a cannon over the harbor.

We visited the Collegiate parish Church of Saint Paul's Shipwreck.  We saw the relic of St. Paul's wrist bone.

And we saw the pillar on which St. Paul was beheaded in Rome.

We also visited the stunning St. John Co-Cathedral (16th century).  Inside is the famous picture of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist by Caravaggio.  This is the only one of his paintings to which he signed his name.  His painting of St. Jerome Writing is also housed in the cathedral.  (sorry, no pictures of Caravaggio's paintings allowed).

We took a 2 hour hop-on/hop-off bus tour around Malta and got to see the the coast on the other side of the island.  Strolling around the streets of Valletta had great sites as well!

We then returned to our ship!

The following day was spent at Sea, and then we continued on to Spain.