Isles of Antiquity: Malta, Sardinia & the Balearic Sea Aboard Sea Cloud

There will be time today to fully appreciate the amenities and workings of your elegant ship, which has hosted royalty and sailed the world. Stand on deck as the ship gently glides through the Mediterranean Sea, watching as the crew goes aloft in the web of riggings to hand-set her 30 sails. Enjoy the ocean breeze aboard one of the largest, most opulent private sailing yachts ever built. Gather to hear expedition staff discuss the intriguing places you will visit, dine on exceptional cuisine and meet your fellow travelers as the ship sets a course for Mallorca.

Wake in Mallorca’s beautiful capital to views of a yacht-filled port lined with palm trees. Visit the monumental cathedral, La Seu, and marvel at the inspiring architecture of this iconic landmark constructed over several centuries. Learn about Antoni Gaudí’s modernist work as you identify the creative flair that the renowned Catalan architect added to the cathedral’s gothic, baroque and classical elements in the early 20th century.

Your day in La Ciutat, as Mallorquines affectionately call Palma, affords time to visit Believer Castle, an elegant hilltop fortress near the capital’s historic center. Guests interested in learning how to prepare classic Spanish dishes may join a local chef at Santa Catalina Market—the oldest market in Palma—to source ingredients and help prepare a wonderful lunch.

Menorca may be small, but its low-key sandy shores and pastoral hilly inland landscapes hold several millennia of fascinating stories. The prehistoric Talayotic people left behind intriguing rock mounds and megalithic monuments that date back some 4,000 years. Walk through the Bronze Age village of Torralba d’en Salord to see the characteristic T-shaped stone monuments, and learn about the influence of the Vandals, Moors and British on this remarkable little island.

A relaxing day at sea provides the perfect opportunity to discover the romance of tall ship sailing. Sit back in a lounge chair on deck and bask in the incomparable experience of sailing aboard this legendary four-masted barque. Watch the crew aloft in the riggings, running out and reefing sails. Listen to a talk about your next two islands, Corsica and Sardinia, whose histories share many threads. Fiercely independent, both have maintained identities separate from their governing nations of France and Italy, respectively.

Overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean from atop steep limestone cliffs, Bonifacio is full of character and history. Awake in the stunning setting of the narrow harbor and spend the morning exploring this lovely town, beginning with the magnificent medieval clifftop citadel established by the powerful margraves of Tuscany. In the afternoon, drive inland to see some of the 4,000-year-old menhir standing stone alignments and megaliths of the Sartène region.

Referred to as “Barceloneta” for its still-palpable Catalan colonial influence, Alghero is a lovely resort town with a historic center and sea walls that are a joy to explore. After a walking tour of the Old Town, travel to the nearby Ledà d’Ittiri estate for a wine tasting and tour. An afternoon excursion on a local boat traces the dramatic Cap Caccia peninsula to the otherworldly Neptune’s Grotto, a limestone cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the ship and sail for Cagliari in the golden light of sunset.

Take time to relax, record your thoughts, sort your photos and simply enjoy the open sea as the ship plies her way to Cagliari.

From the Sardinian capital of Cagliari, drive to the archaeological site of Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a UNESCO-listed showcase of Bronze Age defensive structures called nuraghi that are unique to Sardinia. The site was inhabited by an enigmatic civilization for thousands of years, ending in the third century. Back in Cagliari, visit the renowned National Archaeological Museum in the medieval hilltop Castello followed by a walking tour of the Old Town.

Enjoy a full day at sea. Join the expedition staff on the Lido Deck for discussions and presentations as the captain takes advantage of the prevailing winds. Savor fine wines and meals featuring local delicacies as you sail to Sicily.

From the port in Trapani, travel to nearby Mount Erice, on top of which sits the intriguing medieval walled town of Erice and its castle. Explore with a local guide and have time to wander at leisure, perhaps to enjoy the celebrated handmade cannolis at Pasticceria Maria Grammatico. Take in the panoramic views from a half mile above Sicily’s western coast and then travel to nearby Marsala, famous for its fortified wines. After seeing Roman and Punic antiquities in a museum dedicated to the area’s Carthaginian history, end the day at one of Marsala’s wonderful wineries. Enjoy a tasting before returning to the ship.

Sail along Sicily’s southern shore to arrive in Agrigento, home to some of antiquity’s most magnificent Greco-Roman temples in the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples. Founded by the Greeks in the sixth century BCE, the site was a prominent Magna Graecia city before later being ruled by Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. Walk alongside the valley’s grand row of Doric temples devoted to the likes of Zeus and Heracles before returning to the ship in Porto Empedocle and setting sail for Malta.

The day begins on Gozo, a smaller island on the northern edge of the Maltese archipelago. Here, your focus will be on the ancient megalithic temple complex Ġgantija, which is older than both the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. Walk around the giant stone structures on a plateau surrounded by palm trees and learn what these two temples tell us about how they were used. Later, visit the artfully restored medieval windmill of Ta Kola, erected by the Order of the Knights of Malta.

A final afternoon at sea provides the opportunity to pause and reflect upon your epic adventure. Sort photos to be shared with loved ones back home. Relax on a favorite deck chair. Indulge in a good book, or simply close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the ship parting the surf as you sail to Valletta.

Be on deck this morning with cameras ready as the ship enters one of the most attractive harbors in the Mediterranean. Malta’s capital city of Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by 16th-century bastions, walls and towers. Drive to the city’s highest point, the Upper Barracca Gardens, and take in the sweeping view. Tour St. John’s Co-Cathedral with its elaborate inlaid marble tombstones and monumental artwork, and visit the old capital of Mdina. Walk along the ancient city walls and marvel at the feat of engineering undertaken to build the Rotunda of Mosta, one of the largest unsupported domes in the world.

This morning after breakfast, disembark in the port of Valletta and transfer to the airport for flights home.