Some 34 people joined the Master for the 2024 summer visit to Sicily. We left a cold and wet Blighty and landed in rather contrasting 30 degree sunshine at Palermo airport.
A short coach trip saw us at the magnificent Norman cathedral in Monreale, famed for its extravagantly lavish decoration, perhaps a little rich for austere English tastes.
We then moved on to our accommodation in the medieval town of Marsala – famed for its eponymous fortified wine, a sample of which awaited us in our rooms.
Day two saw us out bright and early for a short voyage to the Egadi Islands off the West coast of Sicily.
Some brave souls had a dip in the rather chilly Med while anchored off Levanzo. The majority looked on in awe.
Lunch on board was accompanied by wine served in re-used water bottles. The content of these unpromising containers was surprisingly potable.
The next day dawned bright and clear once again as we headed off for a fascinating tour of the Pellegrino winery, where many of us were so impressed by the product that we bought several bottles.
We moved on after lunch to the amazingly well-preserved Greek remains at Segesta. The views from the theatre (a mini-Epidaurus) were breath-taking, only spoiled by a new motorway snaking through the middle distance.
Our final day was spent weaving through the many salt pans along the Trapani coast, spotting the odd Flamingo along the way, before embarking the small ferry to the island of Mozia.
The highlight was the remarkable Greek sculpture in marble of a charioteer.
In the afternoon the party climbed its way through the cobbled streets of the walled town of Erice, to be rewarded by some astonishing views over the whole of Trapani.
All commented on how wonderful a trip this was, fostering lasting fellowship as well as considerable
historical scholarship.
Profuse thanks must go to Maggi of Windows on the Wild for the organisation of the trip and to our Clerk and Assistant Clerk for ensuring its smooth running.
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