Sicily- Erice Segesta

[jackson190]

Has anyone been on this excursion? We are booked to go during the June 27 trip and I have not seen it mentioned.

 

[Lqqieee]

Just got finished with it a couple hours ago and we both loved it.

It's two very different experiences bundled into one excursion:

Segesta (pronounced seh-jes-tah, as we learned after pronouncing it and Erice wrong for about six months now) is an archaelogical site in the hills. You'll see the remains of an Agora (Marketplace) with the layout of the shops still intact and some amazing plumbing work visible, and the partial ruins of a church. The real draws here, though, are the largely intact Amphitheater and Temple. The Amphitheater is at the very top of the hill overlooking the amazing countryside. The view alone is worth this entire excursion and it's not even the most breathtaking view you'll experience. You make your way down to the temple from here. It's an unfinished temple built to impress the Athenians into helping Segesta survive against the encroaching city of Selinunte. Our tour guide immersed us in the history of the place so that everything was put in a context to make the amazing structures even more interesting.

Erice (pronounced Erry-chay) is a medieval town with long, steep, narrow "roads". The streets are so narrow that when a car comes barreling down everyone has to press against the wall to let it past. The town is still occupied by two hundred residents and there's plenty of shops open to cater to tourists, and the most tourist-trap-y places even have a bit of charm because they are crammed in such ancient spaces. You'll make a stop in a pastry shop where you'll sample the almond cookies that the region is famous for. They were delicious and Lisa bought a large sampler to take back to the ship (for 12 euros). You'll have some free time to wander the streets here and pretty much every shop selling food and wine will be handing out tasty samples.

You'll end the day with lunch further down the mountain, still in Eze. Lunch consisted of two types of pasta in a tomato sauce, stuffed pork with potatoes and other vegetables and a ricotta cheesecake for dessert. The restaurant is on a cliffside overlooking the town whose name escapes me at the moment below and it's here you'll get the second most breathtaking view of the trip, the mediterranean sea glistening with two islands visible in the distance.

The trip back to the port actually offers the best photo opportunities of a trip filled with mindblowing vistas. You'll wind down the mountain in their best imitation of the Amalfi coast, all the while overlooking the coast and the rolling valley below, surrounded by the ocean and giant, beautiful mountains.

I'll be posting a full recap of the trip later (with tons of pics) tonight on my blog for our med trip, but I hope this helps you decide!

 

[jackson190]

Many thanks for your review-we will definately stick with this excursion. I hope you have a wonderful time!!

 

[nordkin]

How strenuous(sp) was this excursion? There are warnings about people with heart conditions and I was just wondering if it is that strenuous.

 

[Lqqieee]

The steps to the Temple at Segesta were steep and lengthy. People with mobility issues made it up, but not without a few breaks.

Eze is on a slope, so you'll be constantly walking uphill as you make your way through the town.

The pace is leisurely, though, and you can make it up the steps at your leisure.

I'm posting pics now, I won't recap until tonight after dinner (if I don't fall asleep first).

You can find the pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unsupervised/sets/72157600352511825/

 

[nordkin]

The steps to the Temple at Segesta were steep and lengthy. People with mobility issues made it up, but not without a few breaks.

Eze is on a slope, so you'll be constantly walking uphill as you make your way through the town.

The pace is leisurely, though, and you can make it up the steps at your leisure.

I'm posting pics now, I won't recap until tonight after dinner (if I don't fall asleep first).

You can find the pics here:

[URL]http://www.flickr.com/photos/unsupervised/sets/72157600352511825/[/URL]

Thank you. I think this is one I will pass on for my mother. I am really looking forward to it though.