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Italy

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April 30, 2026 Lots of Churches   Our hotel is all about location. It is really close to the centre of the historic area of Palermo which was convenient but a little noisy at night. The main intersection was about a half block away and there was constant entertainment there at night. Today we toured around Palermo and area.   Quattro Canti, also know as the Piazza Vigliena. It is a Baroque square at the heart of the city's historic centre. The is entertainment nightly in this square.  The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio in the Piazza Bellini. This church was built in 1143 and is famous for its stunning Byzatine mosaics.  The interior of the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio. The interior of the Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. It was built between 1596 and 1596.  The interior courtyard and fountain of the Church of Santa Caternia d'Alessandria. Fountains adorned with Angels is above the courtyard in the previous photo.  We walked throu...

Tunisia & Malta

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April 28, 2026 Churches, Catacombs and a View This morning we drive to Mosta to see the Rotunda Catholic Church. We then proceed to Mdina, Malta's ancient capital city, which preserves the medieval Arab city within Massive fortifications. A short walk takes us to Rabat where we visit a restored Roman Villa and the  Catacombs of St. Paul and St. Agatha, which preserve early Christian burial practices and feature characteristic agape tables. The Rotunda of Mosta, built between 1833 and the 1860's. It is renowned for having the third-largest unsupported dome in the world. The architecture is based on the Pantheon in Rome. During World War II in 1942, a bomb pierced the dome but did not explode, saving the lives of hundreds of people inside. A crane is being used in Dome conservation to preserve its structural integrity and historical significance. The recent phase includes cleaning.  The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul in the town of Mdina. The cathedral is situated at the h...