Italy, Malta, Tunisia and Greece have decided to present
this Voyage as a 'Cultural Route'. In each of the places where Ulysses stopped, in
collaboration with local government and other local organizations, whatever connection
with Ulysses exists - in archaeology, folklore, mythology, tradition, geographical
coincidence - will be presented to visitors. Events with music, drama and poetry relating
to the Odyssey will also be staged.
Furthermore, visitors will be able to see other cultural attractions in the area, from
Classical and later times. In Greece for example, at Mycenae they will visit not only the
palace and the royal tombs, but also nearby Epidaurus with the Asclepium and the THEATRE -
watch-theatrical performances there -, as well as Nauplion, first capital of modern
Greece. On Delos they will visit the Classical city and the sanctuary of Apollo, but
should not miss cosmopolitan Myconos. At Maroneia in Thrace, the archaeological site and
the nature reserve of the Evros delta. On Corfu the Achilleion and in Epirus opposite, the
river Acheron and the Necromanteion. On Ithaca the cave of the nymphs where the Phaeacian
ship left Ulysses.
In Tunisia, Malta and Italy, apart from those cultural elements connected with
Ulysses, the visitor has the chance to see many more monuments of prehistoric, Classical,
Roman and later times. Special brochures will present in detail the various cultural
monuments, ancient and later, in the places where Ulysses stopped in these countries. In
the following paragraphs only the most important cultural attractions of these places are
mentioned, giving this voyage the character of a 'Cultural Route'.
In Tunisia there are monuments of many periods, Phoenician - at Carthage -, Roman and
Arab. At Djerba, the land of the Lotus-Eaters, apart from visiting the ancient monuments,
one
can visit the oases on the edge of the Sahara desert, with the palm trees whose fruit, the
date, is thought by many to be the lotus. The sweet juice that drips from the palm trees,
the 'lagmi', has intoxicating qualities.
On Malta, the island of Aeolus, and on Gozo, the island of Calypso, just half an hour's
sail away, there are many interesting cultural remains of the Bronze Age, Phoenician,
Roman, Renaissance and recent times. On Malta, apart from the precipitous south coast, the
Dingli Cliffs, so uncannily like Homer's description, one can visit the capital Valletta,
rich in renaissance and baroque architecture, with the palace of the Grand Master of the
Knights of the Order of Saint John, the cathedral and other churches, or visit nearby
Mdina the fortified medieval city, as well as various Phoenician and Roman monuments. On
GoZo, apart from Calypso's cave in the gulf of Ramla in the north part of the island, one
can visit the medieval walled town, various churches, as well as a prehistoric megalithic
temple.
In Italy, as mentioned above, Ulysses stopped on Sicily at Ad Reale, Mozia near Trapani,
sailed through the straits of Messina, came ashore at Taormina, went from Monte Circeo,
between Rome and Naples to Averno, and sailed close to the Galli islets. Apart from those
features in places associated with Ulysses, the natural and cultural wealth of southern
Italy and Sicily is boundless. Capri, Ischia, Vesuvius, the bay of Naples, the Aeolian
islands, Stromboli and Etna, the coasts of Calabria are all renowned for their stunningly
beautiful landscapes. From a cultural point of view the Roman monuments in Rome, Naples,
Pompeii, the Classical Greek monuments in Sicily, the temples and theatres, the history,
tradition and artistic events compose an unrivalled treasure trove into which, on the
pretext of Ulysses' wanderings, discerning visitors can delve.
In all the places that Ulysses is thought to have stopped, the modern traveller following
his voyage - all or part - can stay for a few hours and see the main cultural monuments,
ancient and recent, or for a few days if he wants to explore the other places of interest
in the region.
The large Tourist Agencies, Cruise Companies and Tour Operators have undertaken to
organize, publicize and promote organized tours for those interested in following
Ulysses's voyage, in full or in part.
An illustrated book with articles by the four University Professors, Kakridis, Gigante
Bonanno and Fantar, presenting in detail the Cultural Route of the Odyssey on the basis of
references in the sources, is being prepared for readers who wish to learn more about
Ulysses' Voyage.
Thanks are due to the Academician Professor S. lakovidis, the Ephors of Antiquities K.
Tsakos, E. Pentazos, D. Triantaphyllos, the Classicist Th. Vlachopoulos, the former Mayor
of Ithaca S. Arsenis, and the Mayor of Myconos C. Veronis for their comments and
contribution to the present brochure.
Professor Marios Raphael
President of the Piraeus University
Center of Tourism
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