Going on a cruise with your friends or family is always a memorable experience. You get to see lots of beautiful places and meet friendly people along the way. If you want to, you can organize a Mormon vacation that can help build rapport among your community members. It is a great way to break the ice and create some bonds that may lead to genuine lasting friendships.
One of the more popular trips organized by Mormon groups is a cruise of the Mediterranean. This will have you visit some countries in Europe, and that includes Greece and Italy. You can enjoy their laid-back culture and cuisine while learning about their history. What are more interesting about this trip are the landmarks. These are some that will surely catch your eye:
Great Tumulus of Aigai
Macedon was a small kingdom that existed earlier than the 4th century BC. It was surrounded by some of the greatest cities of Greece back then, such as Athens and Sparta. They were known to fend off conquering advances of the neighboring states with great war strategies. They managed to use Phalanx formations effectively, and this was what led them to defend their nation. Fast forward to the present day, you now have this landmark called the Great Tumulus of Aigai. This is basically a bunker-style location that houses the remains of Macedon’s past kings. It is amazing to see the level of preservation. The city of Aigai no longer exists, as it is now called Vergina.
St. Paul’s Catacombs
Malta is a republic located just South of Italy. It is formerly called Melita, and it has been known to exist around 5900 BC. It has had its shares of ups and downs when it comes to its religious affiliations. It had Christian citizens during the Early Christianity age. It was conquered by the Arabs between 1084 and 1049. Christianity would come back as the dominant belief after the Norman conquest, which happened around the 1100s.
In modern times, Malta is now an independent republic that is predominantly Catholic. It achieved independence in 1964. St. Paul’s Catacombs are believed to be built between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE. Walking inside can be disorienting, as it looks like a labyrinth of tombs. This is now preserved and managed by the government, and they are recognizing it as a heritage site.
Pompeii
Italy is best known for its cuisine and romantic locales such as Venice. But it is also home to some of the world’s most recognized volcanoes, Mounts Vesuvius and Etna, which lead us to the fallen city of Pompeii. In 79 AD, the world saw a Mount Vesuvius erupt with the magnitude of epic proportions. It was so devastating that it sunk the whole city in ash. Today, the site of the destruction is heralded as a heritage site by UNESCO.
Going on a trip is always exciting. It becomes even more fun when you see landmarks that have interesting stories behind them. This is the closest way that you can experience how life was back then.
