Tuesday 30 September 2025
This morning we awakened in the port of Marseille, one of the oldest ports in Europe founded by Greek sailors 2600 years ago, not far from the mouth of the River Rhône to the west or the French Riviera to the east along the Mediterranean Coast. Our adventure today has been to visit the historic town of Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes the Palais des Papes, the largest gothic building in the world. In 1305 the new Pope Clement V, a non-Italian fled the political instability of Rome and sought safety in France under the rule of King Philip IV. From 1307 a series of seven popes, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church resided in Avignon for the next nearly seventy years. In part our interest in visiting Avignon stems from Karen’s interest in the life of St Catherine of Siena, who at the age of 29 traveled from her home in Italy to Avignon in France to persuade Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome which in fact he did a year later in 1377. For us it was an hour and twenty minute coach ride from Marseille to Avignon situated strategically on River Rhône, to tour the massive edifice built in stages by successive popes as a defensive structure as well as a spiritual center. It was fascinating to walk through many of the twenty-five rooms within the palace admiring the architecture and the art. In addition to the amazing history of the edifice, our visit coincided with an art installation, Othoniel Cosmos or the Ghosts of Love that we found simultaneously fascinating and distracting. After our official tour ended we had free time that we used to visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d’Avignon, to gaze upon the partial 12th Century bridge, to enjoy a scrumptious crêpes lunch, and to linger in the Place du Palais before returning to the Allure of the Seas to continue our voyage in the western Mediterranean.
Thank you-very much enjoyed and Happy New Year. I moved to FLORIDA and live in the Villages. Saw Arlene last month.
Love,
Marlis