Cape Verde, Canary Islands & Andalusian-Arabic Heritage (Le Lyrial)

Description

Cape Verde, Canary Islands, Andalusia, Balearics, Sardinia, Sicily: PONANT offers you an all-new itinerary at the crossroads of cultures and traditions. You will set sail aboard Le Lyrial for a new 14-day cruise leaving from Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on the most populated and also the most African of the archipelago’s islands.

Further to the north, you will reach São Vicente and visit Mindelo, the cultural capital of Cape Verde, the birthplace of the famous singer of morna, Cesaria Évora.

Your ship will then drop anchor at Las Palmas, on the island of Gran Canaria. Do not miss the chance to wander through the streets of the historic district of Vegueta, rich in architectural treasures including the Santa Ana cathedral. Then admire the volcanic landscapes that are so typical of Lanzarote before heading to Andalusia.

You will discover Cadiz, one of the country’s oldest cities, built on a rock and surrounded by the sea and Málaga. These calls will allow you to visit the cathedral and the Alcázar palace in Seville, and the splendid Alhambra in Granada, UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Your ship will then reach the coastlines of Algeria for two brand new ports of call in Oran and Algiers. You will discover the vitality of these cities and the architectural heritage of their historic centres. The Casbah of Algiers is a typically Islamic medina, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your journey will end in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, where you will be able to visit emblematic landmarks such as the 12th-century cathedral.

Please note: your voyage rates include Flight Paris/Praia + transfer

Trip Name

Cape Verde, Canary Islands & Andalusian-Arabic Heritage (Le Lyrial)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 224 Launched: 2015 A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises. Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in Mediterranean coves A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 PRAIA

Embarkation 14/5/2021 from 16h00 to 17h00Departure 14/5/2021 at 18h00The capital of Cape Verde, Praia, is located on the southern tip of Santiago island. You can dally in the districts planted with Tamarind and Albizia trees. Above the harbour, the statue of Diogo Gomes pays homage to the man who discovered Cape Verde in 1460. A few streets away, in the old centre, the Ethnographic Museum presents the diversity of the archipelago’s cultural origins. Its historical building with transom windows is one of the city’s more unusual curiosities.

Day 2 - Day 2 MINDELO

Arrival 15/5/2021 early morningDeparture 15/5/2021 late afternoonSet on the shores of the Porto Grande bay on the north-west coast of São Vicente, Mindelo is considered to be Cape Verde's cultural capital. Here in singer Cesaria Evora's homeland, you can listen to real morna in the bars of the old town, where you can also sip the local grog, a Cape Verdian sugarcane spirit. A few streets from the elegant floating resort of Pont d'água you'll see the pastel-coloured houses and colonial buildings of the historical district. Other landmarks are the facades of the old Governor's Palace and the busy municipal market.

Day 3 - Days 3 - 4 AT SEA

Arrival 16/5/2021Departure 17/5/2021During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 4 - Day 5 LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, CANARY ISLANDS

Arrival 18/5/2021 middayDeparture 18/5/2021 early eveningA stopover of sunny climes, Las Palmas is located on the north-east coast of Gran Canaria. A few streets away from Puerto de la Luz port, you’ll discover the vast Las Canteras beach, bordered with the town’s characteristic palms. You’ll find these palms are all over Las Palmas, in the streets and squares, especially on the plaza de Santa Ana in the heart of the historical district. It feels like you’ve travelled back in time here, as you stand looking at the tall houses beside the Santa Ana cathedral. Very close by, you can visit the Casa de Colón, a museum dedicated to the famous explorer. The museum is housed in the palace belonging to the island’s former governor. Chances are, you’ll be drawn to the covered Vegueta market to partake in some daily life along with the locals and taste some unfamiliar dishes.

Day 5 - Day 6 ARRECIFE DE LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS

Arrival 19/5/2021 early morningDeparture 19/5/2021 late afternoonEstablished on a coast sprinkled with cliffs, Arrecife has a pleasant beach and a lagoon full of charm, Charca of San Ginés, where the fishermen anchor their boats. The city also proposes places fed by history and culture, such as the castle San Gabriel, former fort of defense of the city.

Day 6 - Day 7 AT SEA

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Day 7 - Day 8 CADIZ

Arrival 21/5/2021 early afternoonDeparture 21/5/2021 eveningAndalusia’s Cadiz is located on the Costa de la Luz, in the south-west of Spain. From the beaches of Cortadura, to the flamenco bars of Santa Maria, through the colourful streets of la Viña, you will be amazed by this city, which is both steeped in history and extremely festive. In the medieval El Pópulo district, you will stroll along covered passages in the narrow gaps between houses. You will also be able to mosey around the lush Mina square. The star of the show is the magnificent cathedral and its dome crowned with yellow porcelain, presiding above the Ocean.

Day 8 - Day 9 MÁLAGA

Arrival 22/5/2021 early morningDeparture 22/5/2021 late eveningA historical and festive town, Malaga is located in Andalusia, on the Costa del Sol. Between the marina and the beaches, the seaside promenade of La Farola offers an ideal setting for strolling and relaxing. Set slightly further back, the Malagueta bullring is one of the emblematic sites of the city. From the hill overlooking the old town, one can see Gibralfaro castle and the Alcazaba, two fortified ensembles rising out from the cypresses and maritime pines. To visit Pablo Picasso’s birthplace, you will go first to the courtly plaza de la Merced. A few streets back from here, you can explore the museum dedicated to the artist, in the Buenavista palace.

Day 9 - Day 10 AT SEA

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Day 10 - Day 11 ORAN

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Day 11 - Day 12 ALGIERS

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Day 12 - Day 13 AT SEA

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Day 13 - Day 14 PALERMO, SICILY

Arrival 27/5/2021 early morningDisembarkation 27/5/2021 at 09h30Palermo is the guardian of the Sicilian soul. Many have been attracted to this city, the largest capital of the Italian islands. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans... Palermo is a rich culmination of so many cultural influences as seen in the Moorish designs on the cathedral, and the Byzantine mosaics of the Palatine chapel, which is itself housed within the precincts of the Norman palace. You will fall under the spell of the palaces, baroque splendours that grace the town with their obsolete beauty. It is thrilling to stumble upon one of those fabulous markets, high in colour, and headily picturesque.

Day 14 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

An all-new cruise between Cape Verde and Sicily, where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean meet.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cidade Velha, the historic centre of Ribeira Grande from Praia (embarkation port), the Alcázar of Seville from Cadix, the Alhambra of Granada from Málaga, the Casbah of Algiers, the heritage of Palermo (disembarkation port).
Opportunity of a private tour by night at the Alhambra in Granada (prereservation and prepayment mandatory, limited availabilities).
Mindelo in Cape Verde with its elegant buildings influenced by its British and Portuguese colonial heritage.
The volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands.
Andalusian city of Cadiz, one of the oldest cities in the Western Mediterranean.
Two new ports of call in Oran and Algiers.