It is important for Odysseus to go to King Alcious' palace because he needs to relearn civilization and get help from the King. Those are the things he cannot get from Ogygia and Clypso.
First of all, there are some similarities between the two places. Both of them have fascinating scenery and are favored by gods. On Ogygia, trees and flowers cover every piece of land. Birds are singing sweetly and clear springs run though the meadows with violets; shows the lushness of the island. This magical land attracts even god: "Hermes the guide, the mighty giant-killer, stood there, spellbound..." (Odyssey book 5) The palace is spectacular too: the walls are decorated by sparkling gold and silver. The garden is filled with ripen fruits; warm wind bellows from season to season. Women are weaving the wool and men are building elaborate ships. People here are living frontier lives than any other places.
English: 18th-century French engraving of Odysseus...
Ulysses at the court of Alcinous
Pieter Lastman, Odysseus and Nausicaa, 1619. Oil o...This is a god-liked land: "such were the gifts, the glories showered down by the gods on King Alcinous' realm."(Odyssey book 7)
However, there are also great differences between the natural island and the palace, while the palace takes the advantage of civilization so that it is necessary for Odysseus to visit the there. On Ogygia, although it has amazing natural scenery, there is only ornamental cedars growing randomly in the fertile soil and is used for burning. The clear springs run across the meadow but no one drink it or use it. In contradict, Phaeacia is a flourish civilization with abundance treasure and civilized facilities. In the garden of Phaeacia, everything is well organized. Various kinds of fruit trees are planted, and there is water channels built for irrigation system. Men are picking fruits from the lush trees. Those scenes in the palace represent...