It hadn’t started well. We woke to a damp morning, grey and unpromising. We took the day slowly, went for some breakfast, checked out the bus timetable and visited the information office. The very helpful chap suggested the best path for the day might be to the sanctuary above the town as it was cobbled and would be ok even if there was more rain.
Returning to our room a wave of umbrellas approached us! Maybe we would wait a little longer …
Patience paid off as later it dried up and we set out, locating the path which went straight up behind the town.
There are watchtowers dotted all along the coast, reminders of a time where pirates sailed the seas …
… and as we got higher we got a better view of the Castillo Doria …
The path became a series of cobbled switchbacks, with stations of the cross on the way.
We had seen various stretches of metal track on the slopes snaking between the olives and vines …
… and when we saw this contraption we realised this was harvesting technology Cinque Terre style!
Near the top there was another view of Vernazza below and a glimpse of the Santuario Di Nostra Signora di Reggio above us.
We felt it was more about the journey than the arrival as the church was closed and looked a little sad although there is still a service here every week.
We spotted the Santuario Di Nostra Signora delle Grazie di San Bernardino on the next hill …
… then made our way back to the town.
Just in time for an Aperol in the last of the sunshine!
The buccaneer theme continued with dinner at Il Pirata – bruschetta and pasta and a Sicilian cannoli for desert filled with chocolate cream!
Map
Off Travelling Together 