A Walk On The Rock

A brick and stone path zigzags from Cefalù's old quarter up the western crag of La Rocca, or The Rock. This view's looking back over the new town and its crescent-shaped beach lapped by the Tyrrhenian sea...

The path takes you past prickly pear and giant fennel, and through swathes of purple and yellow wildflowers...

... to the Temple of Diana, an ancient megalith which had been 'done up' by the Greeks...

A steeper, rougher track climbs to the ruins of an old fort at the summit. Near the top a black snake hurtles across the path in front of me - a viper possibly, but, in view of its speed, more likely a western whip snake. Everywhere there are black and yellow lizards, about 5 to 6 inches long. They freeze, dart along the warm rocks, then freeze again. It's a hot, sunny morning - maybe 26 or 27 degrees C - and, on the way down, the cooling shade of a small pinewood is very welcome. A jay perches fearlessly on the lowest branch of a pine tree a mere arm's length away.

Here's the view from the Rock's northern edge overlooking the intricate warren of Cefalù's old town, wedged between sea and cliff...