A morning around Pollica

A morning around Pollica

Our house overlooks the sea, a tantalising expanse of sparkling blue. But the walks in the hills behind are peaceful and shady and, during the summer, far from the crazy crowds of holidaymakers. In the morning, a steep but short walk up to Pollica gives us a good excuse to have a coffee and do a little morning exercise. As all good bars in Italy, Bar Jerry is tucked by the roadside conveniently placed as a quick pitstop in and out, but with strategic chairs and tables that entice you to sit and ‘salute’ acquaintances and enjoy the beautiful views of the sea below. It is not difficult to spend numerous hours chatting to passing friends and acquaintances. Much of the organisation of the day happens here; which beaches to go to, anybody up for a walk, why don’t you come for dinner tonight…

The next walk (if you can tear yourself away from Bar Jerry), is an easy two hour or so walk to Celso and back. This takes you through the narrow pedestrian lanes of Pollica, up past enclosed gardens and pretty or dilapidated doorways to the Convento di Pollica. A path leads up into the hillside and it once on this path you follow it round the until you come into Celso from above.

We do this walk a few times a week when the weather is good, although it is best done in the morning as the path lies on the western side of the mountain and in the afternoon the sun beats down ferociously on the path.