Experience the mountains in San Vito Lo Capo
Experience the mountains in San Vito Lo Capo

We chose a sunny Sunday to climb the mountain that stands out on the gulf of San Vito Lo Capo: Monte Monaco

For everyone, San Vito Lo Capo is: sea, a very white beach, couscous, Zingaro Reserve... but there is also a hidden San Vito: the San Vito Lo Capo of paths.

We chose an autumn Sunday to climb Monte Monaco , together with friends from the CAI of Erice , the mountain that stands out on the gulf of San Vito Lo Capo, following path 609 .

From the very white and deserted beach I raise my eyes and see my destination, the cross high up, right on the peak of Monte Monaco .
In this period San Vito Lo Capo is splendid, some days have nothing to envy of summer. I look at the blue sea, but my heart is already thinking about the climb.

I head towards the entrance to the path from the side overlooking the town. Although it is not the first time I have walked this path, I am surprised by the steep climb which takes my breath away but which allows us, after a handful of minutes, to see the panorama of the gulf of San Vito Lo Capo.

The lighthouse appears to us on the half-moon of land like a small white bastion against the intense blue of the sea! Memories of Saracens ready to besiege the walls of what is now the Sanctuary fortress of San Vito Martire come to mind.

We climb quickly, up to the saddle that precedes the top of the mountain, enraptured by the colors and scents that inebriate the air.
There, after having explored the horizon, seeing Mount Cofano with Erice and the Egadi islands behind it, gently lying on the crystalline sea, we go up the last stretch up to the Iron Cross. This large cross was placed right on the highest triangle of the peak by a devout believer and is visible from very far away.

It is there that the view of the gulf of Castellammare opens up before us from the opposite side of San Vito. We see the mountains surrounding Palermo and Capo Gallo in the distance.

The scent of the sea reaches us from so far away and gives us energy, after the short stop, to undertake the descent.
You can go back towards San Vito Lo Capo following the same path or, as we chose, you can descend from the opposite side of the mountain and reach the enchanting Lago di Venere.
The clouds arrive lightly and unexpectedly and chase each other over our heads.

The beauty of the paths marked by the CAI is that of being able to follow a route in peace even without knowing it.

At a certain point the slope becomes gentler and takes us past cultivated gardens and orchards that were once reached on foot by farmers, a magical landscape.
Having arrived on the road that leads to the Zingaro Nature Reserve , lined with hundreds of dwarf palms, we are about to reach our new destination: Lake Venere.

This fascinating glimpse of the coast, a mirror of sea protected by enormous blocks of rock, can be reached by land through a cork grove that projects us into an enchanted world... of elves and fairies!

The sea, sweet and calm, invites us to take a dip, we don't have to be asked... it's our way of saying goodbye to summer!

Still wet but invigorated we travel the last stretch of the route which takes us from the coast back to the starting point!
This magical territory allows us to take walks in all seasons to enjoy the sea and the mountains together.
Another wonderful Sunday!

Roberta Zaccarini Fazio

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