From the village of Marettimo trekking in the Scalo Master and Castle

Trail Punta TroiaThe second and more challenging hike of the day I place in Marettimo (the first carried out in the early morning at the traffic light) I do not see at all well… we start at 10:30 in full sun ... today there is particularly hot we ... July 8, but I can not do it ... I expect a bathroom to Scalo Maestro and the visit to Castello di Punta Troia. The effort will be repaid ?

To make the trip, a trek that in hindsight I label DIFFICULT if carried out during the hot hours and MEDIUM-DIFFICULT during the coolest hours, We always start from Scalo Vecchio Marettimo.

The picturesque via Campi, with the typical white houses and blue shutters Mediterranean, ends where the path to Punta Troia, well introduced from a table prepared by AMP, e immediately dirt and cobblestone. I realize that the shoes of top trainers are not the best and I expect I'll find me badly but I did not bring the shoe fits then I adapt… in contrast I see German tourists who venture in slippers… but they are the masters of the trek and I am not surprised that much.

The Mediterranean and the pine trees emit the most delicate fragrance and intense, together they create a sort of odorous path, among the caves that until a few hundred years ago housed the small population of the island that found refuge here from the raids of pirates coming from the African coasts.

The path is immediately heavy because it starts from there a few meters a steep climb towards the ridge of the wall that protrudes on the rocky coast below, the view gets interesting but the trail increasingly impassable, in fact it is a continuous climb from an almost zero altitude door after a couple of km altitude 160 above sea level and under the scorching sun and heavy dirt is not the ultimate in comfort.

Already I was not aware that the island has the freshwater springs of excellent quality and in the path we come across a junction from the main path indicating a source 10 meters ! We already about 2 km walk behind and we're almost at the halfway point. Let's go… a pleasant surprise, fresh water drips from the protected mountain to a Madonna that seems to give us the strength to continue the journey and a small watering hole for some animal passage. We drink and we fill the bottles. E’ excellent. After about ten minutes of rest and coolness back to the main path and continue the trek.

We are upstream of the cliffs that descend to the sea below also forming what is probably the most beautiful cave of Marettimo, the Cave of the Camel where near it for some years was the riavvistata Monk seal which it was thought to be extinct in these places… and the Castle was created an observatory for the study coordinated by AMP Egadi Islands.

We have met and exceeded the highest point of the path around 180 above sea level and you can enjoy a beautiful view over the other Favignana and Levanzo islands and behind them you can see the coast of Sicily to Trapani and Erice in the front row.

Before a last crossroad descent indicates a path for Cala Bianca and then the steep descent to the Scalo Master at the foot of the headland where stumpy, perched on top like a large bird of prey, There is the Castello Punta Troia. We are quite tired and tested, the summer heat is strong are the 12:30 after two hours of departure and are the Scalo after about 4 km and a half before in continuous uphill and then finally a steep descent.

The first thing I do ? A swim in the crystal clear bay scenario Scalo Maestro.

Beach of Scalo Maestro Marettimo

The two coves facing this kind of little isthmus are, Viewing Castle, to the right Cala Manione where boats dock on the rocks to access the bay and the visitors left Scalo Maestro a cloaked pebble beach of a beautiful blanket of Posidonia Oceanica, symbol of Egadi and marine plant useful and necessary to maintain the biodiversity of these beautiful islands.

Last effort and because of all the trekking: the visit to the Castle of Punta Troia.

We arrive at the top of which are the 14:00 full sun, the maximum daily temperature… We get over exhausted… drinking water is well over, and what little was practically boiling… but we can not help but enjoy this spectacular example of mannerist Saracen set in the rock.

Here visitors to wait is driving the Castle and even if there are only two brings us around to explain the place with a passion and a love for this place that only few other occasions I found. Giovanni Scaduto marettimano Doc is a proud and doting of his island and the Castle where he works always and under a scorching sun from early morning to the afternoon when the last visitor has come all the staircase that goes all the way down. With the water followed a meal prepared and the desire to know and to promote his beautiful island in the morning rises, It goes to the port takes a vessel which accompanies him in Cala Manione or the Scalo Master according to the current which pulls… and if the weather is bad in the sea along those almost 5 km of trail like a cricket jumping between trees.

Giovanni Scaduto is an example of what a man can love his land, his island, It is impervious, difficult, adverse and even brutal at times but beautiful and expresses it with all the passion that only a lover can communicate !

And as John will be his other colleagues working in this wonderful and magnificent bright spot of our beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

John explains everything in detail here do not quote because you have to come up here and you also discover the troubled history and the magnificent beauty of the views.

Punta Troia Castle and Giovanni Scaduto Giorgio De Simone

Giovanni Scaduto, Driving the City of Favignana Castle of Punta Troia Marettimo

When they come back to take dinghy boys nautical services Big Game, and within minutes we are at the Scalo Nuovo, tired with calves electrocuted by cramps ... we are going to have a light dinner, but tasty in Trattoria to enjoy the seafood delicacies prepared with "Mediterranean passion" as he sang the unforgettable Giuni Russo !

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