Monte Epomeo. Downhill on a mountain path

After viewing the island from the top of the dormant volcano Monte Epomeo, I descend down the already familiar path.

In some places, the path is squeezed by stone walls and turns into almost a tunnel.

Just below you can see signs of civilization, metal pillars, either remnants, or blanks for fences, it is unknown only from whom.

In some places, there are natural viewing platforms near the path, from where you can look at the houses and farms of the southern part of the island.

The path to the top is marked with clearly visible white-and - red route stamp icons.

I arrived in Fontana early, so I walked to the top alone. Now trekking enthusiasts are coming towards us in an almost continuous chain. And everyone will definitely smile and greet you!

Approximately two-thirds of the way from Fontana to the top is quite possible to drive by two-wheeled transport. You can go higher, but you can't avoid pedestrians on a narrow path.

The Grotto of St. Francis always attracts the attention of tourists. I stopped by here on my way up, too.

The path widens, a smooth white tuff stone underfoot.

There are slightly noticeable branches off the main trail. My GPS map shows several paths leading around the slope of the former volcano.

Even lower width of the road allows you to drive a cargo scooter. This is a very popular transport in the mountainous part of the island. Motor scooters have replaced donkeys-the traditional mountain transport.

Tourists walking along the path look with bewilderment at a car trying to pass along the donkey trail. There are two girls in the car who are obviously Russian in appearance.

Patriotic tourists from Ukraine left a yellow and blue flag as a souvenir.

A restaurant where you can take a break and refresh yourself before the most difficult part. Although I went to the top very early, it was already open.

From here you can also take a horse ride to the top.

Finally, I came out on an asphalt road lined with private properties with gates made of old spring beds.

Paths with roots sticking out of the ground lead to the gates.

As I was walking in the morning, two workers were sawing down trees that overhung the road. After an hour and a half, you could see only neat stumps, there was not a single twig on the roadway.

One can only marvel at how the rather large trees held up on this slope. The trunks were twenty centimeters thick or more.

A water supply node made of natural stone, which is also a place for mailboxes. Water is supplied to households via flexible plastic hoses. For some reason, it doesn't occur to anyone here to close counters with iron doors and three locks, as we have in Russia.

As it should be on a mountain road, mirrors are installed at the turns. Despite the fact that I didn't see more than one car during the entire trip. Well, except for those two extreme girls, but this is an exception.

Another roadside hole is a grotto. I saw about five of them during my walk on Meonte Epomeo. What kind of animals dug them, I have no idea, a small bear can easily crawl into such a hole.

Pinia, a Mediterranean pine, is a typical representative of the local flora. The umbrella crown gives a good shade in the heat, and for its beautiful appearance, pines were used for decorative purposes by the Etruscans.

Silvery acacia, now it's just time for its flowering.