Monday April 29: Today we had to say goodbye to Giarratana. We enjoyed our time here but it is time to move on. We will be staying on the North Coast of Sicily for a couple of days at a winery near the summer resort town of Cefalù.
The drive from Cartania to the winery was eye-opening for Sandy and me as we traveled through landscapes unlike anything else we have seen on the island. We also drove for an extended stretch of four-lane highway, again another first for us in Sicily. As we drove East to West across the center of the island we first wound through groves of fruit, almond, and olive trees. Quickly we found ourselves in landscape that was dry and flat, at least for Sicily. Gradually the scenes became hilly and still dry reminding me of the Eastern Slope foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Lastly as we were nearing Cefalù the hills became more rugged and craggy, to the point that the last stretch of road into the resort town was more in tunnels than out in the open.
Then, driving consistently uphill we found nestled amidst the rugged beauty of the Sicilian countryside, the Abbazia Santa Anastasia. As we approached the abbey, its stone façade and iron gates stood against the backdrop of rolling vineyards and olive groves. Founded in the 12th century by Benedictine monks, the abbey exudes an aura of serene tranquility and raw beauty. Sandy and I knew right away that this was going to be a good place to stay.
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