If you remember when we arrived at our hotel on the coast in Mattinata it was set into the cliff and we were taken to our room on a golf buggy, well that was a one off - and the rest of the time we needed to walk, which was a shame! But it was a walking holiday after all, but walking back up after a lovely breakfast, or even larger lovelier meal or worse after a day’s walking wasn’t my idea of fun, especially with my still tender ankle. After all the walking so far to get here, and knowing we had an extra night booked at this hotel, a day off walking was much needed.
So that’s what we did. Or rather that’s what our plan was anyway.
We opted to head into the small town of Mattinata which is built on the top of two hills and surrounded by the mountains of Monte Saraceno and Monte Sacro, which our walking notes told us ‘create a glorious backdrop to the village’. And to be fair, our view as we walked out of our hotel back towards the coast, was also pretty special.
And armed with Google maps we left the hotel and headed towards the town, along a long and less interesting road, which made the walk seem longer! But without buses, or other means and eschewing the idea of a taxi we were committed.
And it was worth the walk as it was a pretty town, and very much a town used to and by the local community. Our plan was to pick up some supplies for lunch the next day, stock up on painkillers and stop for refreshments, as well as see what the town had to offer.
What we weren’t expecting to see was a nursing tabby cat in one of the gardens we passed, but I think I was more impressed by this than she was. We passed them again later on as we left town and her four kittens were spread around the garden, and no doubt mum was just as aware.
Mattinata is generally a ‘white building’ town and also set into the hillside, so that meant steps and steep roads. But now with more interesting scenery (definitely more interesting than the main road into town!) we had renewed energy for our explorations, and shopping.
We found a small grocers shop where we bought some fruit and crisps. We even found a pharmacy where I was able to stock up on enough ibuprofen to see me through until we got home, and way beyond. Although my ankle was healing, what I didn’t know was I was soon about to crack my tooth - yes, always on holiday. Thankfully it wasn’t that painful, but it clearly needed looking at when I got home (and then needed to come out).
We even found a sandwich bar and delayed many of the local workers on their lunch break, while we ordered and collected our own sandwiches for our walk the next day. And then as we headed off to explore more of the town, and to find somewhere to rest a while before heading back, we spotted this quite modern sculpture in the town square.
We stopped for coffee, and then a beer, and a water in a cafe on the street. But sensibly before we started our trek back I went in to check out the loos, and found a series of fruit machines, which was quite unexpected.
Arriving back at the beach we stopped to take in the view, amused by how even in this small town they have their Instagram spot!
After stopping for a beer at the beach bar, we’d clocked up almost 8km for our impromptu walk, which is quite a lot for our day off walking! But to be fair it was much needed, and it meant that we were fully up for the our last walk of this trip taking us across the bay and up the headland in the picture above.
But that’s for another day.