East Coast Sicily Day 12 Marina di Modica - Sampieri coast and beach walk

Back at the bus stop but just for a short trip to Marina di Modica. Here we set off on foot towards Sampieri, also famous as one of the locations where the Montalbano detective series is filmed. It's a pleasant walk along the coast first on a dirt track which then becomes a path between the sea, Mediterranean plants and the gardens of some large villas. 

We then round the headland near the ruined factory which also features in the series. The beach is spectacular, firm sand for walking, softly shelving sea and soft sand and sand dunes behind. A few pensioners strolling in swimwear, hardly anyone around. Impossible not to stop for a swim. 

After we continue to Sampieri where we are lucky to find a tiny supermarket open to buy some simple supplies for  our picnic, and stop to eat just after the few boats pulled onto the shore. 

We go as far as the next cove but the kilometers are piling up and we also have to walk back. Impossible not to stop for another swim on the way back........Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. 

Back in Marina di Modica we find a bar for a cappuccino and brioche and then find the bus stop and settle down to wait, and wait, and wait until we are pretty sure the bus will never turn up and we'll have to walk another 4 miles along the coast back to Pozzallo. A waitress in the bar near the bus stop is reassuring, since if the bus hasn't been by already it will turn up sooner or later. As indeed it does....45 minutes late....I keep any complaints to myself and sink gratefully into the seats.....