The first part of our afternoon was strolling the garden at at the Villa Monasterio, former monastery that then passed into private ownership. The grounds are now rented to a non-profit organization that maintains them for the public. The four euro entrance fee was more than worth it for two people who love plants. A wide array of flowering and fruiting plants were represented: huge magnolia trees, groves of citrus, cascading waves of oleander bushes, towering palms, and agave plants that must have been a century old.
The second half of the afternoon was spent hiking dusty hills and dark forests. We visited one of the local cemeteries, trod mountain paths that led to a cave that might been used by a hermit - or perhaps as a dungeon. The purpose of the structure was very unclear.
Our final destination was the Castello de Vezio, an old castle that has become a tourist attraction. The historical information about the 12th-century structure was scarce and the presentation was a bit cheesy, but the views offered from the tower were wonderful.
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