A Day In The Life...

One of the most fascinating sights of Sardegna can be seen from La Maddalena and its just minutes from the Palau pier. One Sunday afternoon I decided to take a hike and discover Capo D’Orso, Bear Rock. Nestled about two miles from the landing, Bear Rock is a naturally sculptured rock from resulted by centuries of erosive forces. Up close, the rock doesn’t seem to resemble anything, only a pile of stones that have been cut by the strong winds blowing. But as you transit north from Palau, glance to the right and you can see the rock shape resembling a bear on all fours. From a top the landmark, you can get a beautiful bird’s eye view of Santo Stephano, our ship’s homeport and the beautiful island of La Maddalena
It has been said that the rock was used as a landmark for mariners since ancient times. It has been identified as an essential navigating point of the Mediterranean. The earliest reference of the “Bear” was made by Homer in the 10TH century B.C. In the epic tale “The Odyssey”’ the heroic Ulysses visits a spring near the bear. In circa 200 B.C., the geographer Tolomeo describes Bear Rock in a book on the geography of the known world.
There weren’t many people visiting the site, I’m guessing because it was off season. Normally it would be crawling with tourists and campers over the summer months. I guess that’s why many of the shops and eateries were closed. If you’re ever in Sardegna don’t forget to stop by and see it.