Light games at Campofelice di Roccella
It is well known that there is no shortage of beaches in Sicily; but when one comes on holiday here, it is very important to be well-informed as to which beaches are really not to be missed. It is not easy to give an objective judgement on the beauty of a beach, but we can say with certainty that Campofelice di Roccella beach is certainly among those that allow you to admire the most spectacular and poetic sunsets!
The beach stretches for more than 12 km, from Capo Plaja to the mouth of the Imera torrent; interrupting this extensive stretch of sand and gravel are only the ruins of the old castle, which still resist the sea and the weather, while on the westernmost part of the beach are the more modern tourist establishments, at the mouth of the Imera river.
Thanks to its perfect orientation, the beach at Campofelice di Roccella is an ideal vantage point for flaming sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, with the sun sinking into the sea off the Palermo mountains in summer, brushing against Monte Pellegrino and offering an evocative and enchanting panorama.
But sunrise and sunset are not the only natural phenomena that can be observed, for there is another unique one that is perhaps best described as an optical effect: the green ray.
It is possible to witness this rare natural phenomenon at sunset, when the shade of green begins to stand out in contrast to the orange of the sky; from the ruins of the castle built by the Arabs.
From this point one can clearly see the incredible optical effect due to the refraction of sunlight at sunset by the atmosphere, when the sun’s grazing rays are broken up like a prism by passing through a thicker layer of air. This phenomenon inspired a novel by Jules Verne (The Green Ray, 1882) and a film by Eric Rohmer (The Green Ray, 1986).
