Since then the island has long held strategic importance over the bay, and in time came to be the seat of the monastery from which it is now named, although pilgrims attempting the bay walk across the sands and mudflats, came to think of it as
‘St Michael in Peril of the Sea’.
At a secular level, the island and its tortuous lanes and stepped alleyways is a place that deserves all the attention; it is constantly bustling and frenetic, given to wonder.
On a recent visit my journalistic nose followed a French family of five around for a while: mum, dad, two children and the head of a Chihuahua in a shoulder bag, which I was fairly certain was not permitted, well, unless it was just the head and not a complete dog.