Medium Menalon Trail

Today we cross the famous Lousios Gorge to reach Dimitsana. Do you love ancient monasteries and churches? Then you already knew that the Menalon Trail is perfect for you. Along the way, we traverse ancient farmlands, pass the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ and admire the view of the Lousios Gorge, before entering the paved path leading to Prodromos Monastery. Nestled against the walls of the gorge, this monastery has a very nice fountain to visit. We walk on to the Old Philosophou Monastery from 963 and then to the New Philosophou Monastery founded much later, in 1691. Finally, we reach the beautiful Dimitsana.

Footpaths and dirt roads take you past the small monastery of St Apostoli. If you thought this is the last monastery, you are wrong. Many more monasteries and churches will follow in the coming days. Just after passing the Immortality Monument, the guard of Theodore Kolokotronis, leader of the 1821 War of Independence, we enter the centre of cute Zigovisti. The War of Independence is a familiar story to every Greek. After Zigovisti, you trek across the western Menalon massif past a stunning ravine. This sets the tone for the rest of the stage. More natural beauty and a fantastic village to end it. Note: This is the longest stage, so do a bit of walking. There will be time for more breaks tomorrow.