SUNFLOWER SOUTHERN PELOPONNESE (9781856915281)

Southern Peloponnese:

• 5 car tours (each with picnic suggestions), 50 long and short walks
• 152 pages + 2 touring maps (eastern and western Peloponnese), 1:50,000 topo maps

 
There are hidden landscapes throughout mainland Greece, but the region which packs the most variety into the smallest space is the Peloponnese. From the beaches of Arcadia to the fir forests of Mt Parnon, from the olive groves of Kalamata to the pyramidal peak of Prophet Elijah, from classical Sparta to medieval Mani, this compact semi-island has it all. Though the ancients called it ‘the island of Pelops’, after their mythical king, this three-fingered landmass is joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus at Corinth. Only in the 19th century was a canal finally cut through the isthmus, but it retains the cultural diversity and spectacular scenery of the mainland.
Area covered: Because there’s so much to discover, the author has drawn an east-west line roughly through the middle of the Peloponnese, and limited the book to the southern half. By good fortune, this contains its highest mountain range (Mt Taygetus), its finest Byzantine chapels and medieval forts (in the Mani), its wildest seascapes (Capes Tainaron and Maleas), its largest forest (Mt Parnon) and, arguably, some of its loveliest beaches (Pylos, Kiparissi and Elafonisos, to name just a few.
The best months for walking in the Peloponnese are April and May, late September and October.
 
THE WALKS (n see explanation of symbols on page 35)
 
1 Around ancient Messene 42
2 Stenosia • Kalamaris Waterfall • Yialova 45
3 Golden Beach • Paliokastro • Voidokilia Beach • Profitis Ilias • Golden Beach 48
4 Polilimnio Waterfalls 52
5 Kato Karveli • Karveli • Lada • Artemisia 55
6 Profitis Ilias • Pigadiotiko Bridge • Pigadia • (Koskarakas Gorge) • Profitis Ilias 59
7 Sotirianika • Kambos • (Zarnatas Castle) • Kardamyli 64
8 Exohori • Sotiros Monastery • Tseria • Viros Gorge • Exohori 72
9 Kardamyli • Petrovouni • Proastio • Kalamitsi Beach • Kardamyli 79
10 Milia • Panayia Yiatrissa Monastery • Milia 67
11 Milia • Eleohori • Riglia • Pantazi Beach • Ayios Nikolaos • (Stoupa) 82
12 Neo Itilo Beach • Areopolis • Diros Sea Caves 86
13 Three grassy meadows: Thalames • Somatiana • Langada • Thalames 89
14 Two short walks near Stavri 92
15 Gerolimenas • Pepon • Leontakis • (Mountanistika) • Gerolimenas 95
16 Paliros • Vathy Bay • Kokkinoyia • Temple of Poseidon • Cape Tainaron • Kokkinoyia 98
17 Ascent of Mt Taygetus: Profitis Ilias (Aï Lias) Peak 101
18 Ayios Georgios Chapel • Anavriti • Soha • Kalivia Sohas 105
19 Mystras • Taygeti • Zoodochou Pigis Monastery • Pergandeïka • Faneromeni Monastery • Langadiotissa Gorge • Mystras 110
20 Mount Parnon — from the EOS mountain refuge to Malevis Nunnery 116
21 Mouria Valley • Taxiarches Monastery • Paliohori 120
22 Leonidio• Melana • Paralia Livadi 124
23 Circuit from Leonidio 127
24 From Pigadi to Poulithra 130
25 From Kremasti to Kiparissi 133
26 Around Monemvasia 136
27 Ayios Nikolaos to Monemvasia 139
28 Ayia Katerini chapel from the Vavila road pass 142
29 Velanidia • Ayios Thomas • Cape Maleas lighthouse • Velanidia 144
30 Ayia Marina • Ayia Irini • Ayia Marina 147

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