Agiasos (Stavri) - Patomeni - Karini - Nychtanta - Asomatos - Liaka - Agiasos (Stavri)
| General description: |
Hiking route through rural landscape and forested areas with pine trees, cultivated olive groves, chestnut trees, fir trees, and orchids. |
| Detail description: |
The route begins from the neighborhood of "Stavri" in Agiasos and descends on a cobbled traditional road, the well-known "patoumeni," heading northeast. The lowest point of the route is located in the area of "Kareni," which offers a stop with running-drinking water and the cafe with the historic plane tree of Theophilos and his famous mural on the external wall. The suggested route then moves south and east on a footpath towards the "Nychtanta" area, a small valley with an old water-powered olive press and a ruined settlement, where the hiker can again stop for water supply from a traditional spring. From Nychtanta, the hiker continues south and uphill on a footpath (a few meters on a public road) and meets the settlement of "Asomato," which also offers a stop with running-drinking water and cafes. The last part of the route from the settlement of Asomato to Agiasos moves on a narrow cobbled footpath called "Theophrasteio Monopati Fysiognosias," a narrow path that, at intervals, reveals traces of an old patoumeni and passes through a dense chestnut forest. The circular route ends at the Stavri of Agiasos. |
| Transportation means: |
Car and bus to Agiasos |
| Accessibility: |
Asphalt access to Agiasos, Asomatos, Karini and Nychtánta |
| Best season: |
Annually |
| Places to visit: |
|
| Signage: |
Yes |
| Route starting point: |
Agiasos |
| End of Route: |
Agiasos |
| Type of tourism: |
Nature-loving, walking/hiking, cultural |
Points of interest
Agiasos (Stavri)
| Name: |
Agiasos (Stavri) |
| Description: |
Settlement |
| Category: |
Cultural elements |
| Longitude: |
39,085011 |
| Latitude: |
26,374226 |
| Altitude: |
461 |
Agiasos was created where the monk Agathon the Ephesian built his hermitage. He came from Jerusalem to Lesvos during the time of iconoclasm (803 AD), carrying with him an icon of the Virgin Mary and other sacred relics. According to the current prevailing view, the name of the village derives from the inscription on the icon of the Virgin Mary that Agathon brought from Jerusalem, which read "MOTHER OF GOD HOLY ZION". The settlement of Agiasos is characterized as a traditional urban settlement according to law 19.10/13-11-1978 (Official Government Gazette 594/Δ΄/13-11-1978). Its character is urban (continuous building system) and there are no yards or they are minimal. The settlement is developed around the church of the Virgin Mary, with all the main roads leading to it. As the roads converge towards the center from the periphery of the village, they meet at acute angles, which is a characteristic feature of Agiasos. The cultural collections of Agiasos are remarkable and are housed in the Folklore Museum.
Karini
| Name: |
Karini |
| Description: |
Old industrial buildings |
| Category: |
Cultural elements |
| Longitude: |
39,119145 |
| Latitude: |
26,389867 |
| Altitude: |
71 |
Amidst the lush growth of walnut and boxwood trees and under the thick shade of ancient plane trees, visitors can find peace and relaxation, cool off in the gushing, life-giving spring of cold and crystal-clear water that flows into an old Roman tank, dine in picturesque cafes, and admire the trunk of the old plane tree where the great folk painter Theophilos Hatzimihail lived for a period of time. He painted on the exterior wall of a nearby building the characters of Erotokritos, Aretousa, Katsantonis, and the dance of Zalongo. The area of Karini has been designated as a preserved natural monument under the decision number 3801/11-8-2003 (FEK 1231/B/2003) of the Directorate of Forests of the North Aegean Region.
Nychtanta
| Name: |
Nychtanta |
| Description: |
Old industrial buildings |
| Category: |
Cultural elements |
| Longitude: |
39,109335 |
| Latitude: |
26,39392 |
| Altitude: |
95 |
Here was the small village of Nyxtanta, where in 1909 one of the 5 water-powered olive presses on the island operated! A unique system of metal pipes supported by stone columns, the aqueduct, started from a metal tank filled with water from a nearby stream, higher up. Later it was converted to steam power, with three compressors. The settlement had few houses, the bathhouse, the fountain, the river valley with its watermills, the olive grove, and the "patomeni" with St. Catherine further up, which climbed up to Agiasos, all located in the beautiful stream valley, with the plane trees, beneath the limestone massif of Nikonas. The waters from the springs keep the river flowing continuously.
Asomatos
| Name: |
Asomatos |
| Description: |
Settlement |
| Category: |
Cultural elements |
| Longitude: |
39,101363 |
| Latitude: |
26,389044 |
| Altitude: |
267 |
A mountain village with a plethora of legends and local traditions, Asomatos is built next to the stone mass of "Nikonas". At the entrance of the village, we come across the school in a beautiful building. Continuing, we find the market with cafes, bakeries - with the well-known "paximadia" - and other shops. There are two olive mills and a flour mill. Wandering through the cobblestone streets, the visitor can admire the stone houses, the beautiful marble fountains, the picturesque cafes with the vines, the pious chapels and generally an atmosphere that is authentic and at the same time different from that of the bustling city with its frantic pace.
Liaka
| Name: |
Liaka |
| Description: |
Peak |
| Category: |
Viewpoint |
| Longitude: |
39,092451 |
| Latitude: |
26,391598 |
| Altitude: |
483 |
From the altitude of 510 meters where we are, we will be impressed by the endless view that the landscape offers us. The Gulf of Gera, the mountainous massif of the area, as well as the villages of Agiasos, Asomatos, Lamboú Myloi and Keramia are in our visual field.
The route