Messariá - Ménites and back

Estimated time: The hike from Messariá to Ménites - a distance of 1,4 km - does not even takes 30 minutes in actual walking time, the return route not even 25 minutes. This actual walking time of a little less than one hour refers to a hike of half a day: we took the bus to Messariá at noon, we had lunch in the tavern in Ménites, with a break of almost 2 hours, and we were already back in Messariá at 3pm.

Route description: (0h00) From the church of Messariá you have to follow the asphalt road to the left (looking at the church) and in this way you arrive at the large terrace of the tavern Diónysos; a little further you see the residential tower of Kaïri.
Just past the tavern of Diónysos you find a narrow street going to the right (hiking sign Ménites 20' and [1[). You go down the staircase and after one minute you take a left on another trail [1]: the concrete path runs along a small water shoot, above the green valley and with the village of Ménites in front of you. After some 3 minutes the trail turns into gravel and slightly further you go straight ahead twice [1] – the trail has turned into concrete again.

(0h10) Soon thereafter you reach a curve and you notice the trail marker [1] twice, just before two small bridges. You continue straight ahead, across the first bridge, but BEFORE the second bridge you take a green trail off the left [1]. This trail leads you through a green valley and it goes up on old steps. After a little under a minute you see a small water fall, on your left and on a very shaded spot.
You climb up on a rocky staircase, you cross a small gutter and you keep going up between lots of bushes and streaming water. After another 2-3 minutes you arrive at the corner of a house and you keep to the right [1]. You get to some concrete steps, you then cross another gutter and you walk for quite a while on the right-hand side of this gutter.
Some 6 minutes later you move away from the gutter, following a narrow earth path. You cross the gutter once more and you climb up again.

(0h21) You arrive in this way at a clear crossroads: straight ahead you go to Lámyra (sign Lámyra 2,1 km / Chóra 5,75 km + [1]), you have to go up to the left (sign Springs Ménites 370 m + [1b].
You will be back here soon.
You thus go up to the left, a little further you keep to the right on concrete [1b] and you go up on many steps. Next to a house, you go up to the left ([1b] on a pole), at the top you keep to the left and further to the right, so that you walk under the road and you reach the road, at the bus stop. You go left for another 80 meters and in this way you arrive at the beautiful well with the five spouting lion heads. (0h29)

The taverns Pigés Karidhiés or Drosiá are marvellous spot to have a rest, under the large trees, midst the gurgling of the water of the wells and of the river in the deep valley. If you feel like eating something, you should try the fourtália, an omelette with potatoes and sausage...

After a break you can also climb to the church to admire the beautiful bas-reliefs dating from the year 1808.

(0h29) For the way back, you go down the stairs on the opposite side of the church (hiking sign [9b]); after 5 + 12 steps, you take a far left and continue down, until you come next to a house with three chimneys and the small waterfall, where you go right. Immediately after, you take a sharp left on the stairs [1] and you thus arrive at the bifurcation.

[If you prefer to proceed to Chóra via Lámyra, you should take a left here - see the walk Chóra - Lámyra - Ménites and back.]

(2h04) You take a right ([1] a little further), you cross the water-shoot and for quite a while you walk alongside this water-shoot. After about nine minutes you cross the water-shoot again. Near the remnants of a water mill - you should watch out now! - you take a left on the staircase, near a small white building (there is also a no. [1]). You thus get alongside some streaming water again. A little further on, you do NOT take a left across a small bridge. Instead, you keep to the right and a little further you go left again [1]. Very soon, you will see the blue dome of the church of Messariá in front of you. You walk horizontally, the trail is a little overgrown, but later on it gets very beautiful again – running alongside a water pipe.
At the houses of Messariá and next to a gate leading to a chapel, you go right up a staircase [1] and in this way you reach an asphalt road, next to the tavern Diónysos. (0h52)