Pródromos - Léfkes

 

Evaluation: This is the classical hike on Paros, the so-called “Byzantine path”, which is part of an ancient medieval trail. It is one of the few hikes on the Cyclades where you can come across large groups of hikers. We chose to make this hike in the direction of Léfkes, because the view on this beautifully preserved village is really quite pleasant. This hike gets an evaluation of ***.

Estimated time: The actual walking time is only a little over one hour. Although the trajectory further on is not ideal, it is possible to continue the hike via the valley of Korakiá and the monastery of Panagía Thapsánoon – the hike will then turn out to be fairly long: 1h40 (AWT) to the monastery of Thapsánoon and another 1h20 to Parikiá. From Léfkes you can also catch the bus to return to the main town.  

Route description: From Parikiá you take the bus Náoussa - Pródromos - Druós and after a drive of about 35 minutes you get off in the small village of Pródromos. Immediately past the bakery, where you can get your supplies of food en drink, and opposite the road leading to Mármara and Mólos on the left, you take the asphalt road going up on the right. Very soon you get to a little square, with also a nice arch – you continue by walking underneath the arch. After a bend you take the second street on the right and you then go straight ahead, leaving the village behind. Further down, you take the second street on the left, a little concrete road. After 10 metres you take a right again, on another little concrete road, which you follow in northern direction without taking a left. Some 5 minutes later you get to the beginning of the actual trail – there is also a little sign with the letters "Byzantine path".

At first you walk on an earth and gravel road; thereafter you already get to a nicely paved part. Some 10 minutes later the trail suddenly becomes narrower and rockier, while it runs on the right-hand side of a wall. Further down there are some beautifully tiled stretches again; at this point the trail used to be very broad, but it is now partly overgrown or ruined.

After 10 minutes you arrive at a kind of plateau and some 5 minutes further down you already get a marvellous view on Léfkes, your aim – behind you, you can see the sea and the island of Náxos. You already start to go down and 4 minutes later on you get a beautiful view on the meandering kalderími and on Léfkes.

Seven minutes further on you reach a bridge in the deepest part of the valley. You now get to the nicest part of the broad kalderími, which you will follow for some 10 minutes, between olive trees and other green bushes. After 10 minutes you arrive at a sandy path, with a very nice view on the eastern side of Léfkes and a lot of cypresses. The trail continues for another 15 minutes and it thus brings you to the western part of Léfkes. Immediately before the village, the monopáti describes a bend to the left and on the next concrete slope you take a right to enter the village.
You walk upwards until you get to a beautifully shaded square, with a monument. At this point you go right and you follow the long, tiled road that runs above Léfkes. You pass the school and the town hall and at the end of this road you take a right – there is the bus stop.

From the bus stop you can also take the road on the left; after some 3 minutes you then get to a junction, where you go left to Agii Pántes. In this way you can find the road to the monastery of Panagía Thapsánoon and then further on to Parikiá – you then mainly follow gravel roads, see the hike Léfkes - Parikiá. But maybe it is preferable to spend some time in the village of Léfkes itself. This might be the best preserved traditional village of Páros. After your visit you can then take the bus to Parikiá.