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.