“churches and frying pans”
Mezapos-Episcopi-Gardenitsa-Mezapos
Timings
- Around 2 hours in total
- Meazpos to Episcopi: 40 mins
- Episcopi to Gardenitsa: 1hr
- Gardenitsa to Mezapos: 15 mins
- map of walk
Nature of walk
This relatively short walk offers the chance to walk in the heart of ‘Niklianiko’ and get a real feeling for Mesa Mani. The sea and Tigani (the frying pan peninsula) form a dramatic backdrop to towers and churches. I personally cut back the unattended path to Agios Petros in the spring of 2009 but since then it may have become overgrown a little in which case long trousers are recommended. There is unavoidable asphalt before and after Episcopi which, if you have already done a lot of kalderimi walking, may come as a welcome relief. If you are after a fuller days walking it could be extended by including the walk out to Tigani by not turning left up to Episkopi but continuing staight towards Stavri, turning right at the t-junction and on to Tigani. The return leg offers the choice of retracing back to Episcopi or continuing into Stavri to pick up the walk at Agios Georgos i.e. taking the main road out of Stavri as far as the turning to Agios Petros.
Places of interest
Three important Mani churches- at Vlacherna, Episcopi and Agios Petros near Gardenitsa.
The walk begins in Mezapos, signed off the main road. As you approach the village by car the walk begins on the other side of it on the road up to Stravri. The best place to leave the car therefore is in the centre of the village in the parking area near the main church. There is no convenient place to park once through the village. Wherever you chose to park, leave the village to the south where the road briefly climbs steeply.
After 20 minutes a track runs off to your right down to the ruins of a tower and the 12th century church of Vlacherna - a 5 minute detour.
Continuing on the main road for another 15-20 minutes brings you to the small hamlet of Fokaloto on the right. At this point look up to the hill on your left to identify another Byzantine church- head towards it from the main road across an area of flat, clear land. To get to Episkopi, aim to the right of the church to find the easiest route up following the stone walls that run up to the small graveyard that lies beneath the church.
Having stopped to admire this renowned church, follow the stone path upwards. Keep straight when the path becomes asphalt and at the two towers of Katagiorgis turn right. Follow the road to Aghios Georgos and turn left at the main road.
After 15 minutes the road starts to descend. On the 3rd sharp bend, a low concrete building behind large gates on the left is the landmark to turn off left down a walled path. This path takes you all the way to Gardenitsa. Several times along the path the wall has collapsed, but don’t be tempted to follow the tracks that have been formed by livestock at these points- keep straight.
To stop to look at Agios Petros en route you’ll have to hop over the wall as you pass it on your left. Hop back over the wall and continue along the path. Keep straight where the path becomes a wider track and ignore the right turn into the heart of Gardenitsa. The road bends left and at the T-junction turn right. A path develops where the asphalt finishes.
Keep straight on this path, past two houses on your right, all the way down to the main Mezapos-Stavri road. Turn right to collect your car in Mezapos.
