Description

Starting from your accommodation in Athens, we will head west to the Peloponnese, driving on the Athens - Corinth National Road having on our left hand the Saronic Gulf. Just before we reach the Corinth Canal, we will turn right, and after passing the town of Loutraki, we will reach the foot of the Geraneia Mountains.

We will start our ascent and, shortly after, we will reach the Monastery of Saint Patapios, which is built on the steep slope of a mountain. You will visit the monastery where the relic of Saint Patatios discovered inside a mall cave on 1904 After completing our visit, we will head for the Corinth Canal. Arriving at the site, we will take a short stop in order to admire and photograph the impressive location.

We will then continue, our Christian tour driving along the National Road, with the Corinthian Gulf on our right hand. Arriving at the location of Punta, we will leave the National Road and begin our climb up Mount Chelmos (also known as Aroania Mountains) towards the town of Kalavryta.

Just before Kalavryta, we will meet the Mega Spilaio Monastery.

The monastery is built into the natural opening of a cave of Mount Chelmos, at an altitude of about 1000 meters. Rich in history, the monastery was built in 362 by two brothers and monks, Symeon and Theodore. The holy icon of Virgin Mary, made of mastic gum and wax, was found there. The icon had been painted by Evangelist Lukas.

The icon is preserved intact, despite the fact that the monastery has been burned by fire four times. Inside the monastery, a museum exists with interesting exhibits: manuscripts, precious golden crosses, crosses from Holy Rood, banners, portraits, engravings and many volumes of books. In a nearby chapel, holy bones, as well as the skulls of the founders of the monastery are kept. In the Greek revolution of 1821, the monastery played an important role. In December 1943, the Nazis executed 16 monks and burned the cells. After the war, a new monastery was erected.

After your visit, we will visit Kalavryta, a beautiful and picturesque village, built at an altitude of 740 meters. The village experienced the retaliation of Nazi troops during World War II, when on December 13, 1943, the German army executed the entire male population of the village. Kalavryta has been characterized a martyr settlement.

While in Kalavryta, you will have lunch in a traditional village restaurant and afterwards, you will have the choice to board the little train, known as Odontotos (gauge rack railway), which runs in a lush environment in the Vouraikos Gorge. The route is stunning as the train travels through tunnels, small bridges, and often next to the Vouraikos River

The journey lasts one hour and ends at Diakofto village, where you will meet your driver again.

Then we will take the road of return, fully satisfied with our daily, Christian tour.