Following a pleasant hike from Stemnitsa the previous day, we woke up refreshed in the mountainous coolness of Dimitsana village. The plan now was to continue along the second section of the acclaimed Menalon Mountain Trail toward the village of Zygovisti. We had an easy morning in our hotel’s cute garden, packed slowly, and started.
The route begins from the village center, following the narrow stairway between the tavern and the gourmet food shop at the corner. The trailhead coordinates are 35.5955, 22.0395.
Walking among graceful stone houses, we reached the hilltop above the upper end of the village. After some breaths and visual indulgence, we carried on into the wilderness. The rest of the trail was mostly flat and pleasant. We strolled through a quiet plateau, enjoying splendid views of surrounding peaks and the Lousios Gorge we had crossed yesterday far below.
After a last short ascent at the end, two hours since we started in the morning, we completed the second section of the Menalon Mountain Trail in the village of Zygovisti. This is smaller and less developed than Stemnitsa and Dimitsina. Yet, it’s as pretty and historically significant. It also played an important role in the struggle for the Greek independence. An open-book-shaped marble sculpture at the village’s entrance commemorates the local warriors who fought alongside the hailed general Theodoros Kolokotronis.
We went to the village’s square, where some outdoor taverns and cafes were set in the luxuriant shade of enormous plane trees. The assembled locals rejoiced in our arrival. They greeted us in French—the French are their most common visitors—and once they figured I was Greek, they proved too eager for a chat. We had a coffee at their company and moved on at the height of the heat.
If we intended to finish the entire trail, we would either continue straightaway along the third section toward Elati or overnight on the spot to continue tomorrow. Zygovisti doesn’t offer as many options for accommodation as the other villages. Still, it has a few nice guesthouses. Since, however, this was a two-day trip, we took the asphalt road back to Stemnitsa, completing a circle. And after spending a night in this lovely guesthouse, we drove back to Athens the following morning.
Accommodation and Activities in Greece
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