Methana sights for explorers

March 2022

The volcanic peninsula of Methana for explorers

Methana is a wild and isolated place. Local natural and human monuments here are not famous nor advertised, most of them are not even accessible…

The fans of Methana really had to search the place in the time to find the source of the strange and strong attraction they felt as soon as they set foot on the peninsula.

For the amateur explorers of Methana, here they will find some ideas to start their journey in this wild and isolated place.

1. Walking around the, once glorious, Methana town.

A walk on the wide coastal walking street of Methana town, with the palm trees, will reveal precious traces of the glorious past. Those times, the high society of Athens spent their holidays here and walked this exact same route on their leisure evenings.

On the coast, you can find the beautiful hotel ‘Akti’, further down you can find the abandoned, once luxurious hotel ‘Zaharatou’ and even further the impressive ruins of the once hotel and casino ‘Andrea Zaharatou’. Here used to be one of the oldest casinos in Greece.

Walk to ‘Nisaki’ on the south where you can explore the remnants of an important fortification of the Hellenistic period. The ancient walls stand near the church of ‘Agioi Anargiroi’. 2000 years ago this place was a small fortified island with a small city inside the walls.

Further south, at the entrance of Methana town, you can see the majestic building of the thermal baths of Methana. This is a landmark for Methana town which was built in the beginning of the 20th century.

On the second street of Methana you can find all the shops. Hotel ‘Aithra’ stands further north on this street. Here, close your eyes and imagine the beauty of this place a few decades ago.

It is worth to walk a little more, up to the beautiful old building of the cultural center where you can see some really interesting stone monuments carried here from the mountains. It is like an open museum here.

2. Methana Volcano

‘Methana Volcano’ is the latest among the numerous volcanos which created Methana by building up lava on the bottom of the sea. The first eruptions started about 1.000.000 years ago.

This last eruption happened in the 3rd century bC. The eruption was witnessed and recorded by the people of the period. The volcano is considered active.

The remnants of the eruption are on the west of the small village ‘kammeni Chora’ and you can climb on the top in 30 minutes. There you can follow with your eyes the flow of lave in the sea as well as enjoy a panoramic view of the saronic islands around.

The sunset paints the lava dramatically, makes it look like glowing red hot again.

Το 250πΧ, η λάβα ρέει αργά προς τη θάλασσα. — Το ιστορικό ηφαίστειο των Μεθάνων

Ηφαίστειο Μεθάνων — το ιστορικό ηφαίστειο των Μεθάνων

Η τελευταία έκρηξη — Καμμένη Χώρα - Η ιστορική έκρηξη του ηφαιστείου

Ρήγμα Ηφαιστείου Μεθάνων — Το ρήγμα του Ηφαιστείου

3. Methana thermal baths

The prosperity times of Methana thermal baths are by far gone, however the thermal baths are still hot, healing and pleasurable.

There are three independent and totally distinctive hot springs on Methana which are free accessible for the public anytime, any day.

The famous Sulphur hot springs pour out in the sea on the entrance of Methana town. The nearby sea looks like milk because of the Sulphur and it is hot and tolerable all year round.
The alkalic spring of Agios Nikolaos is on the coast, on the north vicinity of Methana town. The hot water fills a small bath on the beach. The water is very hot here.
The ‘Pausanias baths’ are all the way north on a remote coast near the small village of ‘Agios Nikolaos’. They are now restored after several years of dereliction. It is unique experience to have a bath here.

More abt Methana hot springs here.

Θειούχες Πηγές — Η λουτρόπολη των Μεθάνων από τη Τζονάκα.

Ιαματικά Λουτρά Μεθάνων — Το παλιό κτίριο των θειούχων λουτρών των Μεθάνων, σήμα κατατεθέν της λουτρόπολης.

Θειούχα Ιαματικά Λουτρά — Οι θειούχες πηγές στη θάλασσα

Λουτρά Αγίου Νικολάου Μεθάνων — Λουτρά Αγίου Νικολάου

4. Methana Hiking Trails

Methana is a hiking paradise. There are several kilometers of old paths which have been used for centuries to connect the small villages, the remote farm plots and the small ports on the coast.

At the moment (2022) there are open and signed paths crossing the peninsula and accessing abandoned crop fields, impressive summits, small churches and archaeological places.

The hiking trails were abandoned for decades. Since 2015 local and friends of Methana have made an enormous effort to revive this impressive trails network and as a result we have abt 35klm of beautiful paths around the peninsula.

There are easy paths for the amateurs, medium and very difficult paths which require experience and proper equipment.

To choose a path check out here.

Methana Paths Guide

Methana Paths Map

Κάτωμούσκα — Η κάτω Μούσκα από την Πάνω Μούσκα

Μονοπάτι Κουνουπίτσας – Έναρξη — Μονοπάτι Κουνουπίτσας

5. Methana Small Villages

On this small peninsula you can find 10 small villages on the mountains, 3 small coastal hamlets and 3 abandoned villages in remote places.

Todays villages were built in the beginning of the 19th century in advantageous locations on the mountains. The villages on the north and east are hidden by the landscape to be invisible for the pirates. On the west side, looking at Epidaurus bay, the villages are open and visible from the sea.

Methana town is the biggest and the newest settlement which was built for the touristic needs of the thermal baths.

The old villages are full of local architecture and you can find historical treasures walking in the narrow streets. Unfortunately many old abandoned houses fall apart under the weight of time.

-Kounoupitsa was once the biggest village on the peninsula. It was the capital of Methana for 6 months, every 6 months. Nice place for a walk, a lot to explore here.

-Mouskes (today Palaia Loutra and Makrilogos), the twin villages on the north have thrilling views of the Saronic. The two villages are almost desolate in our days. The atmosphere here is takes you back to 1900s.

-‘Kipseli’ (or Kosona) was one of the wealthiest villages. Here you can find really beautiful old houses and wide paved old streets.

-‘Agios Theodoros’ is a beautiful village with a unique small byzantine church in the center of the village.

-‘Kameni Chora’ is built in the lava and it is hidden by high mountains all around.

-‘Megalochori and Megalopotami’ twin villages on the west with spectacular sunset.

Wandering in the small villages, you can almost touch old peoples’ lives, feel the happiness and anxiety for everyday survival at the same time.

Κ Μούσκα το σπίτι του Μπάτη — Το σπίτι του Μπάτη

6. Methana ancient Acropolis and ‘Vathi’ port

The acropolis of Methana during the classical and hellenistic times (400-50bC) was south of ‘Vathi’ on the west coast. There is a small but very steep hill and you can see the characteristic fortifications driving from the coast road.

You can walk there from the coast. The history of the place is evident on every rock.

The acropolis is called ‘Palaiokastro’ by the locals which means ‘old castle’. The best view of acropolis is from the odd church of ‘Agios Nikolaos’. Around the church, there is an open museum of stone artifacts.

Nearby, the small port of Vathi is full of life with restaurants and cafes, a visit there is a must.

7. Peristeri Cave

Peristeri Cave (Pigeon Cave) got its name by the pigeon like stalagmites in the main room of the cave.

It is an impressive lake cave very close to the isthmus of Methana peninsula on the west side near the coast.

There are surviving myths abt the cave and the fairies which live in it. People used to walk fast by it to avoid them.

Access to the inner rooms of the cave require experience and equipment. It is not recommended to try getting in if you are not qualified.

8. ‘Krasopanagia’ church

‘Krasopanagia’ is a small church surrounded by myth. It is built on the tip of the remotest and inaccessible rock on the western coast. The waters around are deep and boiling by strong currents.

The church is believed to have been built by the survivors of a shipwreck as an offer to God who saved them. They built it with wine instead of water, thus the name ‘Krasopanagia’. (krasi = wine in Greek)

The scenery is wild and imposing.

There is no path to access by land, you have to know the passes and be not afraid of heights.

Check at ‘Vathi’ port if you want to visit there by boat.

9. Beaches

The volcanic nature of the peninsula has shaped rough and steep coasts. There are no many beaches here. However there are numerous small bays with volcanic sand and pebbles. The waters are always deep and cool.

10. Methana small chapels

Methana are scattered with small chapels. Most of them have been there for centuries. Some of them are older than a 1000 years.

Remote chapels signify some kind of human activity in the area. Maybe there were small villages around which have completely disappeared such as ‘Agios Giannis’ near Palaia Loutra. In other cases, there were small monasteries which have disappeared as well such as Agia Marina near Megalopotami. There could be cemeteries near the chapels or other activities.

Some of the small chapels have significant architectural value displaying interesting and rare characteristics which will be admired by people into ancient buildings.

Unfortunately some of them have been ‘reconstructed’ with very good intentions but really bad results disrespecting the history and the tradition.

Most of them are there, open for visitors to admire.

Ο Άγιος Δημήτριος Μεθάνων — Άγιος Δημήτριος

11. The concrete ship at ‘Agios Georgios’

The small port of ‘Agios Georgios’ on the north, was actually created by the grounding of a concrete ship on the shallow coastal waters. (they used to build concrete ships in the past…).

The bow of the ship is connected to the land and you can clearly see the steel structure of the bow including the bulwark and the mooring fittings.

The port red light is exactly where once was the rudder of the ship.

Walk along the ship and certainly you will find there all remnants of this wreck.

12. ‘Agios Panteleimonas’ views

The small chapel of Agios Panteleimonas sits on a strategic point on the mountains. From this point one can see both the Aegean on the east and the saronic on the west. You can see Poros island from here as if you fly on an aeroplane. In good weather you can clearly see the Cyclades. Kithnos, Serifos, Sifnos and Milos lay all in front of you in the Aegean sea.

The road to drive there is narrow and steep but the view compensates for it all.

13. Ancinet Tower in Throni plane

In the most fertile plane, exactly on the east-west passage, on the main path, you can look for he ancient tower.

Here are the remains of an impressive fortification with thick walls made of enormous stones. The main gate is still there as well as the ground floor walls up to 2 meters height. The stones are hewn to rectangular shapes.

This was probably once a check point to guard the fertile plane and the important crossroads.

Ask for ‘Throni’ plane, the local will assist you.

14. The humble monuments on the mountains of Methana

The mountains of Methana are full of small humble monuments of everyday survival of the tough mountain people. Countless threshing fields, cisterns, wine and olive presses, small houses, walls, scattered all around the mountains where people have tried to survive either hiding or taking advantage of the smallest piece of arable land to survive.

Discovering lost and forgotten places you are free to imagine stories abt the people who made them and lived there all their lives isolated and self sufficient. Now these are the only traces they have left behind as a sign of their existence.

Πατητήρι Μούστου με στέρνα — Πατητήρι Μούστου

Πεζοπορία στα Μέθανα - www.volcanotrails.gr — Πεζούλες

15. Faviero’s castle and the Peloponnesian war wall

By nature the isthmus is an important and strategic place where battles were fought and fortifications were built.

Methana isthmus is such a place where you can see both a castle of 1800s as well as an ancient wall built by Athenians in the golden age of Pericles to defend Methana from Spartans during the famous peloponnesian war.

The ruins are difficult to approach and you need to try hard to find them. However, their historical importance will compensate the effort for those who are intrigued by such places.

This castle was the first headquarters of the Greek army after the revolution and liberation from the Turkish occupation back in 1820s.

Methana is a small, isolated and wild place and you need to try hard to explore.

Sources

-A rough and Rocky Place, Christopher Mee & Harmish Forbes

-Με το βλέμμα των περιηγητών, Γιώργος Κ. Αθανασίου

-ΔΕΛΤΙΟΝ Ελληνικής Σπηλαιολογικής Εταιρείας 1974 Ιανουάριος-Μάρτιος

Text: Elias Rizos

Photos: Elias Rizos, Alexandros Pantellis

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