Location
The women’s monastery or Convent of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of Zourva (Genesiou tis Theotokou; 1814) is on the eastern side of the island. It is accessible either by boat (such as sea taxi) from the Bay of Ledeza, followed by 20-30 minutes of uphill walking for 1,100 meters (and a total ascent of 180 meters), or from the town of Hydra via footpaths along the ridge of the island (2.5 hours, total distance of 8,200 meters).
A four kilometer trail begins at the Monastery, heading east. After an hour’s walk, it leads us to the Zourvas Lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island.
If we go west on the road to the town of Hydra (2.5 hours, total distance of 8,200 meters), we encounter first the little Church of the Prophet Elias (3,100 meters, 385 meters altitude), then the [Monastery of Saint Nicholas][TID:22649] (5 kilometers), and finally the Monastery of the Holy Trinity (6.5 kilometers). The journey to the Monastery of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) is relatively laborious because the trails are rocky, but the experience is unique. We walk on the ridge of the island, and it's like we're on a huge ship sailing in the Saronic Gulf.
From the Monastery of Saint Nicholas, we can descend to the gorgeous secluded beach of Limioniza (1,100 meters) and swim in the crystal waters of the bay--a lovely treat that will compensate us for our grueling walk. Unfortunately, we will pay the price as we return, when we have to climb 250 meters (in altitude) as we walk 700 meters to reach the point where we turned down toward the beach.
From the Holy Trinity Monastery we have three choices:
- To head west toward the town of Hydra (about 2,500 meters).
- To ascend to the south toward the Convent of Saint Matrona (about 1,000 meters).
- To descend to the north toward Mandraki (about 1,700 meters) on a rough path that begins shortly after the Holy Trinity Monastery and runs into the road that comes from the town of Hydra.
Sources
Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin - Zourva
As well as the links mentioned in the articles and generally the key texts of sources about the Saronic Gulf area of Exploring Greece
[TID:22649]: https://www.exploring-greece.gr/en/show/22649 "Monastery of Saint Nicholas "
