Sightseeing in Southeast Trizinia
From Saronida and after, we start our exploration of the last part of Trizinia that covers its eastern section up to our entering the region of Ermionida, just before Metochi (where we take the boat to Hydra).
We start our sightseeing, the other way around, in other words driving from Saronida up to the limits of the Perfecture of Argolida , just before Metochi and we go from there in the opposite direction, only along the coast until finally ending up again at Galatas. The distance from Saronida up to going in to Argolida, is 12 km but at certain points the road has several blind spots and we cannot go at any great speed.
Along the length of the coastal road from Metochi towards Galatas, we can see many deserted, open (to the elements) and large beaches with a view towards Hydra, that are touched by the water from the Strait of Hydra. The first two that we meet are situated in the Skaloma area. The first is with large pebbles and generally does not make you feel like swimming. The second, however, is a very large, sandy beach in a landscape that reminds you of a desert! At the left tip of the second beach we can make out a building close to the sea. Approaching it we can see the entrance to the deserted today farm estate of Charavgi. The affixed marble plaque writes the year 1933 as the date. In front of the Charavgi estate and to the left of the coastal ruined building, there stretches a long, sandy beach with a view towards Hydra and its town.
We continue on our road towards the settlement of Vlachaiika. Just before the settlement we pass on our right a deserted beach with sand and pebbles and at 500 metres, on a left turn of the road, we can see to our right a small peninsula with a small church that draws attention to itself. The little church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is worth stopping to enjoy the beautiful view towards Hydra and its maritime strait. From the left hand side of the rock where the Church of the Virgin Mary is situated, there stretches out a small secluded beach with dark coloured pebbles.
At 100 metres we can see to our right a a jetty, half-submerged in the sea and at 300 metres the coast line forms a triangle with its base the road and the two other sides formed by two beautiful, isolated beaches. The first is a secluded, sandy beach with a small cove and the second is a long, narrow beach with sand and pebbles.
At 400 metres from the 2nd beach, we pass by the settlement Vlachaiika and from there we continue to follow the coast until at 1,800 metres we can see on our right hand side a building under construction. Right after this, we stop in order to follow the footpath towards the sea, which ends in a long pebbly beach. In the distance to the left we can make out the small island of Soupia. Ancient findings have been discovered on Soupia, on the island as well as from the bottom of the sea in front of the small island.
The area in which we are travelling is called Phourkari. At 300 metres from the previous beach and 400 metres before the residential district of Phourkari, to our right we can see a pebbly beach without anything special in particular. Going through the residential district which completely closes off our access to the beach in front of it, we can continue for about 300 metres to see to our left in the distance on its hill the headland of Agios Athanasios. At 300 metres we follow to the right the dirt road and in about 1km we reach the sea below the hill on its west side. Here we can see a pebbly beach while continuing on, in the direction of the hill, we can see some ruined houses and a half-submerged jetty. The area in general is reminiscent of an abandoned place and is totally isolated.
The ascent towards the summit of the hill is accessible by 4X4 and short (about 400 metres). At the summit of the hill is located the little Church of Saint Athanasios built inside the ruins of the former post-Byzantine fortified monastery compound. The view from here is very lovely towards Soupia, Hydra and the Strait of Hydra. From up here we can see a very beautiful beach on the east side of the hill. We go down so that we can see it from up close. The distance from the west side of the hill is 800 metres on a marshy dirt road and at its end we can see a very lovely pebbly, isolated beach with sand in a small bay, opposite the little island of Soupia.
East of Agios Athanasios is situated the residential district of Pergari. It was planned to be built as a model settlement had planned with town planning specifications but finally it was not finished as initially planned. From the Agios Athanasios beach, the distance to the residential district is 700 metres through a labyrinth of dirt roads. Access is easier, although if having gone through Saronida, coming from Galatas we turn right at the 2nd dirt road and follow the relevant signs (total distance about 6.5km).
East of Pergari, at about 500 metres we can see a sign towards the Bouphis beach. Following it and after about 1km we arrive at a beautiful and quiet beach with pebbles. There is a small canteen. From Bouphis beach we again go NE but making a small circle (3.1km) with the aim of visiting the little Church and the Castle of the Virgin Mary at Τselevinia.
The Tselevinia islands (Spathy and Skylli) form a “dangerous” maritime crossing at the eastern tip of Trizinia (Tselie=beware and venie=it is coming, used by the Arvanites watchmen of the region to warn about the Turkish ships).
The landscape that we can see as we approach with Tselevinia and the sea in the background is very beautiful. Of the Venetian (probably) naval watch tower that was here there does not remain very much standing. Its masonry does not look like the other castles of Trizinia but more like other naval castles of that epoch. Inside the ruined castle on the summit, we can see the beautiful little Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary. Close to it were found ancient remains,such as tiles and ceramic vessels that are on display in Poros Museum.
Opposite Tselevinia Castle, at the point where the road goes up to the castle, we can make out a very lovely, isolated and difficult to access (there is no footpath) beach with pebbles and some sand.
From Tselevinia Castle we continue on the coastal road in a NE direction towards Bisiaiika and in 1.2km we come to the lovely, large sandy beach of Psili Ammos. At about 600 metres from Psili Ammos, the road continues parallel to the beach on a higher level. At the point shown and as we pass by we can see right below the road a very lovely, small, sandy beach. The view is impressive towards this beach from the height of the road.
After a further 600 metres we arrive at the seaside settlement of Kato Bisiaika. Beside the road we can see a small beach, with lovely natural surroundings, but the principal and best beach of the settlement is just after 500 metres to the north. A short dirt road that leaves to the right of the main road (evidently a dirt road as well) takes us to the beautiful sandy beach with trees that reach down to the edge of the beach to the sea. If we follow the road that goes up NW, after 1.8km we arrive at a hamlet Ano Bisiaiika. From here, if we continue going up NW, after 2.6km we come out again on the main road that goes towards Galatas at the height of Saronida.
We, however, return towards Kato Bisiaiika and continue to go NW on the coastal road on a very lovely trip with an extremely beautiful view towards Poros, S. Modi and Tselevinia. After about 2km we can see from up high a large isolated beach with large pebbles. A short dirt road to our right leads us right to the edge of the beach. From here, the dirt road continues for about 1.8km and meets up with the small road Ermionida-Galatas, completing in this way the very interesting sightseeing tour of the eastern section of Trizinia.
