Off The Beaten Path: Greece

The ancient cities of Thessaloniki and Athens, with their monuments and museums, along with the islands like Mykonos and their white-washed buildings and pristine beaches, are classic stops on tours of Greece for their culture, history and beauty. However, some of Greece’s lesser-known natural wonders, authentic towns and archaeological sites are just as stunning and have fewer tourists, allowing for a more intimate experience.  


Meteora

Drive two and one-half hours southwest of Thessaloniki to find Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that abounds with fantastic peaks created by nature’s erosion of the surrounding rock. The spires appear inaccessible and it is difficult to imagine the resolve of the religious hermits who first climbed up to settle in the caves and fissures. In the 9th century, monks topped the towers with monasteries. Some of the monasteries have been turned into museums; all are worth the climb up steps to visit, but being reasonably fit will make the trek that much more enjoyable.

Even if you are not up to the climb, the view is still remarkable: from first light through to the evening hours, the sun washes the gray rocks with a paint box of colors; at night the towers are spectacularly illuminated by spotlights. Meteora is also treasured by Greeks as the inhabitants helped in keeping alive Greek Orthodox religious traditions and Hellenic culture during the Middle Ages and the Turk occupation of Greece from 1453 to 1829.

Diros Caves

The underground waterways of the Diros Caves, which are among the most stunning natural attractions in Greece. Archeological finds include plenty of mammal fossils, including one of the largest discoveries of hippopotamus bones in Europe. Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts (on display in the adjacent museum) have been found here as well, indicating that the caves were one of the earliest inhabited places in Greece.

The caves are estimated to be about 14 kilometers long, but only about 1,500 meters can be seen on a guided visit. The 30 minute tour is by boat and starts at the edge of an underground lake, where you will don a hard-hat and life preserver.  The guide uses poles to maneuver the boat through the caverns and tunnels, which are eerily lit and decked out with breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Warning for the seriously claustrophobic: some sections are just wide enough to allow the boat passage, and in some stretches you have to duck your head. The air is about seventy degrees year-round, so a sweater or light jacket is recommended for those who get cold easily.

Mystras

The ruins of the city of Mystras, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Overlooks the city of Sparta. Mystras began as a fortress built in 1249, and was expanded by the Venetian and Turk occupiers. The ruins are spread over the side of tree-dotted Mt. Taygetos and consist of a Citadel near the peak and fortified Upper, Middle and Lower Towns cascading further down the mountain.

The site was abandoned in 1832, but is now occupied by a convent of nuns who care for the antiquities. As you walk along its paths, you will wonder at the palaces, walls and gates as well as well-maintained frescos inside the many churches such as Agios Demitrios, where you will also find the Archaeological Museum of Mystras and its Byzantine and Ecclesiastical exhibits.

Stavros

If you are partial to rocky hills, scented with wild herbs and decorated with geraniums, sandwiched between volcanic coastlines and olive groves and vineyards heavy with fruit, you will want to visit Stavros. Located about 30 minutes north of the city of Chania on the northwest side of Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, there are a few small and well-manicured “apart-hotels”, but Stavros has yet to be overrun by tourists.

Visit many serene inlet beaches with clear-as-glass turquoise waters where you can rent two lounge chairs and umbrella for about 5 Euro per day. This is also the perfect area for long and easy road runs (or walks), where you will see an abundance of bougainvillea, as well as oleander, palm and orange trees. Drop by Christiana’s tavern on Stavros Beach for some fresh grilled fish, Cretan cheese pies and a glass of retsina; owner/chef Maria may let you have your picture taken with the Oscar™ for cinematography won by “Zorba the Greek,” which was filmed here.  Many of the locals were extras in the movie, and Walter Lassally, who won the treasured gold statue, has a home nearby.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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