Ithaca Trail 01 - Guided by Homer's Verses

This route leads to two destinations in Ithaca, namely Panagia Spilaiotissa and the Cave of Eumaios, on the plateau of Marathias. You are in front of the Church of Koimisi tis Theotokou, at the highest point of Perahori. You cross horizontally through the settlement and enter the old donkey road that leads to the fields and crops of Perachori. You pass the chapel of Agios Athanasios and continue through wooded ravines, while up above you see the sharp rocks of Petalikos mountain. To the left, you can see Vathi and the south-eastern coasts of Ithaca. You reach a plateau. Vegetation is thinning. Turn right and go downhill in a southerly direction, parallel to the stream. To your right now you have the rocky slope of Merovoulos and straight ahead the Ionian Sea and the island of Kefalonia. At the fork go right and cross the stream. The area becomes difficult to cross and rocky. At a bend in the route, you see in dense vegetation the small church of Panagia built with simplicity, with religious regardfulness  at the opening of a small cave at the base of a rock.

You return through the same rough road, cross the stream and at the fork bear right.You descend and in front of you opens the wide plateau of Marathias. You walk next to centuries-old olive trees, while in the background you can see the bay that ends in Andri, the southernmost bay of Ithaca. A short detour to the left will take you to Elliniko, with its ancient ruins and the abandoned church of Agios Ioannis. To the east, far away, you see some farm houses and in the background the huge vertical rock that abruptly borders the plateau. At the end of the route, a short hike will take you to the edge of the plateau. And then, in an evocative landscape, facing the fearsome cliff, you descend a steep path that will bring you to the Cave of Evmaios and Korakos Petra in the heart of the gorge!