Ithaca Trail 12A

"Mountain hiking on the ridge of Vigla." From the picturesque port of Kioni, climb the long wide stairs and reach the stone-built settlement of Rachi. You enter the narrow road right in front of the only small shop in the settlement and continue until you find the path that goes up to Vigla. The slope is steep, but thanks to the wise use of the natural relief, the path is easily passable. Various mediterranean trees will offer you their shade, on a route that will take you past streams, terraces, huge olive trees and ponds. At some point you'll cross a proper forest of large oaks! When you reach the ridge of the mountain, you will be greeted by a small plateau. North, on the top of Vigla (altitude 289m.) stand the two windmills. There is no obvious path to the mills. If you try to go, you will see that the mills are in pretty good condition and the view from here is magnificent! Watch out for the gap between them! It has no roof and, if one doesn't see it, it is very dangerous.

You return to the small plateau where you were before, cross it and reach the recently restored hermit church of Agios Nikolaos. From here, you will walk a path on the ridge of Vigla, in an evocative landscape, between huge rooted rocks, centuries-old olive trees, innumerable dry stones and stone huts. On a plateau you will see the ruined church of Agios Theodoros. After a wooded part of the route, the uphill slope stops. You are on the plateau of Anogi. In front of you, Niritos rises imposingly. After crossing successive pits on the vast plateau, you reach a concrete-paved alley. On the right, you will find the small church of Agia Paraskevi. You walk to the left, take the asphalt road and after about 1 kilometer you are in the plaza of Anogi.