To the chapel Agios Nikitas (Sifnos, Cyclades)

The terrace path begins at a retaining wall on the street and is marked with a wooden sign (Αγιος Νικήτας Agios Nikitas). It leads briefly eastwards and then always moderately ascending northwestwards. It mostly runs along a stone wall. Sage, thyme, and other bushes grow by the roadside. The ground is consistently rocky, sometimes with somewhat higher steps. At one point, the path was blocked by a livestock gate (wire mesh) during my walk, which could easily be bypassed or opened (please close it again afterwards!).

After just under a kilometer, the path becomes wider and flatter. In this area, there is a wooden gate – please close well after passing! Before reaching a small white building, the path to chapel Ag. Nikitas branches off to the right from the wider path. The junction is marked again with a sign (ΑΓ. ΝΙΚΗΤΑΣ).

The path now leads up between low juniper bushes to the chapel. It is repeatedly marked with white arrows on the stones. The path would hardly be missed anyway, as the chapel is already clearly visible. You soon reach the chapel on a small plateau. The retaining wall consists of massive hewn stone blocks, the remains of a Mycenaean settlement from the 6th century BC.

The return path follows exactly the ascent.

Variant:

Those who are adventurous and do not shy away from a hike through partly pathless thorny terrain can also hike to the chapel Agios Silvestros on the return path. For this, first follow the ascent path downhill through the juniper bushes. Only a few meters southeast of the junction with the wider path (after the sign ΑΓ. ΝΙΚΗΤΑΣ), a path branches off to the left.

It initially runs almost level along the ridge but becomes increasingly indistinct. Partly pathless, it continues through low thorny vegetation along the ridge. After about a kilometer, higher bushes (fortunately without thorns) make passage difficult. Then you have to descend about 40 altitude meters into a saddle in front of Agios Silvestros. After that, it goes up again about 60 altitude meters to the chapel Ag. Silvestros just below the namesake peak. In this area, the path is again more visible and sometimes marked with red dots or cairns.

For the return, I recommend the same route until you reach the path to Agios Nikitas again.

The detour to Ag. Silvestros means an additional approx. 3.5 km and 130 m ascent both ways. Due to the more difficult progress through the pathless terrain, you should allow at least 2 hours for it!

The path marked on some maps from the saddle northwest of Ag. Silvestros directly down to the road is overgrown and not recommended.