Has anyone travelled to Dhimitsana and Stemnitsa ? We would be traveling from the main highway coming from Sparta. How are the roads going there. Looks like some switchbacks. Also we want to visit the monasteries in the morning and would like advise on easiest access for walking up. They look beautiful but not sure if easy to get to. Thank you Jeni
Posted by
NH (USA)
1333 posts
I was in the area a few years back and while the roads are in good condition it's slow driving as there are many switchbacks and hair pin turns.
I went up to the mountain top village of Karytaina and it was beautiful with spectacular scenery. It's not far "as the crow flies" to the monasteries and other mountain villages but time wise it would be longer than you think to get there as you may have to back track.
I never made it to any of the monasteries or Stemnitsa as it was more driving than I wanted to do in addition to having to walk to some of the more remote monasteries.
If you go early enough and plan accordingly you could do it but it may be a long day.
I also recommend some type of navigation system. I use Google Maps and it really helps not getting lost on some of the rural and mountain roads. Works well for the most part even in remote areas.
Posted by
6104 posts
This area is really gorgeous. I do remember the drive being quite something, and this was 2019 so my memory of exactly what route we took is fuzzy. It is entirely possible we missed a turn en route (I try to navigate and husband drives), but I do recall thinking "I sure hope this is the way" as the roads got narrower and curvier, less maintained than elsewhere on our drives. Big bushes with bright yellow flowers came in on both sides. Just take it slow and you'll be fine. We came by way of Messene but would have ended up on the same roads as coming from Sparta. It was all fine and we arrived in Zatouna (next village over) to a beautiful hotel, Archontiko Anyfanti. The route back to Athens airport was a snap.
We stayed two nights and spent our full day hiking to the monasteries along a stream with orchids in bloom (late May)--I highly recommend this area! The towns were cute too, but our time was pretty limited to grabbing provisions for the hike and two dinners out.
If you are not up for a longer hike, note you can park at a church and just walk down as far as the first monastery, which is the older, more dramatic one. The other one is newer and more remarkable for the hike to get there. I'm sure it's all online, but we used the Bradt Guide if you want more details about the area. If you just want to see one monastery, one day will be enough but more time would not be misspent!