Text: Katerina Pantazi
Photos: Antonis Sassalos, Pantelis Siabanos, Maria Kiritsi, Vangelis Katsavos, Nicole Visser, Katerina Pantazi
Translation in English: Violandi Vratsanou

A wonderful glorious day awaited us on Sunday 4 February, the day of the planned maintenance hike on the route Moni Tromarchia – Piso Meria – Amonakleiou – Mousionas – Aidonia. Bright sun, temperature around 15 degrees, clear sky and no wind! The sea below Tromarchia was completely calm, in the background the snow-covered mountains of Evia reminded us that we are still in the heart of winter. We chose to do what we love: walking and maintaining the Andros Routes trail network!

A total of 14 people from Gavrio, Fellos, Korthi, Holland and 3 hikers, who travelled from Athens especially for our hike, started from Tromarchia, walked along the cement road until we reached the point where the valley of Korthi was revealed in front of us and in the background again the sea.

We admired the well-preserved terraces and the dry stone walls with the stones (large upright slabs inserted between the horizontal stone layers), the cultivated land, the chapels, the cottages, the threshing floors, the stables, the fountains. Along the way, we met countless animals that demonstrate the rural character of the area: cows, sheep, dogs, turkeys, mules.

The route passes through several villages: we passed outside Piso Meria, crossed Nionia, descended from Ano to Kato Amonakleiou, saw the medieval aspect of Mousiona, Korthi and finally we reached Aidonia.

The path is alive because it is used by the locals. Their footsteps keep the path open. So, the condition of the trail in general was good, except for a few bushes that had grown out of control and got a much needed trimming. We also picked up litter and improved the signposting.

See you on the next care hike on the Livadia-Vaconi route on February 17. Let’s dream the trail by reading information about trail no. 18 https://www.androsroutes.gr/andros-paths-2/central-andros/livadia-vraxnou/

👉 The Oblique Bridge at Aidonia
There is a bridge in Aidonia with the technical peculiarity of being oblique, that is, its axis in relation to the riverbed is not vertical but oblique. See
androshistoria.blogspot.com/2015/08/blog-post.html