Inland of the Saronikos Municipality

• Eastern Attica which today belongs to the Municipality of Saronikos remains spectacular and culturally undeveloped.

Apart from its many and well-known beaches, the municipality of Saronikos has hidden and unbelievable beauties inland which are ideal for day trips or even longer duration escapes throughout the year.  I believe it is a cultural – tourist destination of Attica with many prospects for development. 

Our cultural heritage entails much more than historical monuments and buildings – it also entails natural landscapes, music, food, wine, private collections …

The inland of the Municipality of Saronikos has all these features.

This place is a pathway – it alternates among local vineyards – the Messogeia is the home to the Sabatiano variety and of retsina – , olive groves, areas of wild growing orchids and the coastline of Saronikos. 

The Municipality of Saronikos combines the history of bygone days in a unique way, with archaeological monuments of Byzantine and early Christian time. 

Just a glimpse inside the Monastery of Taxiarhon, or the external walls of St. Peter’s where parts of ancient pillars are inlaid, is all one needs to fully recognize the identity of this place.

It even has monuments from the time of the German occupation in 1940.  There is an abundance of natural environment and is renowned for its many local products and its primitive sector.

Many statues of handsome, young men have been found; these were usually placed on tombstones – the so-called Kouri of Aristodikos, Typhoon and Kouros of Valomandras , all of which can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum, (it is of special interest to find out how they were found and how they were salvaged from conquerors.)

Moreover, another two of the kouros which have been found in the area of the Municipality of Saronikos are on display – one at a Munich museum and the other in a museum in New York. 

In the area of Attiko mount Olympus and at the foot of this mountain, there is a small stone-built village bearing the name of the mountain.  There is a communal wood-oven in the centre of the village, a one-class school and many scattered artifacts … some even found in gardens of private homes.

It’s worth taking a stroll along the paths of Pani (Panio Mountain); it is lush in vegetation – mostly pine trees.  Also a visit to Kouvaras and Trambouria, around the Mellisourgos Castle, Olympus and discover the wild orchids growing in the area.  It’s wonderful to experience the daily life of the locals and try some of the local delicacies; chondro, tsigarakia, snails (boots and stone structures), wild asparagus, Aklatsades (olives), sweet trahana made with coarse wheat, strifta, belines, diplies, poupeki and many others.  You can find delicious kneaded bread baked in wood-ovens, moustokouloura, local cheeses and wine. 

One can also try and learn the skill of the embroidered bread, find out what Hteni is or a Cross made from wheat, what the louminia are, etc.  Visit the unexplored quarry of the Millstones on the beach of St. Nicholas in Lagonissi. 

The forest of Kouvaras is ideal not only for hiking but also mountain biking, while at the Riding club, there is a small zoo one can visit. 

At Pani, mount Panio, there is a monastery which allows only male visitors.  There is also the Chapel of Zoodohos Pigi which was built in the early 18^th century.  It’s a great experience to visit the fair held there and try the traditional korbani (onion stew made by the locals and is served next to the Church on the day of the fair).

The Cultural Heritage of the area

The residents of Palea Fokea originally came from Asia Minor, while those living in Anavissos are mainly from Kapadokia.  Kalyvia and Kouvaras are home mainly to Arvanites, while the area of Saronida or otherwise Pefka Yiournta as it was originally called,  was the home of the Sarakatsanous; that is before the Athenians and other holidaymakers arrived in the area.  Every village has its own roots and traditions to preserve. 

Traditional Crops and animal products

The Mesogeia are full of vineyards, it is the home of the Savatiano and retsina.  The Municipality of Saronikos boasts among others: local vineyards, olive groves, wild orchids and the coastline of Saronikos. 

The vineyards, olive trees, pistachio trees, fig trees and the locally grown tomatoes are the basic crops of the Mesogeia.  Moreover, the area also produces animal products like: milk, yoghurt and cheese. 

The collecting of olives, midday break under the olive trees, a visit to the cooperative’s olive mill, the oil samples and local treats at the stone-built huts of the countryside, is a unique experience.  

The area is rich in agricultural and animal farming history which started off with great land-owners who owned the castles of Lagonissi.   One of these was the Castle of Melissourgos which was once in the centre of a 60.000 acre plot and covered the whole of the Lagonissi peninsula, neighbouring hills and as far as the eye could see.  The locals still like telling stories of Tsitsena, the lady of the Castle. 

The castle was built in the Middle Ages and is of a strict Mani architecture.  It has undergone five different renovations.  Today it is a spectacular venue which is offered for different private events.

Many early Christian and Byzantine monuments have been maintained with great respect for their significance.

At the Nine Towers archaeological site, just 2km away from Kalyvia, the single-room, wooden-roofed basilica of St. Taxiarhon can be found, St. Peter’s too stands in the shade under a massive oak tree, and also, the Church of the Virgin Mary of Mesosporitissa stands out for her impressive dome. 

The Holy Monastery of St. Athanasios at Kouvaras, St. Dimitrios at Lagonissi, the Holy Church of Taxiarhon, the Virgin Mary of Monomeritissa, the Virgin Mary of Koutala, St. Sotiria, St. Paraskevi at Tsitsena, St. Panteleimon at Anavissos, St. Paraskevi of the Lavriotiko Olympus and last but not least, the Holy Trinity Church. 

Explore the many historical sites, monuments, private collections, etc.  Take part in events and learn about the experiences and the senses which constitute this great heritage like, the arts, forgotten languages and dialects, music, festivals, gastronomy, activities having to do with agricultural products and the cultural environment of these rural areas, farming activities, local products, traditional cuisine and the local gastronomy, as well as the availability of accommodation and restaurants.