The route
This is another excellent walk in East Pelion. Starting from Kissos village square, walking mostly on cobbled stone path (kalderimi), we pass through Mouresi village, to end up at the sandy beach of Agios Ioannis and have a swim in the Aegean sea. One can return back to Kissos by bus (www.ktelvolou.gr).
From Kissos village square, next to the main church of Agia Marina (worthy of a visit to admire the magnificent 18th century iconostasis and the neo-byzantine style frescos by painter Pagonis), we walk initially on a concrete downhill road, turning right as we follow the stone wall at the lower base of the square (ignore a junction to the left). Soon concrete covering stops, revealing the kalderimi underneath.
Walking downhill in chestnut forest, on kalderimi with sections of road, we reach a junction and go right, passing by an old fountain devoid of water, then reach another junction and continue downhill on the left. Eventually, we cross the main asphalt (here lies a small fountain with drinking water) and continue at the other side on concrete road, amongst a few houses. This settlement is called Mavroutsa and we pass next to the renovated church of Agios Konstantinos. After the church, we head right at a junction and pass by a wooden kiosk.
We now walk on earth road that takes a sharp left turn and continue along the course of the stream on our right side. In the distance we can see the Aegean sea. The road takes an ''S'' bend (ignore a narrow road on the left) and then, watching out for the red marks, we set off right to a path becoming soon a kalderimi as we keep going downhill. Eventually, we pass over the new metal bridge of Kissotiko stream, in a beautiful setting under the shade of large plane trees.
We continue on the other side on kalderimi-path that opens at an earth road and head left, to pass a secondary stream. Watching on the right side of the road, we find easily the newly built kalderimi, climbing between dense vegetation. It opens at another earth road, next to a stone kiosk and we follow it to the left at an easterly direction. This road also eventually leads to Mouresi.
After a little while, there is another uphill section of kalderimi at the right, opening out at the main asphalt at the west edge of Mouresi village. We walk on the asphalt for 200 m. and then follow a kalderimi on the left that soon takes us to Panagia church. It crosses a concrete road and continues underneath the church until it joins a narrow asphalt. Following that, we eventually reach the main square of Mouresi, featuring Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) church and a taverna.
After a refreshing stop at the peaceful shady square of Mouresi, we continue left to the church and the playground, on kalderimi in an easterly direction. It soon becomes concrete road with a central stone paved lane. At a junction we head left downhill and after 30 m., as the road turns left, we find the kalderimi on the right. Eventually, it opens on a sharp bend of the asphalt going to Damouchari. After 100 m. on the asphalt (ignore a narrow kalderimi on the left first), noticing the red marks, we take the wide kalderimi to the left. Further down, after crossing the asphalt, we reach a kalderimi junction, where the right one goes to Damouchari.
We continue on the left, then cross the asphalt again at a junction and continue in between the roads (left to Agios Ioannis, right to Damouchari) to another section of kalderimi that joins the asphalt again. After 200 m. on the road, as it turns left, watching out on the right for the red marks down below, we barely see the kalderimi that is covered for a few meters with fallen soil and stones (this stretch of the road was recently repaired).
Further down, we join the asphalt again and after a final stretch of kalderimi on the left, we reach the camping site near the sea. The tourist location of Agios Ioannis is on the left, while on the right lies the excellent sandy beach of Papa Nero.
Route data kindly provided by walking-pelion.blogspot.gr in association with Volos Alpine Club and The Friends of the Kalderimi of South Pelion.
