Prefecture of Achaia Favorite Tips by Lilasel Top 5 Page for this destination

The Icon of the Virgin Mary

Favorite thing: 2000 years old icon of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child in her right arm is a relief made of wax and mastich, attributed to St. Luke. It burned many times that's why it looks so strange.

Agia Lavra Monastery

Favorite thing: The most famous monastery in Greece because it was here that the war of Independence of 1821 actually started. There is a lovely museum and beautiful views.

The monastery of Agia Lavra - 5 km from Kalavryta - is built at a point which commands a view of the whole Vouraikos river valley. The monastery church has a fine carved icon screen, frescos damaged by fire and the icon of Agia Lavra. Apart from the revolutionary banner, the relics include a very old Gospel - a gift of Catherine the Great, gold crosses, reliquaries and a valuable collection of early Christian and ancient objects.

Patras city

Favorite thing: Patras is the capital of Peloponese and the 3rd largest Greek city with great nightlife. It is a port of entry, served with many ferries from Italy (more than 5 per day in the summer). There is a castle, built on the ruins of an ancient acropolis, an open air theater, a large square adorned with many trees facing the sea and the church of Agios Andreas. Nearby are also found the famous vineyards of Achaia Claus where wine tasting is free!

Cave of the Lakes

Favorite thing: The Cave of the Lakes is a true wonder of the area. Having never been in a cave before I was impressed!
A half-hour's drive from Kalavryta, near the village of Kastria, will bring you to the cave of the lakes.
Inside the cave there is a string of cascading lakes forming three different levels that establishes the uniquness in the world. The cave is an ancient subterranean river bed whose explored length is 1980 m. There are 13 picturesque lakes inside.
The walls are ornamented with couloured stalagmite and stalactite formation while "chandeliers", "medusas" and "fluted curtains" hang from the high 30 m. cellings. Reflections from the still waters add yet more magic to the scene.

The cave is open:
Daily from 9.30 till 16.30
(Holidays and summer months prolongation of the opening hours)

www.kastriacave.gr

Beautiful

Favorite thing: One of the most beautiful places in Greece with a most tragic history...

Achaia's seashore

Favorite thing: The coasts of Achaia are a delightful concoction of picturesque villages, indented shores, gardens and shady trees.

Leaving Corinth, you take the coast road all the way to Patras. It's more scenic than the National Road.

This picture was taken in the picturesque village named Selianitika.

Rio

Favorite thing: The main ferry port on the Peloponese side linking it with the rest of Greece via the new bridge with Antirion. There is a castle here, called Moria which together with a castle built on the opposite side, controlled the Korinthian Gulf.

The bridge Rio-Antirio was finally finished in 2004 for Olympic Games. For a 10 Euro charge, drivers can easily make the crossing.

Aigio

Favorite thing: Aigio is a lovely town, 2/3 of the way on the Korinth-Patras road. The town is built on the site of ancient Aigio, which used to be one of the 12 ancient federal cities. There is a ferry service to Agios Nikolaos and Nafpaktos, on the opposite side.

Treasures

Favorite thing: The monastery museum contains holy relics and treasures, an icon screen of great age, carved wooden crosses, venerable manuscripts, Gospels.
This picture was taken in one of the monastery caves.

Monastery of Mega Spileon (Big cave)

Favorite thing: The monastery situated half way between Kalavryta and Diakofto, is based on a very old fable about a shepherdess who found an icon of the Virgin Mary inside a cave. She gave it to two monks, Simon and Theodore who built this Monastery during the 4th century.
You' re 1000 metres above sea level!
Spectacular!