Hiking in Mycenae

To Profitis Ilias Vaserka

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Hiking in Mycenae
Profitis Ilias Vaserka

The place name Vaserka refers to a sparse rural settlement in the SE feet of Mt Profitis Ilias. People of Vaserka were farmers, harvesting the olive groves and other dry crops.

With the installation of the newest farming techniques and especially the irrigation and drainage networks, the old crops ceased to be of any interest and Vaserka was abandoned: the inhabitants gathered in Chonikas, some kilometers lower. Today, Vaserka can be only identified thanks to a few ruins.

The parish church of the village was built next to the ancient well. The chapel is dedicated Virgin Mary, called Panagia in Greece, which of course took the nickname Vaserka.

For centuries, the pastures of Profitis Ilias hosted the herds of Vaserka all year round. Climatic conditions are mild, so the shepherds were not forced to move to the high mountains in the Summer or in lower altitude in Winter. Thus the domestic animals of Profitis Ilias stayed around all year round, grazing ove the same poor phrygana we see today. No arboral vegetation was left around.

The easiest way to the top of Profitis Ilias Vaserka uses the very same road the shepherd take every single day to reach the pastures. The road stops before the steep and rocky summit crown, so this last part runs through a very good path.

At the top, Profitis Ilias Vaserka enjoys the best possible picture of the Mycenaean world: sea, plain and mountains are describing the landscape where the most important prehistoric civilization flourished.

The trail starts from the area of ​​Panagia Vaserka and follow a series of rural roads until reach the dirt road that goes to Porfitis Ilias. Continue on this road to a plateau, where a large livestock facility.

From the sheepfold, the goat paths are clearer and one can easily reach the end of the dirt road, where there is a small parking area. There begins the path to the chapel of the Prophitis Ilias.

Pass a Greek flag and a small war memorail and reach soon the beginning of a large stone-built staircase. The steps lead just below the top. With a small rocky step, reach the plateau and the chapel. Excellent views throughout central Argolida.

Text and photos: T. Adamakopoulos

Notifications

Walkability and warnings

Although the old path from Agia Kyriaki to the livestock rearing area of Profitis Ilias is still used by the herds, it is quite steep, splitted and of course without signage. Thus, the use of the dirt road is probably the best choice to go up to the upper sheepfold.
The stone-built staircase needs some attention, especially when climbing down, because part of it is covered with soil and gravel, which create a very slippery footing.

Culture

Panagia Vaserka well

Along the surroundings of the Argolic plain and near the bases of the limestone peaks of Charvati, Sara and Prophitis Ilias, no waters spring are known (except for the Perseia spring of Mycenae). Thus, a large part of the water needs of the districts of the region was ensured by cisterns and wells.
The well next to the church of Panagia Vaserka is a typical ancient well (not of the type of cistern-well found in the mountainous zone) that descends to the level where the limestone rock comes in contact with the lower conglomerate layer. This well once had water seasonally but because contacts of this type do not have a constant tightness, today it does not have water anymore and it has been covered with a protective mesh, from the openings of which we can observe the construction with large blocks of limestone or marble.

topoguide Greece

A GUIDE FOR THE TRAVELING
ALONG THE MYCENAEAN LANDSCAPE

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