LPT Veneto-Flamouri monastery-Sourvias monastery

North Pelion
LPT Veneto
Flamouri monastery
Sourvias monastery

North Pelion topoguide
North Pelion topoguide: Flamouri monastery
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Veneto and Makrinitsa demarcate the northernmost zone of Mt Pelion, indicating two major landmarks of the area: Veneto, at the remote foothills of North Pelion, and Makrinitsa a vivid and flourishing spot over the Volos bay.

Between these two very different villages stretches a desolated and wild land. The only two sites where one could find shelter were the Flamouri and Sourvia monasteries.

North Pelion topoguide: On the Veneto-Flamouri monastery section
North Pelion topoguide: On the Veneto-Flamouri monastery section

The 2nd LPT section follows the old trail that connected Veneto to Flamouri monastery, and then to Sourvia monastery.

Flamouri monastery was the great religious nucleous of North Pelion. After decades of abandon, the buildings have been restored and today the monastery hosts a small monks community. The remote Sourvia monastery was a sentinelle of Flamouri monastery: Sourvia has been abandoned for many years and is being reconstructed these days.

North Pelion topoguide: The katholikon of Flamouri monastery
North Pelion topoguide: The katholikon of Flamouri monastery

The Veneto - Flamouri Monastery - Sourvia Monastery section starts from the parking lot of Veneto. Follow the road to the east (paved road and then dirt road), heading to Petromelisso beach. After 2.4 km, leave the dirt road to enter the old path to the Flamouri monastery. This path is no longer used by the locals and can be almost impassable in places, due to the dense vegetation. Anyay, the path goes around a rocky ridge and then descends to a large ravine.

North Pelion topoguide: The beech forest in Spring
North Pelion topoguide: The beech forest in Spring
After crossing the axis of the valley, ascend steeply covering an altitude difference of 150 m and reach a flat ridge and finally a dirt road. Follow the road for 880 m and shortly after a large ravine, find the starting point of the next part of the path to the Flamouri monastery. The path maneuvers on a steep slope and finally reach a rocky ridge (known as Petrialo). Continue near the axis of the ridge and then to its right side until an alley which leads to a large plateau dominated by the Flamouri monastery.
North Pelion topoguide: One of the numerous sinkholes in the Chionotrypa area
North Pelion topoguide: One of the numerous sinkholes in the Chionotrypa area
Leaving to our right the entrance of the monastery and a stone-built fountain, follow a series of alleys and paths up to the spring feeding the monastery. Just before the spring, the path forks to the monastery of Sourvia and to the Stavros location. The trail to Sourvia goes uphill and crosses a large beech wood.
North Pelion topoguide: The main spring of Flamouri monastery
North Pelion topoguide: The main spring of Flamouri monastery
Cross the beech forest and reach the end of an abandoned forest road, where continue directly onward. After passing some spots with dense vegetation, the trail reach another forest road. Following the forest roads, enter eventually a good path. The path crosses the Chionotrypa area, a rather level area spotted with many shallow depressions, and finally goes uphill until a vague saddle at 860 m. From the passage, follow a dry ravine, which descend steeply over the large meadow where the Sourvias monastery is located.
North Pelion topoguide: Sourvias monastery
North Pelion topoguide: Sourvias monastery

Text and photos: T. Adamakopoulos

Marking-Warnings

North Pelion topoguide
Most of the route follows a clear path, which in some places is a well-built cobblet pathway.

The entire route is marked with the Long Pelion Trail symbols. In Veneto and the monastery of Sourvia there are the relevant LPT signposts.
From older marking efforts there are several red marks and some signposts.
The annual growth of vegetation is rapid and you may encounter problems localy from Veneto up to the monastery of Flamouri. The daily hike can stop here and the hikers can camp overnight, next to the spring and very close to the monastery. A more experienced and well-prepared team could continue on towards Makrinitsa, thus completing the long, demanding connection from Veneto to Makrinitsa in one day.

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GUIDES TO MT PELION

The 5 hiking guides of Mt Pelion
Decriptions, mapping, photos and metrics for the Long Pelion Trail Veneto-Flamouri monastery-Sourvias monastery section are included in the guide North Pelion topoguide, created by AnaDigit.

North Pelion topoguide is available for Android devices along with dozens of guides of other regions of Greece, within the hiking application topoguide Greece. Get North Pelion topoguide as an in-app purchase through the application.

North Pelion topoguide is also available for iOS (iPhone και iPad) devices within the hiking application Topoguide Greece. Get the North Pelion topoguide as an in-app purchase via the application.

North Pelion is a member of the Central Greece topoguides group.

It is very interesting that topoguide Greece has the ability to simultaneously display many areas, thus allowing the overall view of the detailed map of the whole of Mt Pelion and the easy alternation of the routes, the Points Of Interest and the dozens of pages of the guide with the countless photos.