Undiscovered Greece – Hosios Loukas Monastery and Archaeological Site

Save or share this post for later

Greece is such a diverse country offering – besides climate; culture, tradition and a real feel of getting away from it and stepping back in time. There are some real undiscovered parts of the country too, away from the tourist traps. Come and read more and be tempted to discover more that this diverse country has to offer.

Undiscovered Greece

After spending my time around Mount Parnassos, wine tasting and weaving and then visiting a hidden cave and the ancient site of Delphi, it was time to head away from the glorious nature of this area and head back to Athens.  But not before visiting some interesting and yet more hidden gems along the way with Fly Me To The Moon Travel; the Monastry of Hosios Loukas and the Fortress of Eleutherai.

**As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own, despite any complimentary services received**

Undiscovered Greece: Hosios Loukas Monastery – where is it?

Approx. a 30 minute drive from Arachova, out of the mountains and heading towards the valleys (eventually the sea), we came across the Monastery of Hosios Loukas.  Essentially two Byzantine churches built next to each other,

The monastery was founded around the middle of the 10^th century AD by the monk Loukás from Stýri

Source.

It is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site and wandering around the well-preserved building, built to honour the hermit the Venerable Luke the Stiriote, is it easy to find peace and solitude and understand why UNESCO lists it.  The only sound on that warm February day came from the elderly men sitting, clicking their worry beads and the far off drone of a tractor in the surrounding fields and valleys.

Good morning from the UNESCO Monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Arachova in Central Greece. Discover your unique Greece with @flymetothemoontravel

A photo posted by Rebecca Hall – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on Feb 27, 2016 at 8:45pm PST

Monastery of Hosios Loukas near Arachova. Part of the Hidden Greece tour with @flymetothemoontravel

A photo posted by Rebecca Hall – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on Feb 25, 2016 at 3:32am PST

You want to join these old boys for coffee? Where are they? In the grounds of Hosios Loukas Monastery near Arachova, Greece. With a view like this, I might just become a nun! And who can blame these old guys for sitting all day? @flymetothemoontravel arranged this hidden gem discovery for me

A photo posted by Rebecca Hall – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on Feb 25, 2016 at 12:56pm PST

Undiscovered Greece: The Fortress of Eleutherai near Hosios Loukas Monastery Greece

Having relaxed for a good while, it was off again on our circuitous route to Athens, this time via a very hidden gem – the Fortress of Eleutherai in Mandra.

I’d  never heard of this area – let alone a Fortress.  Imagine my surprise when we rounded a bend and came across this ruined Fortress.  This really was a part of undiscovered Greece.

Eleuther was the son of Apollo and Aethusa.  The Fortress, once very well preserved, dates between 370 and 360 B.C. Read more about the Fortress here and Eleuther here.

A short walk up to the ruins for a photo stop, then we wound our way back over mountains and valleys back to Athens, stopping for lunch at the town of Pachi – about 45 mins from Athens by the sea.

No filter needed in the Greek village of Pachi, about 40 mins out of Athens in the National Road. A wonderful place to come for lunch and watch the day go by. A lovely way to round off one great adventure with @flymetothemoontravel

A photo posted by Rebecca Hall – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on Feb 25, 2016 at 11:41am PST

All in all – my ‘Hidden Gems’ tour of undiscovered Greece, out of season, showed me that Greece has so much more to offer than just beaches and islands.

Pin for later