| After the rainy journey to Sparti, the next day greeted us with much more agreeable weather: abundant sunshine, moderate temperatures, and a pleasant breeze. We set out for the coast near Gialova to hike to the ruins of a 13th-century fortress—the Old Navarino Castle (Palaiokastro)—before descending to the stunning Voidokilia Beach and returning via the Gialova Lagoon.
The trail up to the castle is relatively gentle, but the descent to the beach is far more demanding. As we exited the ruins, I took a moment to assess my footing before beginning the tricky descent, tucking my camera into my backpack to free both hands for balance. The first section is steep, but the next is even steeper—fortunately, ropes along the path provide support, helping to keep hikers on track and prevent slipping. After navigating the challenges of the trail, we emerged onto the breathtaking sands of the omega-shaped bay. We lingered for a while before continuing our journey through the dunes, then along the Gialova Lagoon’s coastline, eventually arriving back at our starting point. [Back to Peloponnesus, Greece 2023 ] |
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| Climbing up to the castle | The beach and the dunes |
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| Return along the lagoon |