We’re already in the summer season. A friends’ wedding at Lamia was the reason for some of us to gather to the town. Vangeli’s house would serve as a basis, whom we thank a lot for his hospitality too.
Departure had been scheduled for Friday evening. Dimitris with Christina and Sakis came the next morning to wake us up, to drink the first coffee of the day but also to visit the broaden area.
Because of the wedding –which was scheduled for Saturday evening- we decided to travel to the foot of Mountain Oiti, which also includes the biggest part of the national park of the area. Specifically, we visited Ypati village, Agathonos Monastery, Lychno but also the in between villages.
Following the route to Karpenisi for 14 km – after Lianokladi – we reached the junction where a sign says "Loutra Ypatis" (Ypati Hotsprings). We turned left and while we were driving through a relatively easy road, we reached Ypati Hotsprings. The village is quite beautiful and well settled with plenty of trees – mainly plane-trees. There are some hotels and some taverns. None the less, it doesn’t have to offer any view, though it’s well known for its therapeutic springs.
We continued for Ypati. The road started to rise and a little bit further it became narrow with a lot of twists. Luckily enough, the road was in relatively good condition. What really rewarded us was the fully green landscape, in conjuction with the amazing view. We were driving through plane-trees which offered fantastic shadow and chill.
Reaching Ypati, near the entrance of the village, we discovered a truly amazing waterfall. Of course we had to stop for a few minutes to cool ourselves down and to enjoy the view. The architecture of the village is considered mainly traditional. Most of the houses are already renovated, some made of stone, some other not. All of them have the typical reddish tiled roof. The rest of the villages of that area use a similar architecture. Common characteristic is their truly unique view of the broaden area.
Our next destination would be the Agathonos monastery. Most of the people know this place, since one year ago the relics of Vissarionas, one monk of the Monastery, were found intact and unalterable.
Reaching the monastery, we immediately were impressed by the artistic feeling of the monks, taking care of the monastery. Colorful flowers, small springs, wooden benches decorating the surrounding space with the right order and lots of inspiration, that even a decorator would be jealous of. Right next to the monastery there’s an information office but also a museum of the National Park of Oiti. It offers information and maps, but most important, it offers an exhibition of flora and fauna that you can find in the park. It’s very impressive and it’s worth taking a visit.Time was flying so we decided to sit for lunch. Before that, we visited Lychno village, which is around 1,5 km far from the monastery, at the attitude of 650 meters. It doesn’t have anything special to offer -even though there were many advertising signs at the monastery- without meaning that you don’t have to visit it.
Around afternoon, we took the road back to Lamia (30 km), since some of us would have to be at the wedding. The area is really beautiful and offers a fantastic solution for a short distance from Lamia , and why not, even from Athens.
Life is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page
