As we explore the area around the hotel, we often encounter odd things! In this page we will document the best of them. We have discovered the story behind some of them, others are simply funny, while others yet remain a complete mystery to us. We hope that you will help us unravel it!

The Gandhi of Xylokastro

On the way back to Sykia from the village Zemenos, we encountered a very peaceful and well-placed resting place, with an interesting inscription over the entrance: "Resting place for travellers". And two even more interesting insciptions in smaller print above and below this one respectively: "Being and fellow-being are one" (this does not translate very well in English, so for those of you who read Greek the original is "Άνθρωπος σημαίνει συνάνθρωπος"); and "Work as if life were eternal and live as if you were to die tomorrow". Inside the resting place itsef is the bust of a man, Nikolaos Nasarchon, with the inscription "The Gandhi of Xylokastro". Our efforts to find out more about this man have so far proven fruitless. So, who is Nikolaos Nasarchon???

A bench with a view

On the way to the fresh water spring of Kariotika, where we often go to get water, we encountered the following funny sight: three wooden benches each one positioned on top of a small artificial hill and accessible by a wooden staircase leading up to them! The benches were obviously put there to allow romantics to admire the splendid view of the Corinthian Gulf! the sight is sure to extract a smile from you as you pass by it!

A new ancient church

At the exit of Xylokastro you probably noticed a church with a medieval tower and a marble arcade.

The church of "Panagia Faneromeni" was built by the local pastor, Nikon Kotsovolis, in imitation of the style of the first Christian churches built by the emperor Constantine. He found the paintings of these churches in a book by famous Greek archeologist Anastasios Orlandos.

The first Christian churches imitated the style of ancient temples: thus the marble arcade.

Churches at the time used to have towers to protect them from attacks. However, no such painting was to be found in Orlando's book. So pater Nikon imitated the style of Byzantine monastery towers, such as the ones still to be found on Mount Athos, in Northern Greece.

You can find more information on this church, in Greek, at the website of the municipality of Xylokastro .

A very uphill bicycle track

This newly traced bicycle track runs along the road that leads from Akrata towards Zarouchla. It would make a great downhill track, I admit, but would one really risk it? It looks like one more European project gone slightly wrong...

The most surreal taverna in Corinthia

Never did we expect to find such a place in these mountains! This taverna is by far the most surprising thing that you will encounter in the area South of Kiato! It is owned by sculptor Mike Delistathis and his wife and features original sculptures and a lot, a lot, a lot of random objects, which, by their very anarchy, provoke an almost revolutionary feeling! Which is no coincidence: Mike is the grandson of a Russian engineer who fled the Bolshevik revolution in 1917... The following pictures unfortunately do not do justice to the sheer surrealism of the place, which is definitely better experienced first hand.

A stalagmite mini-cave

I could really not fathom whether this stalagmite formation, which looks almost like a mud sculpture like the ones we would make on the beach as children, is man-made or natural. You will find near the small river at Gelini. Check it out and tell us what you think!

The Buddhist Retreat on Mavro Oros

Right on the top of the mountain above Gelini you will encounter a strange sign, "Diamond Road", and an equally strange set of pillars. We discovered that it is a Buddhist Retreat and an active one at that! You can find more information by clicking here .

2010 Update! On the 23rd of August 2010 a Buddhist stupa was inaugurated here, during a gathering of thousands of Buddhists from all over the world.

The ideal farm

While driving around the mountains we suddenly saw the ideal farm! Clean, tidy, green, with a nice pond in the middle, deer all around...! "But where are we", though I? Farms in Greece are untidy, sorry affairs, so what's this? I imagined a bio farm of some sort, but apparently no. It's a private farm, for private viewing and private consumption! The local villagers talked of a rich Athenian, with excellent connections, who has created this farm for his own and his friends' pleasure!

A "great social offence"

OK, you need to speak Greek to fully appreciate the great wording of this sign: "Throwing rubbish constitutes a GREAT SOCIAL OFFENCE" (το πέταγμα των σκουπιδιών συνιστά ΜΕΓΑ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΟ ΑΔΙΚΗΜΑ"). I have seen this wording only in the municipality of Xylokastro and I admit that I LOVE IT!!!

A Gaudi-esque or melting bridge

On the way to the Loukous Monastery near Astros (a beautiful monastery well worth a visit, lying next to the ruins of Herodus' Roman mansion ) you will meet this very strange bridge, which looks like its melting or as if Gaudi had a hand in its in construction!

We could discover nothing of its origin or why it has taken this bizzare form, so you are welcome to investigate this small mystery yourself and provide us with an answer!

Daphne everywhere!

Daphne, and its various derivatives, is a very popular name for villages in the Peloponnese. You will encounter tens of them as you roam the mountains of Korinthia, Arcadia, Achaia, Ilia etc. We encountered this marvelous sign, at the cross-roads between the villages of "Dafni" and "Dafniotissa", near the city of Amaliada, in West Peloponnese. 

Pink tires for protection or decoration?

On the way to the archeological site of Aigeira, near Derveni, the sides of the road were lined with pink and white tires! Are they there for protection in case of accident? Or are they the fruit of an imaginative mind, wishing to entertain us travellers? A new mystery...!

The "Garden of Greek education * culture" of the Damianos foundation and its "Historical Rose-garden"

I was in two minds about how to classify this place: a curiosity, a museum or a place of natural beauty? As it is a most strange combination of all three, I decided for the "curiosities", since there is indeed a mystery involved: WHO is Mr. Damianos, whose foundation created this bizzare place?

I will try to describe it: it contains a big garden (mostly olive trees), with a series of big boards describing chapters of Greek history and culture (unfortunately only in Greek): the Iliad, Alexander's conquests, philosophy, ancient poetry, Byzantine history... It also contains sculptures (Athena, Artemis etc) and busts (ancient philosophers etc), many of them in fact! The garden also features elements of traditional architecture, such as a windmill, a watermill and a pigeon house in the traditional Tinos style. But it also has funny things, such as a small water mill with a bicycle tire which provides electricity through a dynamo for a small bicycle lamp. Looks like an initiative by the gardener, but who knows, maybe it was part of the plan also!

Then there is the rose garden, with its 700 different species from all over the world!

There also seems to be a conference centre and other facilities for hosting events, but I am not sure whether they function, as they looked slightly run down.

You can have a look at the website and try to figure out for yourself what it's all about.

Ah! and I must add that the journey to get to the Garden (which is near Loutraki) is REALLY worthwhile! You pass across the canal of Corinth, then you go by the small town of Perahora, from which you have a great view of Lake Vouliagmeni and finally, getting towards the Garden you have a great view of mainland Greece and the Alkyonides islands.

Greece's biggest and fanciest pharmacy!

Xylokastro now boasts Greece's (if not Europe's!) poshest, most modern, most fancy pharmacy! And it belongs to none other than the city's mayor, Mr. Kladouhos! We are quite convinced that this pharmacy will become one of the area's major attractions!