NO NAMED GPX
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Description
This path starts from Mandraki , the “Tavla tou Gialiou”, under the precipices where Panagia Spiliani is built. One may see the oldest lavas of the volcano there: Dozens of ‘pillows’ made of grey basaltic andesite, half a meter to ten meters in diameter, can be seen from here to the Hohlaki cove, at Mandraki beach, the latter adorned by impressive black shingles, the products of marine erosion of submarine lavas.
Continue along the coast to cape Kanoni. You will reach the second steep valley stepping upon large boulders of basaltic andesite lava (the same that was used as building material for the Paleokastro located now atop the precipitous coastline above your head).
At the end of the second part of the pebbles stones beach you can find the first climb valley that will bring you at the plateau where you will reach the church and the district called Agios Giorgos.
You can also choice to walk through the second pebble stones beach till the end and arrive to cape Kanoni, and search the valley that will bring you at end of the path of Agios Giorgos, and from there following the path you can walk back through the Old Castle Path or take the road to Mandraki, or continue the walking western parallel the sea till arrive to Agias Marina, visit Agios Zacharias church, and walking back on the cement road to heliport and Mandraki.
A short climb will reveal layers of old cobbles and sand, left by the sea on the lava at a time when the latter was at the sea bed. White – ash sand can be observed between these layers, curiously shining under the sun. Refrain from touching it. If you do, you will get your hands full of miniscule thorns, same as barbary figs.
These millions of silica needles are the carcasses of sponges that lived in the sea at that time. In all, these are deposits from the Kastro conglomerate; these layers indicate that the region was underwater in the recent past. You may subsequently cross the slope by climbing; this is a fairly difficult climb due to the benches and the non-explicitly marked path.
