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Description
This path starts from Nikia and crosses the southern rim of the caldera. The first part, starting from the western extremity of the village, next to the cemetery, features an old slab-paved way, which is very well – preserved, and is ridden with characteristic farmhouses (‘spiladia’) built from Nikia perlitic lava (‘zaharopetra’ – sugary stone).
Is also possible to decide from Nikia to descent the path towards the craters, visit them, and continue walking up around the Stefanos crater to Stavros until the junction towards Agia Irini, there behind a old farm is possible to see the other edge of this route.
A southern branch leads to the top of Kokkinos Mylos (red mill) where a windmill is preserved. The tump accommodating Kokkinos Mylos comprises of Argos rhyolites, capped by layers of gray-red scoriae from Kyra eruptions, as well as pumice layers originating from the first devastating eruption.
The main path crosses the inner caldera edge and provides a unique view to hydrothermal craters, the lava neck and the Argos lava ramp structures.
Different old construction are present near and on the pathway, probably part of an ancient settlement or part of the defense system of the island during the centuries, which permits to see a light signal(fire) from Pergoussa, repetead at Kateros Tower, and from here easy be repeated to the Castle in Emporios which allowed to cover all the corner of the island.
On the settlement is possible to see different buildings which are builded in a different way from the other typical buildings on the island , or probably remain intact where others was destroyed by the time or reuse for the construction of other newer buildings, is also to considerate that in this part of the island, of reason the plateau of nikia is the most steady part of nisyros( it is mostly hard and oldest lava formation) suffered very few the continuos earthquakes and assestment.
Then it follows a descending route, similar to the Kailia path, and eventually joins with the dirt road leading to Lakki or Mandraki, through the western slopes of the volcano.
Is possible decide to descend the dirty road towards agia irini, or hike up to stavros, or walk in cycle around the crater Stefanos, visit it, and following the main road find the pathway up to Nikia again.
