3. Trail of Love

The route starts from the “Spyros’ Traditional Tavern” in Abeliona’s Square. Leaving Abeliona behind, the trail goes up to a particularly dense chestnut forest, with many perennial chestnut trees. The climb is pleasant, under rich shade most of the time of year. When the hiker walks out of the woods, the view is breathtaking. The Lycaeon and Tetrazi (Nomia) Mountains, which surround the area, are visible.

Up to the area of ​​Stavrouli, one identifies route 1 (Abeliona – Sklerou – Temple of Epicurios Apollo).

It then turns north and follows a beautiful trail, uphill for the most part, through an oak forest, up to Samaropetra, where it meets the modern asphalt road. It follows the asphalt road for a while and then turns right and goes up the slopes of a hill known as “Kai’s Mountain”.

From there, it crosses old farmland with countless terraces which was once cultivated. Today, only the stones from the scrolls bear witness to the labors of the older inhabitants, in this chiselled, austere, authentic Arcadian landscape. The crossing of this area ends at Nitsi, where the view to the northwestern side of the Peloponnese is opened. From Nitsi, the route uses a very gentle rural road with panoramic views.

Leaving the dirt road, the downhill to Andritsaina uses an old path, which in old times was the main road connecting Andritsaina with the villages of Abeliona, Petra and Skrilou. On this path there is the abandoned church of Agios Athanasios. The last part of the route, identified as part of Route 2 (Andritsaina – Temple of Apollo Apollo) passes through Stavrouli, ending at Andritsaina through a gentle dirt road.