Cavo Malias

Famous for the winds and difficulty in bypassing it, legendary Cavo Malias, with its vertical rocks, is a wild and evocative place. Hike on the trails of the region and admire the chapels, little churches and small monasteries, that gave the cape the name “Little Holy Mountain”. From the famous lighthouse, the spectacle of the big ships passing at a short distance is majestic.

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Famous for the winds and difficulty in bypassing it, legendary Cavo Malias, with its vertical rocks reaching a height of 600 m, is a wild and evocative place. Since the old time, it was awe-inspiring, and that’s why people tried to placate it. Thus, they built hermitages, chapels, little churches, small monasteries on the cape - which gave the region the name “Little Holy Mountain”: Like those of Saint Myronas, Panagia Dekapentistra, Saint Irene Kavomalousa, Saint Marina, Saint Andrew, Saint Demetrios, Saint Iakovos, Saint George in Maleas. The hermit cave of Saint Thomas is inaccessible, who lived as an hermit there many years ago.

The Maleas cape lies where the peninsula of Epidaurus Limiras ends, southeast of the Peloponnese, and its the second more southern spot of Greek inland following Tainaro cape. It also has other names: Kavomalias, cape of Saint Angelos and Xylochaftis - because of the many ships that sank there. Ever since the Antiquity, it was an important naval passage, but the frequent weather changes caused a lot of trouble to the ships. It is summarized in Strabo’s phrase “if you decide to cross Maleas, forget that you have a family” (Μαλέαν δε κάμψας επιλάθου των οίκαδε).

THE TRAILS
In order to get to Maleas lighthouse, you have to park your vehicle in the village of Velanidia. You will head towards the little church of Panagia Dekapentistra, and then towards the Chapel of Saint Thomas, where the trail to the lighthouse starts. You will have an amazing view of the sea along the way, and you will be impressed by the wild landscape, and reaching the lighthouse you’ll admire the big ships crossing close by. 
Another route starts at Saint Marina, in the region of the Geopark of Saint Nikolaos, and through the trail of Saint Irene it leads to the church of the same name and then to Saint George in Maleas. From Saint Irene as well, you will enjoy the unique spectacle of the ship crossing.  
You will find no shades along the trails of Kavo Malias. Thus, in summer, you’d better start early in the morning and bring with you the necessary supplies.

THE LIGHTHOUSE
The famous stone lighthouse was built in 1883, with a tower height of 15 m and a focal height of 40 m. In 2006, it was declared a landmark, and it’s one of the most important lighthouses of the Greek lighthouse network. It has been renovated and highlighted thanks to a donation of Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, based in Piraeus, in collaboration with the Navy and Lighthouse Service.

Climbing Zompolo
Seven kilometres away from the village of Agios Nikolaos lies Zombolo rock. It offers a great number of routes with different levels of difficulty. The rocks are of exquisite quality, rendering climbing more secure and the vie from the top unique.  The routes are suitable for teaching purposes, but also for experienced climbers. ,,(www.climbzombolo.gr).

Location

Find the destination on the interactive map below.