Σωτηριάνικα - Αλτομιρά - Άγιος Γεώργιος (Μονοπάτι Μπίλιοβο) / Sotirianika - Altomira - St. George (Biliovo Path)

My personal trilogy of Messinian trails ....

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/kato-berga-ano-berga-prophetes-elias-kuklike-kato-verga-ano-verga-profitis-ilias-circular-110310760

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/lagou-khani-alagonia-kuklike-lagou-hani-alagonia-circular-110481849

... culminates with the most famous of them all: the one that connects Sotirianika with Altomira through the marvel of artisan engineering, the famous Biliovo stone path!

The trail starts at the Sotirianika village, which is easily accessible through the Kalamata - Areopoli 'road'. Don't expect too many (if any) navigation signs or colours on this trail, so it is wise to follow one of the many recordings which exist in Wikiloc, including this one.

After exiting the village through the local road, you turn left at the first junction (around the 1 km mark) and you enter a small path which passes in parallel to the olive plantations. There is no sign for it, so check the recordings if you are not certain.

The famous Biliovo cobblestone path starts at around the 1.5 kms of this recording. Classified as a Greek National Monument, it's an AMAZING engineering feat of local artisans who were building this from 1904-1928 (most probably). You really stand in AWE when you walk on it. It is 3kms long, 500 metres in elevation. There are 83 turns in it, 78 of those being more that 150 degrees in angle!!!! 30 of these turns were constructed in a slope gradient of 80 degrees!!!! There is so much to say and admire about this path. I feel honoured to have walked on it, and deeply indebted to these people who built it all using only hammer and chisel. Speechless.

While this was a fascinating experience ... I was VERY MUCH disappointed by the lack of maintenance in the most popular of all Messinian paths, and one of the most important in Greece. I really can't believe that 100 years ago the local people managed to built this, and now, 100 years later, with so many engineering tools in our disposal, we leave this trail slowly disintegrating. There are already two parts that have collapsed (no danger to cross them ... yet!), while the forest is literally taking over many other sections. As a Peloponnesian myself, I can only say one thing ... it's a SHAME!

In any case, once you reach the top of the path, you are ready to start your final approach to the Altomira village. You will initially follow a dirt road, and then the cobblestone path continues (in principle) until you reach the water springs at the entrance of the village. This is not clear-cut, you may also choose to use the paved road which runs in parallel. I have used the former in my recording, feel free to try it!

Altomira village is a beautiful traditional village, a protected Greek National Settlement. There are loads of abandoned stone houses in this village, typical examples of local Mani architecture. There are also a number of restored houses, and many people live here, probably on a seasonal basis, like their migrating ancestors used to do when they were herding their sheep. Definitely worth a walk around!

The next part of this trail is a nice walk through a pine forest to the Monastery of St. George, which belongs to Altomira. I could not find much information about this Monastery, but it seems to be a post-Byzantine construction which has now been significantly altered. Hiking-wise, this is the start of another cobblestone path that leads to the start of the Biliovo path. Needless to say, you do not need to follow this path, you can simply return to Sotirianika by going down the Biliovo path again. I'm saying this because it was really a strange start to it at the top. There was a locked gate at its official 'entrance', and I was instructed by local people who were there for a Holy Service to go around from inside the monastery and enter it. The proper start of it was through another small door (fortunately unlocked!). The first few hundred meters were a bit sketchy. I kind of lost myself at one point, because I did not figure out that the path was actually continuing behind a couple of large rocks! In any case, do follow the recordings to be safe.

After this adventurous start, it really is a very straightforward traditional cobblestone path. It adds a very nice dimension to the overall trail. Just be careful, It is a little bit slippery towards the bottom. Just before you reach the bottom I'm not really sure whether I have followed the intended design. But it is always easy to negotiate yourself down a couple of levels of olive fields, like I did!

Last but not least: Do visit the fantastic Byzantine church of St. Kyraiki, which boasts some very important frescos. On its 'garden', you can also enjoy one of the most well-preserved threshing fields in the Mani area! Do note that the sign pointing to the church is definitely misleading. Please follow the path that I took after I returned from the sign-suggested one, mine is definitely the correct one!

You may now return to Sotirianika! I'm sure you enjoyed your hike! :)