Walk 1 - Explore Kritsa - Classic Kritsa

Turn right

Leave car park by top exit and turn right. If you need a pharmacy it is 50 m ahead on the left. Otherwise turn right for the main part of the village.

Lower square

Follow the road as it bears left and up until it joins the main road. Cross the road to visit the Rodanthe Bust in the lower square named for the actress Melina Mercouri. This bust shows female rebel, Rodanthe in male clothing ready for battle against Turks in 1823. At the end of this walk you can visit the Kritsotopoula museum in Rodanthe's family home. The exploits of this brave girl lives on in poems and stories including my own novel, Kritsotopoula, Girl of Kritsa. Although Melina Mercouri is most famous for her Oscar nominated performance in Never on a Sunday, Kritsa folk honoured her for her role in the 1957 film, Christ Recrucified. This was partly filmed on location in Kritsa and many villagers had parts in the film, mainly as extras.

Pass bank with ATM

Continue uphill. Take care as this is a busy road and bus route.

Turn right up paved street

At the top of the hill the main road goes left but you turn right. Don't be fooled, this is not a pedestrian street although traffic is not encouraged.

Turn right

As the road starts to rise take a right turn along a flat street. You will return to this point when walking downhill through the heart of Kritsa.

Pass public toilets

No. I mean it...pass these toilets unless you are desperate! It is much nicer to buy a drink in a cafe and use their facilities.

After archway bear right and down hill

From here you can see the upper part of the high street up the steps on your left. If you've seen enough for now, walk up these steps and turn left. This will lead you through the heart of Kritsa with its shops and cafes and on downhill to the car park. If you've energy to keep walking you will visit the high street on your return.

As you walk steeply down take second left

The first left is hard to see as it rises steeply on your left. You need the second left off a wider area where cars often park. If you want a quick diversion the church on the steps ahead of you is Agia Paraskevi, Saint Friday.

This path goes uphill and bears left

Pause to catch breath at pretty house then on up

Turn right and follow path up

Keep on paved path...nice flat bit

After little church on your right take steps down heading to big church

T junction turn left

Up slope to Agios Georgios - Saint George

Olive Press

With Agios Geogios behind you take the path ahead

Emerge on junction of paths and take second right, it goes up and bears right

Emerge on Kritsotopoula Street. Turn left if you don't want to see the Kritsotopoula Museum.

Turn left if you don't want to see the Kritsotopoula Museum.To visit the folklore museum turn right and then retrace steps to here. It is less than 100 m to the museum and well worth seeing.

Emerge on sharp road bend. Continue ahead for Kritsa's main street called Kritsotopoula Street

The Rodanthi natural history museum is on your left. Continue along main street

Agadiko and post office

Pretty statue of a young girl

This statue on your left called The Thread of Life is the work of local British sculptor, Nigel Ratcliffe. The girl is working her crochet, a skill handed down the generations.

Upper square

My photos look bleak as they were taken in winter. This is the thriving heart of the village in the summer.

V junction by cafe take left road downhill

At asphalt road turn left down hill. Take care two way traffic including buses

Left at square for car park

Or, on downhill and the left if you want pharmacy