From Gaios to Trypitos
From Gaios to Trypitos: Gaios - Makratika - Velianitakia - Trypitos - Ozias - Gaios
The walker’s orientation and safety is solely their responsibility. The present report, the relevant tracks (gpx) and the rest of the informational material are just supplementary. The proper equipment is necessary, depending on the weather conditions and the nature of the route.
Route’s type: circular
Route’s duration: 2 hours
Route’s length: 6,200 metres
Level of difficulty: medium
Suggested season: All seasons, weather permitting. In summer, you should avoid midday, as there are no shady places along much of the route.
The route
The route is not marked and consists of different types of trails (on asphalt, dirt roads, cobbled roads, paths) that make the route very difficult to follow for the average walker and easy to get lost. It is advisable for the hiker to make use of a relevant orientation application on his/her mobile phone (or other similar devices), according to the traces of the route.
The route starts from the beach of Gaios and specifically from the Church of Analipsis tou Kyriou and the monument of Anemogiannis. We proceed from the main road (Othonoi Island road) westwards to the area of the flea market and then slightly uphill next to the stream from the asphalt road. Behind the flea market area there is the famous cistern of Agioi Apostoloi which is worth a short detour to visit.
After about 840 metres from the start of the route we leave the asphalt road and take the dirt/cement road on our right (it is the one immediately after the rubbish bins). We follow this road, crossing Makratika, until we get back on the asphalt where this time, after passing the ruined houses and the church with the cemetery, we turn west towards Agios Georgios of Velianitatika.
From there begins a cobbled path that slowly becomes a classic path that leads us to the cliff of Mousmoulios. Unfortunately, the quality of the cobbled road and the path is very poor, because they have not been maintained and cleaned for some time now and their passage requires increased attention.
The view over the cliff of Mousmoulios is breathtaking with the ground cutting vertically beneath our feet and reaching the deep blue clear water. After crossing the cliff of Mousmoulios, paying attention, the trail branches off with another trail that leads to the arch of Trypitos. Occasionally, on the path there are informative signs that make it easier to find our way around. After descending to the arch, we continue along the main path in a northerly direction, uphill at first and then more gently and smoothly, where in about 1,500 metres we reach the settlement of Ozia. From there, the route is downhill on asphalt and then just before the church we have to take the path on our left in the direction of Gaios. This downhill path through olive groves will lead us to the stairs of the settlement, which will take us to the beach and from there to the beginning of our route.
It is a route with intense landscape changes, where the landscape of Gaios is interspersed with olive groves, abandoned settlements, beautiful shady cobbled streets, paths with endless views of the Ionian Sea next to large cliffs, places with a particular natural beauty, beautiful olive groves with over-aged olive trees, modern buildings, beautiful stairs and last but not least the touristic, but very beautiful, coastal road of Gaios.
The total route takes more than two hours (not counting any stops) and this is because the route consists of paths, cobbled paths, etc. the majority of which are damaged because they have not received any essential maintenance, repair and cleaning for a long time, which slows down the route and requires increased attention. For the same reason, the course is classified as being of moderate difficulty.
In Paxos there is: Health Centre, Police Station and Citizen Service Centre (KEP).
Paxos
Paxos is an island in the Ionian Sea, the smallest of the seven islands. They are located seven (7) nautical miles southeast of Corfu and eight (8) nautical miles west of the coast of Epirus. Southwest of Paxos and a short distance away is the island of Antipaxi. Their population is about 2,390 inhabitants (2011 census) and their area is 30.0 square kilometres.
According to the myth, Poseidon, in order to live his love affair with Amphitrite undistracted, separated Paxos from Corfu with the trident. A reference to this myth is the symbol of Paxos, a trident with two dolphins on its right and left.
The capital of Paxos is Gaios, a traditional and very picturesque settlement. The other settlements of the island, Loggos, Lakka and Ozias, are also particularly beautiful.
The whole island is covered with olive and pine trees, and has sulphurous thermal springs. The island's beaches are also famous for their turquoise waters, caves and rocks, ideal for diving and exploration.
Gaios
Gaios (or Gais) is located in the southern part of the island, is the largest settlement of Paxos and its capital. According to tradition, it owes its name to the student of Paul the Apostle, Gaios, who spread Christianity on the island and his grave is located under the old church of the Agioi Apostoloi. It is naturally protected by two islets, Panagia and Agios Nikolaos, which create a narrow sea passage between them. On Agios Nikolaos there is a Venetian fortress, small churches and a windmill, while on the islet of Panagia there is the homonymous monastery.
In Gaios, the churches of Agioi Apostoloi and the Old Christian church of Agia Marina, but also the old British Government House, the tank of Agioi Apostoloi and the Museum of Paxos, are worth visiting.
In the port of Gaios, there is a marina, where small fishing boats and tourist boats moor.
The tank of Agioi Apostoloi in Gaios
It is an ornate, impressive, due to its size and architecture, water tank, which began to be built in 1825 and was completed in 1846. It is located almost in the centre of the settlement of Gaios. It was built by the English during the period of British rule in the Ionian Islands. Since 1982 it has been a protected building of the Ministry of Culture. It has a rectangular shape and a monumental central staircase on the south side. It has not only the main tank, but also a kind of elongated sedimentation tank on the north side. Despite the difficulties in recording its dimensions, it seems that this auxiliary tank is almost 1/3 of the size of the main tank. It collects water not only from the paved drainage surface at its top but also from land in the unfenced area. Three openings in the wall, separating the two tanks, carry overflow water from the auxiliary sedimentation tank to the main tank. Unfortunately, the tank has not been maintained and in combination with the lack of cleaning of the area, an image of abandonment and decay emerges.
For Anemogiannis and his monument
Giorgos Anemogiannis, whose adriad we meet in Paxos, the place where he was born, but also in Nafpaktos, the place where he was tortured, is a young hero of 1821, who moves us, no matter how many years have passed, with his courage and self-sacrifice. He was born in 1798 in Paxos. The Revolution of 1821 found him as an eighteen-year-old sailor on the merchant ship "The Allies", owned by Bouboulina Laskarina, with N. Orlov as captain.
On 10 June 1821 he participated, as a torchbearer, in one of the first naval attacks against an Ottoman target. During the attack he was captured and executed by the Turks, and his body was then hanged in plain view, as an example to other revolutionaries. The Monument of Paxos, found on the coastal road of Gaios, is the work of sculptor Nikolas Pavlopoulos, created in 1966.
The Cliff of Mousmoulios
It is one of the steepest cliffs of Paxos, on the western side of the island, with an altitude of about 45m, offering an excellent view of the deep blue sea and an amazing sunset. The cliff itself, due to its exceptional relief, is a monument of nature.
Arch of Trypitos
The arch is one of the main attractions of Paxos. It is a natural rock formation with the appearance of an arch or sometimes a natural bridge, located on the western coast of Paxos. It was formed by the collapse of a sea cave. Its height reaches 20 metres at its highest point. The waters surrounding it are crystal clear and, combined with this unique geological phenomenon, create an unforgettable spectacle. Once there, you can walk over it, as it is a natural bridge, and of course swim in the crystal clear waters of the area.
![From Gaios to Trypitos](https://bestgis.safecontrol.gr/storage/attachments/cus_bestgis/Route/47/large /PAX_1_Path (26).jpg)