Above the Navagio (shipwreck): Monastery of Agios Georgios Krimnon- View of the Navagio - and the cave of Agios Gerasimos 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: linear Route’s duration: about 30 minutes Route’s length: 1,500 metres Level of difficulty: easy Suggested season: All seasons, weather permitting. In summer, you should avoid midday hours. The route A linear route with intense landscape changes and spectacular views of the Navagio. The route starts from the entrance of the Monastery and heads west, via the dirt road, to the chapel located less than two hundred meters away from the Monastery. After visiting the imposing spot with the Cross, we return to the chapel and continue along the path that exists, also to the west. The path is not signposted but most walkers can see it, although it takes a fair amount of attention. The direction is towards the asphalt road and especially towards the dirt plateau next to it (visible from most points on the trail). After reaching the asphalt road, follow it towards the sea and after about six hundred meters, you reach the organized viewing area of the wreck. After descending the stairs, the path to the second viewpoint (and to the cave of Agios Gerasimos), head north. This is an easy to follow, but unmarked, trail that requires increased caution. The trail goes parallel to the large cliffs that exist in the area but at a sufficient distance in order not to be dangerous. The walker should follow it paying attention and not get disoriented and follow a second parallel path, towards the side of the cliffs, which requires particularly increased caution and experience. The second viewpoint is easily discernible from a distance and is about three hundred metres from the parking area. The return is by the same route. The duration of the hike (without any stops) is about half an hour, not counting the return time. Note: We suggest that the walker should not proceed towards the cave of Agios Gerasimos and this is because continuing to the cave is considered to be difficult - dangerous for the average walker. In particular, the path leading to the cave from one point onwards is difficult to distinguish and passes through rocky and steep areas. The path must first be opened up and properly marked and then made accessible to average walkers. On the island of Zakynthos there are: Citizen Service Centres in the settlements (from north to south) of Alykes, Zakynthos Town, Machairado and Pantokratoras. Police Station in Katastari and General Police Directorate in Zakynthos Town. A number of private clinics, medical centres and pharmacies and public health facilities are located in Zakynthos Town, General Hospital, and a Health Centre in Kallithea. Monastery of Agios Georgios Gremnon In 1535 two monks, Makarios and Varlaam, arrived in the deserted area of Kremna (or Gremna), in the northwest of Zakynthos. They address the commissioners of the monastery of Anafonitria and ask them to take over the administration of an ancient small temple known as Kato Ai-Giorgis Gremnon. The temple was located on the islet of Agios Georgios, in other words, on the peninsula that today surrounds the beach of Nafagio to the south. After fifteen years of residence on the cape of Agios Georgios, the place was transformed. The monks built a house, cisterns, cultivated vineyards, while others followed their example, shaping the area. Thus, in 1550, initially, and by a later decree of 1554, the Venetian State assigned to the monks all the wider area from Stomio to Halorachi, together with the monastery of Kato Agios Georgios Gremnon, in order to create an autonomous and self-governing monastery. The monastery has a long and rich history, due to the great personalities who have practiced in it. We mention the monk Gerasimos Notaras (later Agios Gerasimos, patron saint of Kefalonia), but also the Zakynthian theologian and teacher of the Nation, Monk Pachomio Roussanos. The frescoes in the catholic of the monastery were painted in 1606 by Loukas Romanos, but unfortunately they are not preserved nowadays. The tower of the monastery with its circular base began to be built in 1561 to defend the monks from pirates. Of particular interest is the history of the monastery's library, which was important and famous. It contained the manuscript codes of the monk Pachomius, which are now in the Marcian Library in Venice and are known as the Nanian Codes, after the Venetian Admiral Nani, who smuggled them to Italy. During the last few years, a serious effort has been made to restore and maintain the monastery, as well as to systematically record its valuable relics. Apart from the religious and historical value of the Monastery, we are also in awe of the place itself, where it is built, a wild and imposing place, with an excellent view of the Navagio, the most famous beach of Zakynthos. Navagio beach This is the most famous beach of Zakynthos and the most photographed. It is located in a steep place, on the eastern side of the island, near the mountainous village of Anafonitria, and can only be reached by sea. It is surrounded by towering vertical cliffs, its sand is white and its waters have a wonderful turquoise blue colour due to the sulphur springs that come up from the caves in the area.  The German traveler E.L. Salvatos mentions in 1901, for the area of Navagio, that it was a very small beach with black stones. According to older inhabitants of the area, until 1920 there was a very small beach called Spirili. After 1922, landslides initially created the first noteworthy beach, which was approximately up to where the boat is located today. The last landslide after the Navagio created the present beach. There is also the opinion that the ship itself caused the sand to gather around it and formed the beach. In the past the coast was called Agios Georgios. Today it is called Navagio or "Panagiotis" after the name of the ship that in 1980 was carrying contraband cigarettes of great value, and after sailing for three days between Kefallonia and Zakynthos, it washed up on this particular shore, while the crew escaped to the village of Volimes. The carcass of the ship is still there and is a feature of the beach. Cave of Agios Gerasimos In 1952, in the monastery of Agios Georgios Krimnon, the monk Gerasimos Notaras (later named as Agios Gerasimos and became the patron saint of Kefalonia) was a monk. One kilometre north of the monastery was a cave, which Agios Gerasimos knew and asked the abbot's permission to practice in it. Agios Gerasimos stayed in the cave for four consecutive years, cultivated a bush and built two cisterns to meet his needs for food and water.  On October 10, 1967, the cave was converted into a church of Agios Gerasimos by the Metropolitan of Zakynthos. During the route, the walker will encounter QR information signs at the following points: a) at the entrance towards the monastery b) at the chapel (near the Stavros), c) where the path meets the asphalt road, d) in the formed area with a view to the Navagio, e) on the path (where the gate and the stone mantra are), f) at the second viewpoint of the Navagio.