From the Monastery to Paleomonastero: Monastery - Cave of Spiliotissa in Orthonies 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 (the starting and ending point are the same) Route’s duration: 50 minutes Route’s length: 2,200 metres Level of difficulty: medium Suggested season: All seasons, weather permitting.Thus, it is recommended to be done in spring when nature is at its finest and the weather is mild, since the route includes steep downhill and uphill sections. The route It is a linear route, where the return is made necessarily by the same route. The route starts from the entrance of the monastery where we head towards the old mill which is discrete to the north-northwest. The path, which at the beginning is not easily visible since it is not marked, starts from the mill. At the first junction, head south-southwest (on your left) and follow the downhill path with caution. Then, the path becomes steeply downhill and a strap has been placed for support to help us. When we reach the lowest point of the trail, the little river, we need to be careful to continue on the trail because the wooden signpost that is in place has come out of place. The trail continues uphill to the paleomonastiro (cave) where the climb requires increased caution. The landscape is beautiful and peaceful through lush vegetation while at the bottom of the ravine it seems like you are out of this world. The return is by the same route. The duration of the hike (excluding any stops) is around an hour. 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, as well as public health facilities are located in Zakynthos Town, General Hospital, and Health Centre in Kallithea. Orthonies Orthonies is a mountainous settlement of Zakynthos, perched on the northwestern part of the mountain Vrachionas, at an altitude of 454 meters above sea level. The settlement is built amphitheatrically. The houses are stone houses with tiles according to the traditional Zakynthian tradition. The surrounding area is green with many vineyards and olive groves. It is about 25 km by the road from Zakynthos town. According to the 2011 census the population is 232 inhabitants. There is also the historic Monastery of Spiliotissa, founded in the mid-16th century. Monastery of Spiliotissa The Monastery of the Holy Virgin Spiliotissa is located about three kilometers from the settlement of Orthias. It was founded in the middle of the 16th century by the monk Ioannikio Katsiva, who in his middle age made the Hierarch and Abbot of Anafonitria, Dionysios Siguros, later Saint and Patron Saint of Zakynthos, his legal and Catholic Commissioner. The monastery possessed a large property, which allowed it to be organized as a building complex. The monastery also had a library, rich in books and manuscripts. In the second travel volume of the researcher Archduke of Austria Louis Salvador (published by Basta 2008, p. 237), we find a description of the monastery, circa 1900: "Among bushy slopes, the monastery is presented in a monastic valley, walled and with the church in the middle. It is a large building from the beginning of the 16th century, with a long façade with ten windows, and in front of it, stands an abandoned windmill. Above the entrance creating a vaulted corridor is a bell tower. In the courtyard of the building, with its porches supported on thickly worked columns, are two cisterns. On the right stands a house existing since 1775, used for the hospitality of strangers, with a roofed terrace held up by columns, from which a beautiful view is presented towards the strait called the Great Lagada, after the Volimes. In the courtyard we see clumps of laurel trees. At the present time twelve monks are monking in the monastery. The church has a porch with three arches..." The monastery's katholikon and bell tower were left standing by the 1953 earthquakes. In recent years, with the efforts of Metropolis of Zakynthos and Strophades, the monastery has been largely restored and the remarkable 16th century iconostasis has been preserved. On September 8, the feast of Genesiou of Virgin Mary, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated, as well as a feast in the precincts of the monastery. Paleomonastiro (cave) This is the cave on the slopes of mount Kentro, to the left of Megali Lagada, where the old chapel-cave has been located for four hundred years, with a vaulted door on rocky ground and rocky walls inside as well as an arched dome. In the past, monks lived in the old chapel and had built houses and a cemetery. The icon of the Virgin Mary, black and covered with silver, was found in this place, which is why it was named Panagia Spiliotissa. According to local tradition, it is believed that the icon was hidden there since the times of the Iconoclasts. The icon was transferred in the 16th century to the nearby plateau, where the monastery of Spiliotissa was built. During the route, the walker will encounter QR information signs at the following points: a) at the start of the route at the entrance of the monastery, b) at the old mill, c) at the brook at the lowest point of the route, d) at paleomonastiro