3 : Apollonia - Platis Yialos

7,5km

2h30′

 1/5 No

Proposed Direction: Apollonia – Platis Yialos
Starting Point: Apollonia (Main square – Post office) / Platis Yialos (Last bus stop)
Connected to Trails: 1, 3a, 4, 5, 6, 7a, 10
Bus Connections: Apollonia, Platys Gialos

The trail starts in Apollonia and leads at first to Kato Petali, through a beautifully constructed trail, that used to be the main road between the two villages. Passing between well-kept cultivated terraces it will eventually pass next to the church of Staopodi. Its name apparently indicates that the church hosted at some point a statue of Pan, the goat-legged God of the ancient world. About one kilometer later, you will reach the Holy Monastery of Vryssi, (16th c.), that now also hosts a museum of Ecclesiastic Art.

Leaving the monastery behind, the trail will move again between terraces and olive groves. At some point you will have to walk on the main road for about 3oo meters (be very careful!). After the tarmac road, you will get into another old trail that leads to Platys Gyalos. On the last descent, try to notice the small irrigation canals that bring the water from Vryssiana spring to the fields of Platys Gyalos. Platys Gyalos is one of the longest beaches of the Cyclades. In older times it was one of the main centers for the production of ceramics in Sifnos.

TIPS

A little after the Holy Monastery of Vryssi, trail 3 offers the option to head to The Holy Monastery of Chryssopigi and the bay of Apokofto through trail 3A.

3Α : Tholos - Panagia Chrysopigi

3,6km

1h20′

 2/5 No

Proposed Direction: Tholos – Panagia Chrysopigi
Starting Point: Tholos / Monastery of Chrysopigi
Connected to Trails: 2, 3
Bus Connections: Road between Apollonia and Platys Gialos (access way-marked)

A little higher than the Holy Monastery of Vryssi, trail 3 splits. If you choose the 3A alternative, you will reach the beach of Apokofto and the Church of Chryssopigi. The trail offers beautiful views to the Aegean sea, as it is gently descending toward the coast.

TIPS

At the end of the trail, just before the Church of Chryssopigi, a way-marked uphill trail leads to a bus stop on the line between Apollonia and Platys Gialos. The ascent should take about 20 minutes.