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Modern Description: Beyond Kritinía, the road climbs rapidly towards the flank of Mount Atávyros (1,216m), the island's highest, bulkiest and—in Antiquity—most sacred, mountain. Above 800m altitude its long ridge is bare limestone; below, it is densely wooded in pine and (to the north side) in oak and chestnut. The ascent to the *summit of Aghios Ioannis can be made either from the south in a relatively gradual, five to six hour (return) climb from the village of Aghios Isidoros, or else by road and military track (leading to the NATO installation at the summit) from the junction 5km south of the (southern exit of) Kritinía, which climbs through the pine forests in the saddle between the two peaks of the mountain and approaches Aghios Ioannis from the south west. Either way the effort is amply rewarded if the weather is clear by the sight of one of the most dramatically placed sanctuaries in the Aegean. The whole island lies beneath; Crete is visible to the southwest and Asia Minor to the northeast.
Wikidata ID: Q757912
Manto: 9612913

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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