Mount Helicon from Livadia

Mount Helicon gives a stay in Livadia a mountain dimension: wooded slopes, village squares and the landscape associated in ancient tradition with the Muses. Choose a village drive or an outing to the Valley of the Muses according to your interests.

The mountain and the village

Elikonas village, also known as Zeriki, is a settlement within the mountain area. It is distinct from Mount Helicon as a whole. Kyriaki and Agia Anna are other village destinations, each with its own location and road approach.

Choose a village day

Visit Kyriaki for its square, or spend time in Zeriki’s lanes. Agia Anna offers another village stop with a square and memorial. These are road excursions with short walks at your destination; a mountain hike needs separate planning.

The Muses and their springs

The Valley of the Muses near Askri was the setting of an ancient sanctuary. Aganippe belongs to this lower landscape; Hippocrene is associated with a higher mountain location traditionally identified with Kryo Pigadi. The story of Pegasus opening Hippocrene with his hoof is mythology. Neither spring is a guaranteed flowing-water stop or a drinking-water source.

Planning your journey

A car gives flexibility between villages. Check the current KTEL timetable if travelling by bus, including the return journey. For mountain walks, obtain current route advice and prepare for the terrain and weather.

Gardavitsa and the springs

Gardavitsa is the rocky landscape rising above Krya, part of the wider Helicon mountain setting. Limestone cliffs and underground cavities help explain the scenery around the gorge. The Krya springs are karst springs: water emerges from an underground system within the limestone landscape. Look up from the river to see the close relationship between the town, the rock faces and the springs.