Damouchari-Mouresi

Damouchari

Distance: 5,6 km (with return)
Duration: 2,5 hours with stops (walking time 1.50')
Altitude: from 0 m. (Damouchari) to 385 m. (Mouresi square)
Signed with:  red marks and signs
Drinking water on walk: Damouchari, Mouresi square

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       The small port of Damouchari used to be the only place at the eastern coast of Pelion, where a ship could safely dock in case of bad weather. The ruins of Byzantine fortifications, as well as the customs and storage buildings still standing, are a testimony to its importance.  In addition to the kalderimi (cobbled stone path) to Tsangarada (see the route Tsangarada-Damouchari-Ai Giannis in this site), there were also two kalderimis going to the village of Mouresi, to which it belonged. Today, Damouchari is a tourist resort with hotels and cottages. In 2006, some scenes of the Hollywood movie Mamma mia!, starring Meryl Streep, were shot here, adding to its fame.

        In this easy circular walk, we climb from Damouchari to Mouresi square using the northern (lower) kalderimi and return by the southern (higher) one, which passes by Agia Paraskevi church.

        Starting from the end of the asphalt road at Damouchari, having parked our car there, we follow initially the asphalt uphill until we reach a junction with a fountain, where another asphalt road goes right downhill (this is the one to take if we are walking to Ai Giannis). The main asphalt here takes a sharp left bend and on the outside, noticing a red mark, we find an uphill path, which soon becomes a kalderimi. Reaching a cottage, it gets blocked by wild vegetation and we have to walk next to it on the left, following its course until we reach the asphalt again. We follow the road for 200 m. (there is another section of the path cutting the corner, but it is completely blocked and impassable) and then, just after a pen, we find the path on the left going uphill at an angle, with a sign to ''Mouresi'' (in Greek).

Ai Giannis with Papa Nero beach on the right

      We are climbing on alternate sections of path and kalderimi, seeing down below Ai Giannis and Papa nero beach,  and then another kalderimi coming from Ai Giannis joins in from the right. We cross the asphalt and continue uphill on kalderimi that futher up opens out on the asphalt. After 100 m., as the road takes a sharp left turn, we continue straight on to find the kalderimi again, climbing on a straight line. Joining a concrete road with a central stone paved lane, we go left and in 30 m. there is another junction, where we go right, leaving behind us the elementary school. We soon reach the central square of Mouresi, featuring the church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) and a taverna, in about 1.15' from the start.

Mouresi square-Agia Triada church

       Now to return to Damouchari, we walk on the asphalt on the right side of the church. This road eventually joins the asphalt going to Damouchari, on which we walk downhill, passing next to Agia Paraskevi church and the graveyard. As the asphalt takes a left turn, noticing a sign, we go straigt on to find the kalderimi.

Agia Paraskevi church

         At a distance we can see the first houses of Tsangarada, having Halorema stream in between. We reach the asphalt and go right for a few meters, then left. Further down, we cross the asphalt and continue on a narrow road, half concrete and half kalderimi. On the side there is a line of cypress trees. We come at a V-junction and go left on concrete. After 100 m., noticing a sign on the right side, we find the kalderimi again, walking into a tunnel  of vegetation. It joins an earth road at an angle and after a stretch on the road, we go left on the kalderimi again, then another section of earth road and  again to  the kalderimi on the right.

       We already enjoy beautiful views of Damouchari from above. Finally, the kalderimi opens to a concrete road with a central stone paved lane. To the left, it gets in 50 m. to the point where we started at the end of the asphalt, from where a kalderimi continues down to the sea. To the right, it leads to Damouchari beach, passing between olive groves and cottages.

Port of Damouchari

Damouchari beach