Menites: Springs, Fountains and the Messaria Valley

You can get to know Menites through its water, religious associations and a hiking route. The springs and fountains are part of the village’s character, as is the sanctuary of Panagia Koumoulou; the Messaria Valley also begins here. A circular route starts and ends at the springs. This gives you several ways to plan your trip: you can explore the village through its water features, historical interpretations or hiking route. These themes complement one another without answering the same question.

Springs, fountains and water use

The springs of Menites lie below the sanctuary of Panagia Koumoulou; the famous fountains with lion-head spouts are also located below the church of the same name. Other distinctive water features include marble lions serving as water spouts and ditches alongside the roads, which are used to irrigate the fields. The fountains, spouts and ditches represent different aspects of the theme of water: a decorative feature and the use of water for the fields. Water in Menites is therefore both a feature of the village and connected with agriculture.

The connection extends to the wider area, including Mesa Chorio and Livadia, whose fields are irrigated with water from the springs. This takes the focus from individual fountains and ditches in the village to a regional relationship between water and agriculture. The local water features and the wider reach of the springs answer different questions: what characterizes Menites locally, and how does the connection with the springs extend into the surrounding area?

The Messaria Valley

The Messaria Valley begins at Menites. This connection adds a distinct geographical scale to the water landscape. While fountains and ditches describe individual water features, the start of the valley points to a larger landscape. Menites can thus be viewed through two different geographical features: the water sources in the village and the starting point of the Messaria Valley.

The sanctuary and historical interpretations

Panagia Koumoulou is also at the center of two historical interpretations. The sanctuary was probably built on the site of an ancient temple. Some also consider the springs of Menites to be the ancient springs of the Temple of Dionysus. The first idea concerns the presumed site on which the sanctuary was built; the second, a possible identification of the springs. This keeps the theory about the sanctuary and the interpretation held by some that the springs are connected with Dionysus distinct from one another. If you are interested in the history of the village, this distinction offers two different points of reference: the presumed building site and the possible connection between the springs and Dionysus.

The Menites circular route

The Menites circular route is moderately difficult and includes some challenging sections; it starts and ends at the springs. For planning purposes, this information answers two different questions: the circular route indicates where the hike begins and ends, while its rating and challenging sections describe its difficulty. Alongside the fountains and sanctuary, this offers a hiking option that starts and ends at the springs. The springs are therefore both a landscape feature and the starting and ending point of the hike.

Discover more destinations: Pitrofos, Lamira, Mpatsi, Gávrion, Korthio, Paleopoli, Andros, Agios Ioannis.

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