At the point where the ridges of Larisa and Aspida (shield) are joined, begins a road to the right, which leads towards Akova and Houni. This is another asphalt path, but without much traffic from cars.
As soon as one turns towards Akova, one should take deep breaths as one will be faced with a short yet steep uphill path. This is the most difficult part of the route.
Staying on the left side of the road you reach a junction where the road heading straight leads to Houni and the lair of the fighters of 1821, which is literally carved on the steep rock. If you stay on the left side though, and keep on going towards our destination, after 400 m. you will come upon the famous Fountain of Akova, with the plane trees and the benches. The rock next to the great plane tree looks as if it’s following the visitors with its “two big eyes”. These are old rock cavities that were used in the old days as ovens during festivals.
From that point, the road begins slowly to descend and all of a sudden we see in front of us a section of the Argolic Plain and Bay.
On the left side of the street we come across a small shrine. Behind it lies hidden a narrow little bridge, which leads to the chapel of the Taxiarches amidst thick vegetation. We continue the descend staying always on the road.
On our right, on the left turn of the road, we come across a signpost towards Kokla (a small settlement of Argos, which probably got its name from the many bones that were located in the vaulted Mycenaean tombs, in front of the old primary school).
Staying on the main road, a little further ahead, we come across the junction to Kefalari. It is one the many ancient roads of Argos, on top of which new ones have been constructed.
After about 3 km. the road forms a fork. We continue left and before we pass the little bridge on the rive Erasinos, we turn right, almost through some courtyards, and we find ourselves in front of the water installations that women used to wash clothes in the old days. A few steps later we reach the spring of Erasinos, the river god and patron of Argos, as he was called by the king of Sparta Cleomenes (Erasinos springs from a cave right under the temple of Zoodochou Pigis [The Life-giving Spring]). The temple touches the cave where in antiquity Panas and later Dionysus were worshipped. A mystical celebration was performed here, which was named “Tyrvi” (turbulence), because of the noise and the dust created by the participants in the events. To the right and left of the spring, you will surely find a place –among the restaurants and snack bars- which will put you in the mood for a meal, while the adjacent grove will win the hearts of the younger.
From Kefalari if you head east, moving parallel to the banks of the river Erasinos, you can easily find yourselves in the marsh of Argos; while if you head west, after about 1 km., you will see rising to you left the ruins of the sole surviving “Pyramid of Ellinikos” in Greece.
2nd Route : Akova – Kefalari
