For a stay in Nithafri, a cultural site in the village and several destinations in the surrounding area are close at hand. The Old Well provides a precise historical reference; the Panagia Asfentamiani Church combines a medieval classification with its location northeast of the village. When visiting natural sites, it is worth distinguishing the cave names carefully: Onimarchos Cave near Kalikas and Notiki-Trypa Cave at the end of the Kalikas Plateau route are different places. Water information is particularly important when planning this route.
The Old Well of NĂthavris
As an inscription set into it shows, the Old Well of NĂthavris acquired its present form in 1920. The livestock troughs and washbasins are arranged in a line and are preserved in excellent condition. The inscription dates the well’s present form; the row of basins makes the layout of the site tangible. For travel planning, this is a clearly identified cultural site within Nithafri. Unlike the nearby destinations, the well is in the village itself.
Panagia Asfentamiani in the surrounding area
The medieval Panagia Asfentamiani Church is about 2 km northeast of Nithafri, at an elevated spot surrounded by greenery and with wide-ranging views; its altitude is approximately 550 m. The church was originally decorated with frescoes, traces of which were still visible until recently. This brings together its historical classification and a specific description of its location. If churches and historical details are of particular interest when choosing what to see on your trip, the church’s decoration and location are useful points of reference; if you are more interested in the surroundings, you can take the views and green setting into account.
Onimarchos Cave and the Kalikas Plateau route
Onimarchos Cave is northeast of Nithafri, at Kalikas, at an altitude of 700 m. Stalactites and stalagmites can be seen inside. The Kalikas Plateau route, by contrast, ends at Notiki-Trypa Cave on the Kalika Plateau. Keep the two names distinct when planning: if you are interested in the stalactites and stalagmites described here, choose Onimarchos Cave; Notiki-Trypa Cave is the endpoint of the Kalikas Plateau route.
Plan for water along the route
Water supply is a separate planning consideration for the Kalikas Plateau route. The route starts in Nithafri; there is no water source along the way. It is therefore recommended that you collect water from the spring in the village square before the hike. Before setting out, check locally whether the spring is available. There is also a drinking-water fountain in the courtyard of Panagia Asfentamiani Church, supplied by a spring, but it dries up during the summer months. This seasonal note applies to the fountain in the church courtyard and should be distinguished from the recommendation to use the spring in the village square. Collect water before setting out, and do not rely on the church courtyard fountain as a dependable supply in summer.
Discover more destinations: Roupes, Kare, Fourfouras, Triopetra, Livadia Keramoti, Petres, Kalonyktis, Sfakaki
For the overview of the wider area: Rethymno.
