The settlement of Lerna in the present-day village of Mýloi was inhabited for 5,000 years—from the Neolithic period to the Mycenaean period, from the 6th to the 1st millennium BC. This long archaeological timespan gives Míloi a clear cultural focus. Two hikes of different lengths and to different destinations are available for exploring the area: a 1 km circular route in the village and a longer route west of the settlement that takes in Pontinos Hill and its surroundings.
Lerna: a long history of settlement
Within this long history of settlement, the Early Helladic II phase (Lerna III) can be dated more precisely: it spans 2700 to 2200 BC. During this phase, the settlement had a strong defensive wall on its southern side, with a gate and two towers. The settlement as a whole and the dating of the fortification describe different scales: on the one hand, many millennia; on the other, a clearly defined period of five centuries. This gives the fortification a specific timeframe within Lerna’s prehistory.
Two hikes, two scales
The 1 km circular hiking trail leads to monuments and other sights in the village. Among its destinations is the sanctuary of Demeter Prosymna and Dionysus. The short circular route focuses on the village sights; the named sanctuary also gives the route a specific destination. This clearly distinguishes it from the longer hike with a return leg when planning your outing.
The second hike is 5 km long and leads to sights west of the settlement, onto Pontinos Hill and into its surroundings. The return journey adds an equal distance; those who retrace their steps will cover a total of 10 km. This is considerably longer than the 1 km circular route. The options therefore differ not only in distance but also in their destination: village monuments on the one hand, and the western surroundings and hill on the other. This lets you choose according to your preferred distance and focus.
River, battle, and railway history
The source waters of the Pontinos River, also known as the Lerna Springs, flow from Pontinos Hill to the sea. Their water level varies seasonally. The hill is a shared point of reference for the landscape and the longer hike: it lies at the source of the river stretch described here and is also part of the route area. This connects a specific landscape feature with one of the two hiking options.
A precisely dated event in the area’s history is the Battle of Myloi. It took place on June 13, 1825, in the village of the same name during the Greek War of Independence. This adds a specific event from the 19th century to the area’s much longer history of settlement.
Mýloi railway station is an important part of the history of railways in Greece; this historical context concerns its history, not current train service or public access to the buildings. Its buildings were constructed between 1887 and 1910. The construction period places the station buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—much later than the settlement of Lerna and the Early Helladic fortification. Míloi thus brings together archaeological and more recent historical themes without merging them into a single period.
Discover more destinations: Kanapitsa, Akti Idras, Paralia Irion, Árgos, Nafplion, Nea Epidavros, Vivari, Kiveri
For the broader travel overview: Argolis.
