The stone arch bridge of Kerasiá connects the two parts of the village on the banks of the Kerasiotis. The Ilias Lefousis Museum in Kerasiá and the Kerasiá Centre for History and Culture complement this architectural landmark with literary and regional themes. Historical topics relating to artists’ visits and traditional crafts, along with two trails described in different ways, offer further focal points for a stay in Káto Kerasiá.
Cultural history: literature, the centre and traditional crafts
The collection of the Ilias Lefousis Museum includes the author’s books and reprints, awards, mementos from conferences and specialist meetings, event posters, and his typewriter. It also includes the State Novel Prize awarded in 1985 for “Asimina Laiou – The National Forest of Tears.” The museum is run by the village’s Cultural and Beautification Association. Those interested in literary history will find books and awards here alongside objects from the author’s life. If you are planning a visit, arrange access with the museum in advance.
The Kerasiá Centre for History and Culture (ΚΙΠΟΚΕ) was founded in 2012 to preserve and promote the region’s history. Its headquarters were established in 2016 with support from the Leader programme. They include a 40 m² exhibition space and an amphitheatre for outdoor events. The founding and the headquarters represent two distinct points in time: the centre’s mission and, later, the establishment of the described facilities.
The photographer and painter Stefanos Stournaras visited Kerasiá from the early years of the 19th century. Also from the first decades of the 19th century, three families there practised knife-making and made agricultural tools. These two subjects offer different perspectives: Stournaras’s visits connect the village with a figure from art history, while the families represent a specific craft tradition.
Festivities and dances are listed for 29 and 30 June in Kerasiá’s large central square. If you are planning your trip around these dates, confirm in advance whether the events will take place on your intended date. You should also check access to the centre in advance.
Trails with different destinations
One route leads from Makrinítsa through the Kaliaκούδα Gorge, past the three-arched Leschiani Bridge and on to Káto Kerasiá. The Leschiani Bridge is a named point along the route; it should not be confused with the stone arch bridge of Kerasiá, which connects the two parts of the village on the Kerasiotis. The route between Káto Kerasiá and Áno Kerasiá follows a different course: one half of the route is now a path with some paved sections, while the other half is a dirt track. The two trail descriptions address different planning questions: the route from Makrinítsa specifies its starting point and destination, while the route between Káto and Áno Kerasiá also describes its changing surface. If you plan to take either route, check current trail conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Trikeri, Kato Lehonia, Afissos, Almyros, Makrinítsa, Agios Georgios Nileias Milies, Lefokastro, Volos
For the broader travel overview: Magnesia.
