Mavri Spilia Gorge

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Mavri Spilia Gorge

The natural beauty of Greece is stunning and, in some places, exceptional. Overshadowed only in fame by the famous Pantavrechi gorge, the gorge of Mavri Spilia (meaning Black Cave) is equally beautiful and stands out as one of the most impressive gorges in Central Greece. The gorge can be found about two kilometers from the mountain village of Proussos, in the prefecture of Evritania. It takes its name from the famous cave that served as a hideout for the local population during the Ottoman rule and for guerrillas during World War II. Besides the natural beauty, what makes Mavri Spilia unique is the “Via Ferrata” route, the start of which is marked by Mavri Spilia. Via Ferrata is a very demanding route requiring technical skills and special equipment.

However, hiking to Mavri Spilia is fairly easy and takes you through one of the region’s most beautiful gorges. Within minutes of starting, you will find yourself immersed in a land of incredible natural beauty covered by firs and lush vegetation. The sound of water rushing, crashing and trickling through even the smallest of fissures saturates your ears, while the green of conifers, lichens, moss and shrubs oppose the earthy hues of decay on the forest floor. Little red trail markers guide you along the streams lying adjacent and lead you to your destination. The tranquility of the forest despite the noise of the water is lovely and the place is obviously looked after. The path itself is moderate and often very slippery. It is shaded and there are two waterfalls on the way forming natural pools where the bare ones can swim in the refreshing water.

Getting there

There are two entry points to the gorge. One from the gates of the Prousos Monastery and the other next to the Poros Tornos bridge, near the village of Prousos. Both trails are marked with red signs and there is information about the expected walking times. For a shorter hike, take the second route. Just before the bridge there is a parking area and on your right you should see signs in Greek, a bench and a small water fountain.

The trek follows a charming, well-defined path surrounded by soaring fir and chestnut trees, passes by multiple waterfalls and crosses traditional wooden bridges before it reaches the imposing Black Cave and the ruins of the stone shelter. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of about 3 hours to complete if you start from the monastery and about 1 hour if you start from the village of Prousos. This is a very popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quitter times of the day. The best time to visit this trail are April through November.

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