We took the scenic mountain and sea route from Monemvasia to Nafplio, a Rick Steves’s suggestion. On a pretty, sunny, clear day this drive was the nicest yet we’ve seen in Greece. Retracing our route back to Skalas from Monemvasia was not so scenic but once you turn up the small unmarked road that leads to Vrontamas you wind through hills covered in olive and orange groves, backed by higher mountains to the west.
Past Vrontamas you begin the climb into granite mountains that were fairly lush on this side of the range. Once you pass the village of Kosmas you begin a dramatic drop through a rugged valley.
Watch for the Moni Elonis Monastery clinging near the top of the cliff face.
Once you reach the sea near Leonidio the road mostly follows the coast above blue water all the way into Nafplio. Took us about 4 hours with little traffic but stops for photos.
May 25, 2016
For links to all the posts in this series see the Greece page.