Fakistra Waterfall

The Pirate’s Lair The history of Fakistra is defined by its inaccessibility. For centuries, this jagged coastline was known as a pirate’s haven; the high cliffs provided perfect cover for ships to hide from the open sea while observing passing trade vessels. The cove is naturally fortified by rock, making it a dangerous trap for the uninvited but a secure sanctuary for those who knew the secret paths down from the mountain.

The Hidden School The most significant historical site here is not the beach itself, but the sea cave located in the cliffs above it. During the Ottoman occupation of Greece, this cave hosted a “Kryfo Scholio” (Secret School). Under the cover of darkness, local priests from Tsagarada would gather children here to teach them the Greek language and Christian faith, keeping the culture alive when it was illegal to do so. A small chapel dedicated to Panagia is built directly into the rock face, standing as a moving monument to this resistance.

The Waterfall’s Secret Behind the beach lies the Fakistra Waterfall, a geological marvel that flows seasonally. In winter and spring, water from the peaks of Tsagarada rushes down the ravine, creating a stunning cascade that pools into a small freshwater lagoon before meeting the salty Aegean. Historically, this fresh water source made the cove a vital stop for fishermen and hermits living on the coast, providing life in an otherwise salty, rocky landscape.

The Path of Stone For generations, the only way to reach Fakistra was a steep, treacherous goat path used by fishermen and monks. In the 19th century, this was improved into a rough stone trail to allow for the transport of slate and timber from the coast to the village of Tsagarada above. While a road now gets you part of the way, the final descent remains a steep hike, preserving the same rugged experience that the locals have endured for centuries.

Fakistra Today: The Viral Icon In the present day, Fakistra has transformed from a local secret into a global icon, frequently appearing on lists of the “Best Beaches in the World” by major travel publications. Despite its fame, the difficulty of the hike keeps the mass crowds away, preserving its pristine condition. It attracts nature lovers and photographers who come to swim in the turquoise waters, explore the sea caves, and light a candle in the Hidden School, paying respects to the history carved into the stone.

The Italian Engineer The construction was entrusted to the Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico. He faced a monumental challenge: laying tracks on the steep, unstable slopes of the Centaurs’ Mountain. De Chirico chose a remarkably narrow gauge of 600mm (one of the narrowest in the world for public transport) to allow the train to navigate the tight curves and sharp ascents required by the terrain. His engineering genius ensured that the railway harmonized with the environment rather than conquering it, using local stone and natural contours to minimize the impact on the landscape.

The Bridge of De Chirico The route’s most famous landmark is the steel railway bridge near the village of Taxiarches, widely known as the De Chirico Bridge. It is a unique engineering marvel, distinct for being a straight bridge built on a curved masonry base, a feature rarely seen in railway construction. Evaristo’s son, the famous surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico, was born in Volos and often watched the construction; the silhouette of this train and its arches frequently appears in his world-renowned paintings, immortalizing the line in the annals of modern art.

War and Decline For decades, the “Moutzouris” (meaning “Smudgy” due to the steam soot) was the lifeline of Pelion. However, the 20th century brought hardship. The line suffered damage during World War II and the Greek Civil War, and the rise of the automobile in the 1950s and 60s made the slow-moving train obsolete for cargo. In 1971, operations ceased entirely, and the tracks fell silent, slowly being reclaimed by the forest and becoming a nostalgic memory for the older generation.

The Moutzouris Reborn In 1996, after immense public pressure to preserve this cultural heritage, the line was reopened as a tourist attraction. Extensive restoration work was done to ensure safety while keeping the vintage aesthetic intact. Today, it serves as a “living museum,” carrying thousands of visitors every year on the route from Ano Lechonia to Milies, proving that its value lies no longer in speed or cargo, but in the preservation of history and memory.

[H2] Current Services Offered

The train currently operates a seasonal route (Spring to Autumn) on weekends and holidays, departing from the Ano Lechonia station and terminating at Milies. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes, including a stop at the Ano Gatzea station where visitors can view a small museum of olive oil and railway artifacts. Upon arrival in Milies, visitors can witness the unique manual turning of the engine on a wooden turntable, a rare spectacle where the driver and crew physically push the locomotive to face the return direction.