Attica is a safe and attractive multidimensional destination offering visitors unforgettable experiences all year round. Nestled between mountains and sea, steeped in myths and millennia of history, Attica has in store a world of unique attractions, one of which is the Koutouki cave in Paiania.
Koutouki cave is located in the municipality of Paiania at an altitude of 510m on the eastern side of Mount Hymettus and is the only cave in Attica that can be visited in an organized way. According to local stories, the cave was known to the locals as a sinkhole called Koutouki, until its interior was accidentally discovered in 1926 when a goat fell from the roof. So the villagers climbed up the mountain with ropes to go down into the abyss and get the animal out. According to the locals, it was Stefanos Vihos who went down into the cave and found the goat dead, yet looking around he was impressed by the interior of the cave and on his way out he told his fellow villagers about the beauty and wonders the cave held. Two years later, the chronicler Dimitris Hatzopoulos attempts to descend to the cave with a group and then writes about his experience in the newspaper of the Royal Printing House “The Greek Postman” on 10/2/1928. However, systematic exploration and mapping of the cave came much later, in 1954, by Yannis and Anna Petrochilos of the Hellenic Speleological Society. Its impressive stone formations soon became a tourist attraction with the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) starting its tourist exploitation in the early 1960s by opening an entrance that, through a 17-metre tunnel, facilitated access to the interior. In 2000, the cave became the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture.
The rocks of the cave are of the Lower Marble type and are found on the largest area of the eastern side of Mount Hymettus. Koutouki Cave, like most caves in the world, was created by the underground karstic phenomenon, the process of dissolution of limestone by water when it contains dissolved carbon dioxide, combined with tectonic processes. The cave was originally hidden, but tectonic phenomena in the area created a crack in the middle of the cave ceiling that led to its discovery.
Koutouki cave is 38.5m high and 350m long, while the interior is characterized by rich stone formations. The central chamber measures 60×60m and is divided into other smaller chambers featuring stalagmites, stalactites and columns. Inside, the temperature is almost constant at 17ºC and the humidity at 90%. The variety of stalactite formations and colourations, due to the action of the oxides, create a fascinating spectacle and with a little imagination you can see the Statue of Liberty or the Tower of Pisa on one side and an Olympic torch, altars, corals, etc. on the other.
Info:
Opening hours: daily 08:30 – 14:30, due to the measures implemented to combat Covid-19, there is a maximum number of visitors inside the cave and it is recommended to make an appointment before your visit. Guided tours take place from 8:30 every hour until 14:30
*All protection measures against Covid-19 are observed
