This is yet another technological achievement of incredible difficulty by the ancient Greeks. The Eupalinio trench, a 1,036-metre underground tunnel, was built in the 6th century BC to serve as an aqueduct for the nearby city of Pythagorion, which was the port and capital of Samos at the time.

Another engineering marvel

What makes the Eupalinio trench remarkable (see photos), making many people refer to it as another miracle of ancient Greek engineering, is the fact that its engineers started digging from both sides of the mountain and met about halfway with remarkable precision (that’s why it was called amphistomon).

It was built during the reign of the tyrant Polycrates and the architect of this unique work was Eupalinus of Megara.

The Eupalinio mine is located quite close to the beautiful Pythagorean Samos and is definitely worth a visit. Exact location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d65q3XhGnNiejVTB6

Ferry tickets to Samos

The monastery of Panagia Spiliani

As well as the excellent monastery of Panagia Spiliani which is only a 3-5 minute drive from the Eupalinio mine. So when you arrive and there is no direct entrance to the mine, as the number of visitors inside the mine’s visited areas is limited for safety and management reasons, then do as we did. We walked around and saw up close the impressive “cave” from which the Monastery of Panagia Spyliani, in Pythagorio Samos, got its name.

And then for a swim at Potokaki beach, just below, with an impressive view of the planes coming and going and a beautiful sea.

Accommodation in Pythagorean Samos

Photos from the Eupalinio trench

Map with the location of the Eupalinio trench and the monastery

Tunnel of Eupalinos, Πυθαγόρειο – Χώρα, Potokaki, Nea Poli, Municipal Unit of Pythagoreio, Municipality of Eastern Samos, Samos Regional Unit, Northern Aegean, Aegean, 831 03, Greece

Panagia Spiliani Monastery, Panagias Spilianis, Pythagorio, Municipal Unit of Pythagoreio, Municipality of Eastern Samos, Samos Regional Unit, Northern Aegean, Aegean, 831 03, Greece

Pythagorio, Municipal Unit of Pythagoreio, Municipality of Eastern Samos, Samos Regional Unit, Northern Aegean, Aegean, 831 03, Greece

Potokaki, Nea Poli, Municipal Unit of Pythagoreio, Municipality of Eastern Samos, Samos Regional Unit, Northern Aegean, Aegean, 831 03, Greece

Samos International Airport “Aristarchos”, Πυθαγόρειο – Ηραίο, Kolona, Ireo, Municipal Unit of Pythagoreio, Municipality of Eastern Samos, Samos Regional Unit, Northern Aegean, Aegean, 831 03, Greece

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