A Midlife Hiking Adventure to St. Michael’s

Best Trail Shoes for long, rocky terrain

If you caught my January Bucket List, you’ll recall my goal to tackle a long hike. Well, I finally checked that off by trekking up to the medieval Church of St. Michael, perched high above our village. Sitting 100 meters above sea level, this tiny church feels like a hidden gem with roots reaching back to pre-Christian Slavic beliefs.

I stumbled across a fascinating tidbit by Peter Simunovic:

“The rich heritage of their ancient Slav beliefs was gradually assimilated into western Christian culture. They kept up the cult of hill-top worship and as Christians, built their first small churches on the ridges next to,the ancient prehistoric tumuli.“

It was wild to think that this spot I was hiking to carries such layered history.

I kicked off from my driveway, snapping a quick pic of the church in the distance—tiny, far-off, and honestly a little daunting. Solo and with no map, I wasn’t sure I’d find it. But off I went.

The first climb up the steep village road was a workout, but the payoff? Jaw-dropping views. My only company was flocks of sheep, basking in the winter sun. The jingling of their bells was my soundtrack as the trail leveled out and I could see the church again—still seeming much farther than it should be, but now I had my bearings.

I get asked a lot about what shoes I wear for hiking. And I swear by these trail runners for mature feet! I’ve been wearing this brand for years and they can really take the rugged terrain and my feet feel great even on long rocky hikes like this one.

Another hour, one last herd of sheep and a final push brought me to the top. No houses, no ruins—just olive groves sloping away from this lone church.

St. Michaels church dates back to the 9th or 10th century. Another fascinating discovery was that a sarcophagus in an upright position with it’s bottom punctured out was used for the main entrance.

This hike was worth every step. I plopped down on the grass to soak it all in before heading back down.

Living in this village feels like stepping into a living monument to an ancient culture. I’m so grateful to have these experiences!

Love these village tales? I’d be so grateful if you’d pin them to Pinterest or share to Facebook for others who might enjoy this unique peek into this centuries-old gem on an Adriatic island. Thanks for following along and spreading the word! I love sharing this midlife journey with you.

You may also enjoy:

Moving to a 200 Year old Villa

Preparing for Winter on the Island

Our First Christmas in the Village

Lanterns, Lambs & Living Slowly

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