Kakia Skalla, Rock formation and cliffed coast in Attica, Greece

Kakia Skalla is a steep coastal rock face in Western Attica, formed by the southeastern spurs of the Geraneia mountains where they drop to the Saronic Gulf between the Megara plain and Kineta. Pale grey and beige stone is fractured into jagged vertical slabs and scree, with sparse dark green scrub on the upper slopes. Near the base, a flat road runs along a pale retaining wall above a narrow strip of rocks at the water's edge.

Known in antiquity as the Skironides Petrai, these cliffs formed a natural barrier on the land route between Athens and the Peloponnese. Pausanias records that the Skironian road was built by Skiron, a Megarian commander, and later widened by the emperor Hadrian. The modern Olympia Odos motorway, built between 1999 and 2006, crosses the same stretch through five tunnels.

The name means "bad passage", from the ancient Skironis road also called Kakis Skala. One rock, Molouris, named after the Greek word for locust, was linked to Ino, who leapt from it with Melikertes; both became sea deities, Leucothea and Palaemon, and the rock was held sacred to them. Pausanias records that Skiron built the road and Hadrian widened it.

You can reach this site from National Road 8, which has several viewpoints and parking areas along the stretch. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and can be slippery in places.

The five motorway tunnels through Kakia Skala are modern, not ancient: the contract to rebuild this stretch was signed in 2000, the Patras-bound carriageway opened in summer 2004 and the Athens-bound one in summer 2006. They are named after local myth and history, including Skiron, Theseus, Eupalinos and Aithra.