Amorgos is the island of the “Deep Blue”, the most eastern island of the Cyclades group with wild beauties, magic beaches with crystal clear waters, religious monuments, picturesque villages with white washed houses of traditional Cycladic style and the Hozoviotissas’s Monastery the trade mark of the island.
During the last years Amorgos was became one of the most popular Greek islands and attracts many visitors. Tourist infrastructures satisfy all demands. There are numerous hotels, pensions, apartments and rooms to let all around the island. In Amorgos you can find exciting clubs and bars, as well as quiet cafes by the sea, taverns and restaurants.
The capital of the island, AMORGOS (or Chora), is in the interior of the island, 5 kilometers from the harbor of Katapola and 12 kilometers from that of Aegiali. It clings to a rocky hill with a 13th c. Venetian castle at the top. It is a beautiful little town with all the characteristic features of traditional Cycladic architecture: gleaming white houses with small cubic volumes, numerous churches with charming campaniles and delicate domes, narrow, labyrinthine paved streets climbing up to the castle through neighborhoods cramped for space and picturesque windmills.
The tower of Gavras, an 18th c. mansion, houses a museum containing finds from the archaeological excavations of the ancient towns of Aegiali, Arkesini and Minoa.
A short distance to the north-east of Chora is the Byzantine monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa, one of the most important religious monuments of Greece. It is built on a steep rock 300 meters high. The building has 40m length and 5m width. It has a miraculous icon of the Virgin, and celebrates its feast on 21 November with great festivities.
At a 40 minutes walk down from the monastery, you will find the magic pebbled beach of Agia Anna with deep blue crystal waters.
To the north-east of Amorgos, is the bay of AEGIALI the second harbor of the island with some fine beaches and the picturesque villages of Tholaria, Lagada, Potamos and Ormos built near the sea and provides the island’s best beach.
Tholaria is a graphic village with picturesque houses with arches and paved paths. From the village one can have a magnificent view.
In the region there are hotels, rooms to let, fish taverns and shops.
Lagada as it is amphitheatrically built overlooks the whole bay up to the little island of Nikouria. The settlement has white houses of characteristic Cycladic architecture. In Lagada it is worth visiting the churches of Trinity and Panagia Epanochoriani, and to see the windmills.
Potamos is located at the northeast of the bay and gives a superb view over the Aegiali area. The village keeps its traditional colours with white houses of the traditional Cycladic architecture and white washed paths.
Aegiali is the most tourist area of Amorgos. Here, you will find numerous hotels, rooms to let, camping site, restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars and many shops.
The central beach of Aegiali is extended with clear blue waters and attracts many visitors. The most beautiful beach in the area is Levrossos beach at a 20 minutes walk from the village (or by small boat leaving from Aegialis port).
KATAPOLA, to the west of Chora is the main harbor on the island, one of the biggest natural ports in Aegean Sea. Katapola is divided in three unique settlements. Just to the left side of the port lies the settlements of Xylokeratidi and Rahidi on the middle with the church of Agios Georgios. In the region you will find hotels and rooms to let, while in the taverns you will taste local recipes. In Katapola you will swim in the homonym sandy beach and in Finikes, a beautiful shore or in Maltezi beach with sand and small pebbles.
On a hill overlooking the harbor are the remains of ancient Minoa, including the ruins of a fortification wall, a stadium, a gymnasium and a temple.
The temple of Apollo was in the same area; an Early Christian basilica was built on its remains, followed later, on the same site, by the church of the Panagia Katapoliani.
Further south are some beautiful villages of the interior (Kamari, Vroutsi, Kolofana) and the traditional settlement of ARKESINI, which has retained its ancient name. The remains of the ancient city can be seen at Kastri, where the church of Panagia Kastriani is located.
Mourou beach is one of the most beautiful and popular of the island. It is close to Kamari and Vroutsi villages. It has pebbles, crystal clear waters and two underwater caves.
Kalotaritissa is a long sandy beach at the southern part of the island. From Kalotaritissa beach one can take a boat to the nearby uninhabited islet of Gramvoussa which has a fine beach with crystal blue waters.
TRADITION – EVENTS
Agia Paraskevi is the patron saint of Amorgos island. The celebration of the saint’s name is on 26 July and there is a big fun fair that starts on the previous day.
LOCAL PRODUCTS
The most famous products of the island are: wine of fine quality, oil and fresh fish.
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