Not to be missed in Amorgos
Amorgos is located in the middle between the Cyclades Archipelago and the Dodecanese Archipelago, the same nation but with decidedly very different characteristics but that's another story...
With its south-west part of high cliffs up to the north, it is rich in ancient places as well as two wonderful uninhabited satellite islands Gramvousa and Nikouria. Amorgos still lives mainly from fishing and agriculture and offers its visitors many things to see as an alternative to a quiet and lazy day at the seaside.
Amorgos has very ancient origins, so much so that from archaeological findings it is thought that it had already been inhabited in the fourth millennium BC even before the Cretans, where Minos, King of Crete, fell in love with the island and decided to have his summer residence built.
Here's what you could do during your holiday in Amorgos to delve deeper into his soul and learn his secrets.
An idea could be a nice tour of its villages where you can discover hidden corners with a typically Greek flavour. Let's start with the capital Chora which is located in the center of Amorgos on the eastern side. Dating back to the Middle Ages, of which it still retains the typical architecture made up of labyrinthine mazes in order to confuse raiders, it is surrounded by a magical and mysterious aura. On the hill still like sentinels are its mills where you can admire a fantastic panorama, whitewashed houses, a main square Plateia Loza surrounded by cafes protected by elderly eucalyptus trees, craft shops and taverns where you can try new flavours. A typical Greek village, lively and bright during the day, suffused and quiet in the evening.
Moving towards Katapola, the main port of Amorgos, the atmosphere changes a little. In recent years it has undergone great development, thus becoming one of the favorite destinations of travelers thanks to its many amenities. The style is always the same typically Cycladic with low houses and narrow streets where there is a surprise at every corner. Divided into three settlements Rachidi, Katapola and Xilokratidi, it is a very lively place where you can spend evenings among its restaurants and then end on a high note in some little place with a glass of stirrup. A very nice thing about Katapola is the fact that the seafront is closed to traffic and therefore accessible only on foot every day from 8pm to 2am, thus allowing tourists to enjoy the stretch in total safety and without worries about parking. Don't miss the Panagia Katapoliani church, built above a pre-Christian basilica right next to the temple of Apollo and some chapels from the Byzantine period.
The third village of Amorgos is Aegiali which we find in the north on the west coast. It is the most important in the northern part of the island and it also has a port from which various connections depart with the other islands. Definitely the favorite area for those who want a holiday based on the sea and beaches. A beautiful gulf at the foot of a mountain above which old windmills once used to produce flour stand. Narrow labyrinths, white houses with colorful flowers that break up the total white, taverns where you can taste excellent fresh fish and places to spend a cheerful evening. If one day you don't feel like taking the car and relaxing on the beach, Aegiali has its city coastline made of soft sand, transparent and blue waters with some tamarisk trees where you can take refuge when the sun beats down. If, however, you feel like a walk, in just five minutes you can reach Levrossos beach from which you can enjoy a wonderful view. Still on foot you can also reach the small Monastery of Agios Theologos dating back to the 7th century built on top of an ancient temple in honor of Saint John the Evangelist and continuing a little further you reach the small church of Stavros, a small chapel where in September a famous festival at which one of the typical dishes of Amorgos is served, the "Amorgian patato", a goat stew with potatoes.
We then arrive at the Langada village located right next to the Arakos canyon among the highest peaks of Krikellos. A mountain village where the silence is almost scary and is disturbed only by the singing of cicadas and the sounds of a few donkeys. A continuous up and down with a still intact atmosphere where traditions are still strongly present in the lives of its inhabitants.
We move on to the Potamos village about a kilometer from Aegiali on the mountainside on top of a promontory with a total view of the bay and the entire archipelago where you can be speechless in front of a spectacular sunset. Small houses with blue windows, stone-paved streets, alleys that magically emerge and some traditional taverns, nothing more but which will certainly enchant you. The best way to visit it is on foot starting from the Hozioviotissa Monastery along a path that will make you appreciate the wonders of Mother Nature.
Finally Tholaria village, the most northerly of all Amorgos. A genuine and authentic village with its little square, houses adorned with flowers in a thousand colors and sleepy cafés where you can take a break and perhaps have a chat with some local who will be happy to tell you fantastic stories about their island. The area is known for its broad beans and yellow lentils which are still cultivated using ancient methods, it's a real shame not to try them! If you fancy a bit of archaeology, not far away is Vigla, the ancient acropolis of Aegiali dating back to the 10th century BC. If you are in Amorgos in July, don't miss the great festival of the church of Agioi Anrgyroi.
If you feel a bit like Indiana Jones, don't forget a visit to the Minoa site. He is found above the port of Katapola in the Moundoulia hills. In the past it was one of the most important centers of Amorgos with fervent human activity. It was born as a summer residence of Minos but transformed over time by moving further south to protect itself from the winds with majestic Hellenistic buildings still present today. Its peak came in the 4th century BC when it became even larger while in the Roman period it lost some of its importance as the port area was preferred for trade with the consequence of its abandonment.
A must to do in Amorgos is certainly the great Monastery of Hozoviotissa. It is located two kilometers from the Chora and is built among the rocks of a mountain overlooking the Aegean. Almost blindingly whitewashed, it is even more noticeable as the relief that hosts it is made of red stone and the sensation when you see it is that of being suspended between sky and sea.
Dating back to 1088 and commissioned by the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comenon, to reach the entrance you have to climb more than three hundred steps. Various legends circulate around the Monastery of Hozoviotissa, one tells that some monks landed in Amorgos with an icon of the Virgin saved by a noblewoman from Jericho to prevent it from being destroyed during the War of the Icons. A second one instead talks about its arrival from Cyprus where it arrived in Amorgos broken in two and was recovered and repaired by the monks of the monastery. A third tells that from the first day of starting work every night what had been built by magic destroyed itself until the master builder turned to the Madonna and asked him where he should have built the hermitage. The following day a nail was found in the rock and from that point the construction of what is still considered a monastery of great religious importance began again. It is all made of stone, lime and precious juniper wood with an intrigue of Byzantine and Venetian arches, cellars, cells and a small church where the miraculous icon of the Virgin is preserved in a showcase which you can admire all year round except during the Easter period when it is carried in procession through the villages of Amorgos. The terrace is the most beautiful panoramic point where you can see the Aegean Sea in its immense beauty and majesty with its unmistakable blue color and identifying sign of the island.
Gramouvsa and Nikouria are two excursions not to be missed. Gramvousa is located in the southern part of Amorgos near the Kalotaritissa beach, one of the most popular on the island. A small islet where pirates hid in its bay protected from the winds by the wild and inhospitable landscape. Its total abandonment does not date back that long ago, in fact the human presence has recently moved attracted by modern conveniences and leaving aside the hard life of fishing and agriculture, leaving the island uninhabited. In modern times, it only comes alive with daily excursions that leave from Kaloritissa beach to reach two beautiful beaches where snorkelers can have a lot of fun in search of the rich marine fauna and flora.
Nikouria is instead found in the bay of Aegiali in front Agios Pavlos beach. Its importance is above all historical because from the archaeological finds it is clear that the mint of the three ancient cities of the island Minoa, Arkesini and Tholaria existed right here. Until the 19th century it served as a leper colony and today you can see the ruins of the accommodation where the sick were treated by the monks. Currently it is uninhabited, only a few cheerful goats live in this small piece of emerged land. It is five kilometers long with a peak of Mount Chalara reachable from the beaches where the view over the whole of Amorgos leaves you speechless. A rather inhospitable place where in the western part there are only steep rocks while in the east it is greener and more accessible. It too can only be reached by sea from Agios Pavlos with boats that go back and forth every half hour. Don't miss its three beaches of soft sand with a crystal clear sea and let's face it even a little cold, but only the colors of the water and the spectacular environment will be a good reason for a swim.