The beautiful Odysseas Elytis Theater, we find it on the top of the hill of Chora the Ios capital just behind the inevitable windmills identifying signof the Greek Islands and in particular of the Cyclades Archipelago.

Looking at it, onemight think that it belongs to the ancient Greek world, but inreality it was built only at the end of the nineties by the architectof German origin Peter Haupt, professor at the Berlin Universityand a great lover of the Ios island, in honor of the prestigiousGreek poet Odysseas Elythis modern scholar (1911-1996), winner of theNobel Prize for literature in 1979 who. He particularly loved thispromontory for the view that gives serenity and inspiration, but alsofor its heady scents of wild thyme mixed with the sea breeze.

In addition to being awonderful panoramic point and consequently to be included among the things to see and do absolutely on the Ios island, you should knowthat during the summer period it becomes an important stage forperformances ranging from folk dances to competitions between theaterschools of the Cyclades Islands and all of Greece, sporting eventsand evenings where poets and writers of the past or modern are paidhomage with readings or theatrical performances. The most prestigiousevent is linked to Homer the poet who according to tradition isburied near the Plakoto village. The Homiria as it is called, is agreat festival full of intellectual events that lasts from May toSeptember. A true and unique treasure of culture and tradition.

A spectacularamphitheater in marble and stone from local quarry in the typicalGreek architectural style of the Doric period that recalls thosepresent in Magna Graecia, is presented in all its majesty with acapacity for 1100 people. The orchestral space has a diameter of 12meters and the seats face south offering spectacular views of theAegean, the southern coast of Ios and the Mylopotas Bay.

Another importantreason for its orientation is linked to the fact that this positionprotects spectators when the Meltemi blows, the most important of theGreek winds that comes from the north and believe us when it blows itcan be quite annoying if you are in the middle of it.

The Odysseas Elytis Theater has helped to recover a part of the island, the Tsoukariaregion which was a waste dump before its construction. Thanks to thelove of Haupt and the Ios municipality, it was possible to savethis part of the territory and give the world a work that enrichesminds.