andros island

ndros is an endowed island. Like the other islands of the Cyclades it is washed by the Aegean and cooled in summer by the "meltemi" wind. It too has steep cliffs and beaches of white sand. It has, however, one advantage which the other islands lack: it is extremely verdant and irrigated with plentiful running water.

here are large numbers of olive trees, pines and fruit trees on the island, while in its ravines, the site of villages such as Menites, Stenies and Apikia, the vegetation is lush. Andros has also the famous spring water of Sariza, golden sands with crystal-clear water, and something else: an old-world nobility which is shared both by its houses and its people.

hora, the capital of the island stands on a headland between two beaches, and is an attractive and sun-drenched town. At the tip of the headland there is a small rocky island with the remains of a Venetian fortress. Chora's architecture is a mixture of the Cycladic and the neo-Classical. The first style is to be encountered in the narrow alleyways with their white houses and the second in the squares with their fine mansions. As an island with a strong seafaring tradition, Andros has a Maritime Museum at Chora, with its statue of the Unknown Sailor, and its Yacht Club.

hora also has an Archaeological Museum and the world famous Museum of Modern Art. The existence of the Museum of Modern Art itself, made Andros a world metropolis of the art, taking in the account that thousand of visitors come here just only to see the exhibitions of the works of the great painters such as Picasso, Matis, Bresson, De Ciricco, etc. Of the Byzantine churches of note, the 13th century "Palatiani", with a magnificent carved sanctuary screen, "Our Lady Odegetria" and the "Theoskepasti" stand out.

ear Chora are the beaches of Nimborio, Paraporti and Yialia. Gavrio is the port at which the ferries stop. It lies in an enclosed bay with a beach. Three kilometers north-east of Gavrio, at Ayios Petros, there is a tall and well-preserved Hellenistic tower. From Gavrio we follow the asphalt road along the coast in a south-easterly direction meeting first the beach of Kato Ayios Petros, a fine beach with tourist facilities. Then we find the beautiful beach of Chrysi Ammos and then Batsi.

atsi is the largest tourist centre on Andros and has a cosmopolitan character and an excellent beach. Here you can find everything concerning tourist facilities and nightlife. Near Batsi you can find small bays of astonishing beauty like Stivari, Ayia Marina and Ayios Kyprianos. From Batsi, if we go off to the left, we come, after 14 kilometers, to the verdant village of Arnas, which is on the foothills of the island's highest mountain, Petalos (1003 m.). If we continue the asphalt road along the coast in a south-easterly direction we find next, Palaiopoli, a village which stands on the site of the ancient city of Andros. Scanty remains of the walls and the ancient harbor have survived by the coast.

fter 6 km. there is a road junction which drives to the villages of Melida, Menites and Messaria and continues until Chora. In Melida you can admire the church of the Taxiarches of the 11th century-one of the most important on the island. Menites is an extremely verdant village with beautiful tavernas situated under great plane trees with streams flowing past. In Messaria you can admire the 12th century church of the Archangels. The road finishes at Chora. From Cora, is recommended a deviation: you follow the asphalt road which climbs to the north. After 2 kilometers, this road forks. The right fork leads to Stenies, a village of sea captains and ship owners, and the left -4 kilometers on- to verdant Apikia with the famous Sariza spring. Its water, which is recommended chiefly for kidney troubles, is bottled in the village and distributed all over Greece. Its restaurants have balconies with a fine view of the green ravine.

n order to continue your tour of the island, you turn left towards Korthi a little further outside Chora. On the right, near the village of Fallika, is the oldest monastery on Andros, the Panachrantou Monastery, built in the 10th century by the emperor Nikephoros Focas. After that comes Ormos Korthiou, a picturesque fishing port with a large pebble beach. North of Korthi is the isolated Pidima tis Grias bay, with one of the finest landscapes on Andros, best approached by boat.

ow follow the road which goes direct to Gavrio and if you continue you will arrive at the road junction which straight ahead leads to Gavrio and to the left to Chora. You have now completed your tour of Andros by the road.

Visit Andros now! An Aegean jewel is waiting for you!