Things to do in Andros Greece
If you’re staying in the island’s only major resort of Batsi, take the time to visit the capital Andros Town on the east coast (30 kilometres south east of the port at Gavrio). It’s a delightful place with cobbled streets and an old-world elegance created by the wealth of 19th century neoclassical mansions which line the streets. The carved galleons which adorn the buildings are a legacy of the wealthy ship owners and sea captains who once lived here.
The capital is built on a long, narrow peninsula at the end of which you can see the ruins of a 13th century Venetian fortress on a small island linked to the headland by an arched bridge.
The main pedestrian street leads out towards the headland to Kairis Square where you can see a bust of local hero Theophilos Kairis who was one of the leaders in the War of Independence against the Turks (1821-1829). He was later branded a heretic for his unorthodox religious beliefs and died in a Syros prison in 1852.
The Archaeological Museum
The town benefits from some interesting museums courtesy of wealthy ship owner Vasilis Goulandris who was born on the island. The Archaeological Museum in Plateia Kairis has exhibits from the Mycenaean age through to the Roman period but the star attraction is the 2 nd century BC Hermes – a life-size marble statue found by a farmer at Palaiopolis, the ancient capital of Andros on the west coast of the island.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art has works by 20th century Greek sculptor Michael Tombros, great masters including Picasso and Matisse and a fascinating display of electromagnetic kinetic art by the pioneering and radical Greek artist Vassilakis Takis. There is also a Sculpture Museum, with more works by Tombros, and the Nautical Museum charting the town’s seafaring history.
Visit Palaioplolis
A visit to Palaiopolis is worthwhile even though most of the ancient city disappeared beneath the sea in the 4th century BC. There’s a lovely village here in a beautiful mountain setting and you can still see the site of an ancient acropolis, now occupied by an Orthodox Chapel. The marble remnants of ancient buildings and statues lie scattered near the beach.
Visit Menites
Head for the pretty village of Menites, six kilometres south west of Andros Town, to listen to the nightingales while you sit in the local taverna beside a stream. The village is famed for its marble lion’s head fountains which spurt forth cooling mountain spring water.
Trek from Mesaria
If you’re feeling energetic, make the two hour trek from Mesaria (near Menites) to the spectacular monastery of Panachrantou. The Byzantine monastery was built in 961 AD, perched 230 metres up in the mountains. Today it’s home to just three monks but attracts many of the Greek faithful who flock here to tap into the alleged healing powers of the skull of Saint Agios Panteleimon which is one of the monastery’s many religious treasures.
Hiking in Andros
Hiking from Apikia to Stenes and Gialia.
Apikia is located east of the island and only 7kn from Hora. It is approximately 350 metres above sea level and only 2 kilometres from the sea.
This small, well-heeled village has the source of the famous natural spring, Sariza and also very close to a less well known spring which is 2kms away in the grounds of Agia Irini church.
Within20 minutes’ walking distance is also the beautiful Ravine of Pithara and close by is the village of Remata which has scenic waterfalls and the large watermill.
From the village of Aprikia there is a well maintained paved path which takes you through a beautiful valley which, due to the presence of much water is green and lush.
Make sure you visit the charming sea captains’ village of Stenies and admire all the beautiful houses. This village also is the site of the old communal laundry of Pentavrisi which some of the locals still use on a regular basis.
Cross the little stone bridge of Leontos to visit the 17th century fortified tower house of Mouvelas. In the same area you are also able to visit the 19th century pasta factory that produced vast quantities of pasta right up until the 1930s and was powered by the largest vertical watermill in the Balkans.
The walk ends at one of the beautiful beaches at Yialia where you can recover in the crystal clear waters and snooze on the golden sandy beach. See the map below.
Duration about 2 hours
Hiking from Dipotamata to Pano Kastro and Korthi.
This walk that can be done in 4 hours about begins in the village of Syneti and partly follows the old road which was the main connecting road from Hora to Korthi until 1950.
Locals call this pathway the ‘stone steps’ and you will soon realise why as after around 800 metres after leaving Syneti the road separates with the main asphalt road to Korthi continuing whilst to the left a paved and well maintained path descends down to the Dipotamata gorge, an area of great natural beauty.
Take this path which quite soon will lead you to a small river that flows through the gorge with a stone bridge crossing it. Cross over this bridge into the heart of the Dipotamata gogrge and on the other side the stone steps begin to ascend up the valley again.
This narrow gorge valley begins in Exo Vouni and ends at the bay of Syneti and within it are sited 37 watermills which, up until the 1930s, were used by locals to grind their staple diet of barley.
As you ascend and come out of the gorge you will pass Pano Kastro on your left, a beautiful Venetian Castle that is well worth visiting. to get there you need to follow the dirt road and take the steps which lead up to the castle itself.
After visiting the castle, retrace your steps back down to the pathway that led you up out of the gorge and continue up it until you find yourself in the pretty village of Kochilou.
The pathway goes through the village and you should ensure you follow the signs for the footpath until you come out of the village. On exiting the village the pathway descends gently to reach Omos Korthiou,. a seaside village which is in the centre of the municipalaity of Korthi. see the map below
