Andros, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Andros, the northern most island of Cyclades, resembles a mountain top with lush vegetation and volumes of water. Water gushes from marble drinking fountains and mossy springs in the hill villages. Verdant with flowers and forests in the south, with fields crossed of dry stonewalls, -xerolithies- create a scenery of natural contrasts.

General Information
Andros, the most northerly island in the Cyclades and the second largest in the group, is also among the most beautiful.
Successive ranges of mountains with steep sides, separated by gorges, riverbeds and three large valleys planted with olive trees, figs, oranges, lemons and vines through which run numerous streams go to make this a landscape which often goes beyond what we think of as typically “Cycladic”.
The mountains end as rocky cliffs or steep promontories, while at the mouths of the valleys are sandy beaches.

In the southeast is Andros or Hora, the capital of the island and its second most important harbour.
This is a most attractive town, with neo-classical mansions side-by-side with Cycladic houses, steep and narrow alleys lined with arcades, fine churches and two pretty squares in the centre of a town which will make a lasting impression.
Among the most important monuments of Hora are the castle, now ruined, and the church of Our Lady “Palatiani” within its walls.
Andros is home to many of Greece’s seamen, and interesting cultural events take place there all the year round.

Gavrio is the island’s principal harbour, on the west side of Andros. Among the interesting features in the vicinity is the tower of Agios Petros.
Special mention should be made to the ruins of an ancient city, which have survived at Paleopoli. At Zagora, to the south of Paleopoli, one of the most important Geometric temples to have been discovered anywhere in Greece has come to light.

Andros has good tourist amenities and can easily deal with the steadily increasing numbers of visitors who choose it for its natural beauties, its attractive villages, its historical monuments, its superb beaches and its medicinal springs.

Sightseeing
On the cultural side, there is an Archaeological Museum with findings from the Geometric, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, a Museum of Modern Art with works by the sculptor Michalis Tombros, and a Nautical Museum with a rich collection of ship models, photographs and ship’s instruments. All museums are located ion Hora.

Moreover, Andros has numerous interesting things to see: the church of the Archangel at Messaria, the monasteries of Zoodohos Pigi at Batsi, of St Nicholas at Apikia (which is also the site of the Sariza mineral spring), of Our Lady “Panahrantou” at Falika, and the Apano Kastro or “Tis grias to Kastro” (Upper Castle) to the north of the village of Kohilos.
The Sariza wells are natural wells where you can drink that water straight out of them. Much of the bottled water on Andros comes from here.
Menites is a lovely village to stroll around.

Beaches
Beautiful, unspoilt beaches await visitors in the northern part of Andros: Vlihada, Pirgos, Old lady's jump ("tis grias to pidima"), Vitali and Zorkos.
For party moments, visit Aghios Petros and Psili Ammos beach.
Hard road requiring a 4X4 vehicle is leading to Ahla and Vori beach on the northeast part.

There are beautiful swimming beaches at Nimborio, Paraporti, Korthi bay near Batsi, Gavrio and elsewhere. 

Things to taste & buy
Cheese pies "kaltsounia"
Almond confectionery "amygdalota"
Local dairy products "Kopanisti" cheese & pork sausage

Useful Information

(Area 373 sq. km., distance from Piraeus 89 nautical miles, distance from Rafina 36 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Rafina & Lavrio
Rafina Port Authority: +30 22940 28888, 22300
Lavrio Port Authority: +30 22920 25249, 60188

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22820
Municipal Offices: 22275
Police: 22300
Port Authority: 22250
Health Center: 22222
Archaeological Museum: 23664
Museum of Modern Art: 22650

http://www.andros.gr