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Andros

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, river-beds 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 center 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. On the cultural side, there is an Archaeological museum with finds 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. Andros is home to many of Greece's seamen, and interesting cultural events take place there all 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. 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. Special mention should be made of 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 have been discovered. There are excellent beaches for swimming at Nimborio, Paraporti, Korthi bay near Batsi, Gavrio, Vitali and elsewhere. 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.

The capital, Andros or Hora, which is the island's second largest port, lies on the southeastern coast. It is a most attractive little town, its Neoclassical mansions cheek-by-jowl with the characteristic island-style houses; the steep, narrow arched alleyways, beautiful churches and the two picturesque main squares all lend it an air of nobility. There are a lot of imposing mansions of ship-owners and captains. The now ruined Venetian Castle (Kastro), with the church of the Panagia Palatiani located within its walls, is one of the most important monuments in the Hora and links at the harbour entrance.

The Museum contains finds from the Geometric, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, and the Nautical Museum which houses a superb collection of model ships, photographs and nautical instruments are all well worth a visit.
In Chora you will find one of the best archaeological museums in Greece. It contains findings from Zagora in Palaiopolis, the famous statue of Hermes of Praxitelis, as well as some Byzantine items. In Chora are also the Goulandris Museum of Modern Art and the Kydoneas Foundation.

Both of these offer summer exhibitions of mostly modern, but also Byzantine art, which run from June to late September. Many internationally acclaimed modern artists' exhibitions have been held here recently, like Paul Klee's, Paul Cezanne's, works by the sculptor Michalis Tombros and many more.

In addition, the maritime museum is one of the best in the Cyclades owing to the island's maritime tradition.

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