Page 195 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

recently reopened, comprises
two well-organized storeys
of local artifacts from the
Archaic to Byzantine eras.
In the nearby Langádáki
district, the streets are so
narrow the balconies on
facing houses almost touch.
Just beyond lies Paleókastro,
the acropolis of ancient
Nísyros, dating back 2,600
years. You can safely clamber THE GEOLOGY OF NÍSYROS
up onto the massive walls via The centre of Nísyros is a dormant caldera that still vents
a broad stairway inside the sulphurous fumes, and was formed by an imploded,
still-intact gate. much taller mountain. This eruption (c 25 000 BC) was
accompanied by an expulsion of pumice, which blan­
Folklore Museum keted not only Nísryos but adjacent Tílos and parts of
⌂ Kástro # May–Sep: Kos. The caldera, 3 km (2 miles) across at its widest, now
hours vary contains two craters and five lava domes, including
Profítis Ilías, the largest such dome in Europe. These
were forced upwards around 15 000–10 000 BC. Steep
2 paths descend to the Ágios Stéfanos crater floor, where
vents let off steam at 98° C (208° F), while mud bubbles
Pálli away audibly beneath the surface.
⌂ 5 km (3 miles) SE
of Mandráki
favour of the coast during and great views over the
East of Mandráki, Pálli is a the 1950s, has excellent views caldera. The highlight is the
pretty fishing village and over the volcanic zone. The round “square” with a
yacht port with good tavernas derelict houses here are being votsalotó (pebble-mosaic
and a string of dark volcanic- bought up for restoration, and surface), which has a couple of
sand beaches. During summer, new owners often discover kafenía to enjoy it from.
the famed meltémi breeze that they have their very own Avláki, in the south of the
blows fiercely and beaches volcanic steam vent in the island, has a stunning black-
here can be littered in debris. basement. pebbled beach that is a bit
A short stroll west of Pálli The nearby village of Nikiá tricky to get to, but is well
stands the Dimotiká Loutrá has more life than Emboriós, worth the effort.
(Municipal Baths) where you
can enjoy a relaxing soak for
a small charge. Kos, Tílos,
Rhodes
Nísyros’s best sandy
beaches lie beyond Pálli, at Gialiskári Pálli
Beach
Liés, which has a summer Mandráki Nísyros
snack bar, and Pahiá Ámmos, Hohláki
where grey-pink sand and Beach Loutrá
pristine sea are a ten-minute
walk along a path beyond the Paleokastro Emboriós
final parking area. Expect Liés
Beach
naturists and rough campers.
Pahiá Ámmos is partly Pahiá
Ámmos
Profítis Ilías
protected from the summer 698 m (2,290 ft) Beach
winds that buffet other island Karaviotis
beaches. 540 m (1,772 ft) Agios Ioánnis
Ágios Stéfanos Crater Theológos
260 m (853 ft)
Nikiá
3
Emboriós and Nikiá
⌂ 9 km (6 miles) SE Agia Irini Avláki
of Mandráki
0 kilometres 2 N
High above Pálli, Emboriós, 0 miles 2
which was abandoned in
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