Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

8 of the Pandánassa forms the 9
focal point of Kástro. Among
Síkinos the ruined houses is a huge Amorgós
Σίκινος marble portico. Αμοργός
The partly ruined Moní
g Aloprónia @ Síkinos Zoödóhou Pigís, fortified g Katápola & Egiáli
town n Kástro, Síkinos against pirate raids, looms @ Harbours at Katápola &
town; www.sikinos.gr Egiáli n Katápola quay;
down from the crag above www.amorgos.gr
Quiet Síkinos is one of the
Áno Horió and its church can
EXPERIENCE The Cyclades in Classical Greece as Oinoe is a private Folk Museum, and long with a few beaches.
most ruggedly beautiful
be visited in the evening.
Dramatically rugged, the small
islands in the Cyclades. Known
In medieval Áno Horió there island of Amorgós is narrow
Inhabited from as early as
which is in the family home
(winey island), it has remained
of an American expatriate.
3300 BC, its peak was during
a traditional backwater
through out history. Fish ing
the Cycladic civilization, when
It has an olive press and a
wide range of local domes tic
there were three cities: Minoa,
and farming remain the main
Arkesini and Aegiale.
and agricultural artifacts.
occupations of the 300 or so
islanders and, although there
trek south of Áno Horió, past
are some holiday homes,
Amorgós town, is a dazzling
clutch of whitewashed houses
ancient ruined Cycladic walls.
there is little mass tourism. Episkopí is a good hour’s The capital, Hóra, or
Síkinos town is divided into With Doric inscriptions and with windmills near by. Above
twin villages: Kástro and the columns it is thought to be a the town is Apáno Kástro, a
pretty and unspoiled Áno 3rd-century AD mausoleum, fortress built by the Venetian
Horió perched high up on a converted during the 7th Ghisi clan in 1260. Hóra also
ridge overlooking the sea. century to a church of Kímisi has the smallest church in
Kástro is a maze of lanes and tis Theotókou. Little remains Greece, the two-person
kafenía. At the entrance to the of the church’s monastery. Ágios Fanoúrios.
village is Platía Kástrou, where On the east coast 3 km The star attraction on the
the walls of 18th-century (2 miles) southeast of Síkinos island is the spectacular
stone mansions formed a town, the port of Aloprónia, Byzantine Moní Panagías
defensive bastion. The church also known as Skála, has a few Hozoviótissas, below Hóra
tavernas and cafés, several on the east coast, which is
places to stay (including a accessible by bus or on foot.
PICTURE PERFECT luxury hotel) and a wide The stark white monastery
Moní Panagías sandy beach that is safe for clings to the cliffs. It is a huge
Hozoviótissas children. A bit further east, fortress housing a miraculous
On Amorgós island, the sandy beach at Ágios icon of the Panagía. Founded
the gleaming fortress- Georgios is a favourite with in 1017 but renovated in 1088
like Moní Panagías locals for its golden sands, by the Byzantine Emperor
Hozoviótissas, precar- clear waters and fish taverna. Alexios I Komnenos, the mon-
iously built into a craggy as tery has a fine library with a
cliff face, is incredibly Folk Museum collec tion of ancient manu-
photogenic. Snap it as ⌂ Áno Horió, Síkinos town scripts. The best way to get
you climb the stairs. § 22860 51228 # May–Sep: around the island is on foot,
daily (normally evenings) as buses are limited. There is a
A windmill perched at the
edge of the rugged cliffs
on the island of Amorgós
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