Page 226 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

3 Large numbers of visitors take the
Moní Panachrándou demanding hike to Moní Panachrándou
to see the skull on the saint’s annual
⌂ 12 km (7 miles) SW of festival day, which takes place in July.
Ándros town § 22820
51090 # Daily
Offering incredible views over 4 ends. Set in an oval bay,
the valley, this monastery is
Gávrio has a beach, a good
EXPERIENCE The Cyclades southwest of Ándros town. It ⌂ 18 km (11 miles) season it can be the only
Paleókastro
perched 230 m (755 ft) above
camp site and several
sea level in the mountains
tavernas. During the high
SW of Ándros town
can be reached either by a
coastal place with rooms
# Unrestricted access
2-hour steep walk from
available at short notice, as
Batsí is often pre-booked.
Standing high on a rocky
Mesariá or a 3-hour trek from
From Gávrio, it takes an
Ándros town, both of which
plateau inland is the ruined
hour or so to walk up to the
Venetian Paleókastro, which
are fairly strenuous.
The fortified monastery
island’s best-preserved
1233. Its alternative name,
was founded in 963 AD by
Nikephoros Phokas, who was built between 1207 and tower of Ágios Pétros, the
the Castle of the Old Woman,
ancient monument. Dating
had just become Byzantine commemorates a woman from the Hellenistic era, the
Emperor as a consequence who betrayed her Venetian tower stands 20 m (66 ft) high
of his liberation of Crete from overlords during the 16th in an olive grove below the
Arab occupation. It is built in century. After tricking her way hamlet of Káto Ágios Pétros.
Byzantine style and today inside the castle, she opened Its upper storeys were
houses just three monks. The the gates for the Ottoman reached by foot holds and an
church holds many treasures, Turks. Appalled by the bloody internal ladder, and its inner
such as the skull of 4th- massacre that followed, she hall was once crowned by a
century St Pandeleimon, who hurled herself off the cliffs corbelled dome. The purpose
was thought to have healing near Kórthi, 5 km (3 miles) to of the tower rem ains a
powers. Large numbers of the southeast, in rem orse. The mystery, although it may have
visitors and pilgrims make the rock from which she jumped is been built to serve as a
hike to Moní Panachrándou to known as Tis Griás to Pídima, watchtower to guard the
see the skull on the saint’s or Old Woman’s Leap. nearby mines from attack by
annual festival day, marauding pirates.
which takes Just north of Gávrio there
place in July. are good beaches beyond the
5 village of Varsamiá, which has
Gávrio two sandy coves. Fellós beach
(fine sand and pebbles com-
⌂ 32 km (20 miles) NW of bined) is the best, although it
Ándros town
has been encroached upon by
Gávrio is a pleasant enough, a few holiday villas that are
though rather character less, set inland.
port that becomes packed A turnoff from the coastal
with Athen ians heading for road, 8 km (5 miles) south of
their holiday homes on week- Gávrio, leads to the imposing
14th- century convent of
Zoödóhos Pigís, the Spring of
Life. Formerly a monastery
occupied by 1,000 monks, in
1928 it became a convent.
Only a handful of nuns now
remain but they are always
happy to show visitors their
collection of icons and
Byzantine tapestries.
The well-preserved
tower of Ágios Pétros, an
hour’s walk from Gávrio
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