CHOZOVIOTISSA MONASTERY
Chozoviotissa Monastery, built 1000 years ago in a cliff, 300m above sea level, to house an icon of Virgin Mary. It was renovated in 1088 by the byzantine Emperor Alexios Comnenos I, and for a certain period it served as a fortress against pirates. Its breathtaking view on the blue sparkling waters of the Aegean Sea, makes it one of the most impressive monasteries in Greece, the pride of Amorgos. Chozoviotissa Monastery celebrates on the 20 – 21 of November and a big festival takes place with visitors coming from all around Greece for this special day.
The monastery can be visited daily from 8:00 – 13:00 and from 17:00 – 19:00. Ladies are required to wear skirt and gentlemen long pants. The monks offer traditional “psimeni” raki and sweets.
AEGIALI VILLAGES
Aegiali bay is surrounded by these three traditional and authentic Aegiali Villages: Lagada, Tholaria and Potamos. All of them are accessible on foot from Aegialis Hotel and offer incredible views. One can discover the typical Greek Cycladic architecture with its narrow streets painted with flowers, blue windows, white washed houses and the traditional “kafeneio”.
AGIA ANNA
Agia Anna is the film star among Amorgos beaches. Located very near Hora, Agia Anna is a pebbled beach with deep blue waters which hosted the filming of the famous “Big Blue” movie. Although very popular spot, Agia Anna is not organized in order to keep its originality and it is an ideal place for diving and snorkeling, not recommended for young children due to its rocky surface. On foot, in a few minutes’ walk, you will also reach the nearby isolated coasts of Kambi (a nudist spot) and Sirma.
ASFONDILITIS
On the road to Chora from Aegiali, an intersection on the left leads to Asfondilitis, a deserted village on a rocky plateau. Most of the abandonned houses have been turned into stables. Before the second World War this place used to be an important agriculture place on the island. The village offers an impressive view on the south part of Amorgos and an incredibly peaceful atmosphere.
Especially knowned for the mysterious drawing that covered its stones, Asfondilitis is a place to see.
AGIOS (SAINT) GEORGIOS VALSAMITIS
This monastery is located 3 km away from Chora , on the way to Kato Meria. According to tradition, in the 8th century the iconof Saint George was found in the place and the locals built a Temple there. Valsamos or horse mint (mentha longifolia) grows there, the plant that the honoree Saint was named after. According to tradition, during the Byzantine era the monastery was female and self-administered, until it converted to monastery dependency of Chozoviotissa.
St. George can be visited daily from 8:00 – 13:00 and from 17:00 – 19:00.
ANCIENT MINOA
The remains of ancient Minoa, one of the three ancient city- states of Amorgos, are located 3km from the port of Katapola and offer an impressive view to Katapola bay. According to the archaeological findings Minoa was inhabited since the Neolithic times.The excavations brought into light the remains of a settlement from Historic times. This settlement is dated from the 11 century BC found by Samian colonists. There are no remains of buildings from geometrical times because of the constant inhabitant of the settlement. But there are remains of a marble temple from Hellenistic times built in the 3rd century BC.Ancient Minoa was inhabited till Roman times when its residents started to move towards the port until it was tottally abandoned.