Amorgos

Amorgos
Why Visit
The most interesting of the villages in Amorgos island is Chora, the capital of the island, which is
situated at an altitude of 400 metres above the sea level. This is a charming village with unique
atmosphere, whitewashed houses, traditional windmills, a Venetian castle on top of a steep rock,
lovely churches, a labyrinth of narrow paved alleys and lounge nightlife.
Amorgos amazes tourists with the incredible colors of the sea water. Agia Anna and Agios Pavlos are
lovely beaches, but you will certainly find many other places to swim around the island. If you like
hiking, you should know that some really fabulous beaches can be accessed only on foot.
Apart from swimming, make sure you pay a visit to the impressive Monastery of Hozoviotissa and try
the local rakomelo. This guide of Amorgos offers all useful information about your holidays in this
gorgeous Greek island. Due to its location, Amorgos can be easily combined with vacations to
other Greek islands, such as Naxos and Ios.
History - Architecture
Cycladic Civilization
Excavations have revealed that organised life existed in Amorgos Greece from the 4th millennium
BC, at the end of the Neolithic age. During the 3rd millennium BC, Amorgos island participated in
the development of the Cycladic civilisation: settlements and cemeteries have been discovered as
well as twelve citadels. The big quantity of small works of art (ceramics, metalwork, marble idols)
found on the island show the cultural advance of the people and indicate that they were in frequent
contact with the other Cycladic islands as well as Crete. At the end of the Cycladic period, the
Cycladic civilisation in Amorgos lost its vigour due to the growth of the Cretan superiority in the
Aegean. From this time, Amorgos became an important sea trade station for the Cretans who
controlled and colonised it.
Ancient Times
During the Archaic period (7th-6th century BC), Amorgos is colonised by cities of Ionia, which gave
to the island a fast political and social development. During the Classical era (5th-4th century BC),
the tree cities of Amorgos functioned as a federation, manufacturing, trading and shipping. Amorgos
took part in the Persian Wars, especially in the Battle of Salamana in 480 BC, in which the island
used one of its ships. In 478 BC, Amorgos joined the Athenian Alliance. After that, like all the other
Cyclades, it lost its autonomy and paid a yearly tax to the Athenian state.
In 337 BC, the Macedonians dominated the Hellenic affairs: Amorgos became part of their state. The
disputes of Alexander the Great's successors brought Amorgos under the influence of the Hellenistic
State of Egypt, the Ptolemies. After the 2nd century BC, the Romans took control of Amorgos.
It was only with the decline of the Roman Empire that the three ancient cities of Amorgos lost their
strength and they were destroyed causing decay to several monuments, such as the Hellenistic
tower in Arkesini. It was in those years that Christianity was established in Amorgos and early
Christian churches made their appearance. During the Byzantine Period, the Chora was formed, in
the mountainous centre of Amorgos, to be protected from piratic invasions. In the 11th century, the
famous Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komninos.
Venetian Times
The year 1207 was important for the history of Amorgos and all Cyclades. The Gizi Venetian family
took control of Amorgos but they were quite powerless to protect the island so, during the next two
centuries, it became a permanent pirate shelter. In desperation, a lot of people left their homes and
went to safer places like Crete. Between 1200 AC and 1579 AC, the islands saw the occupation by
the Byzantines and the Venetians. From 1579 to 1821 AD, Amorgos was occupied by the Ottomans.
That time, the island became a small self-governed democracy called Amorgos Community, taxed by
the Sultan.
Recent Years
Just before the Greek Revolution, many inhabitants of Amorgos (Georgos Exarhopoulos, Antonis
Gavalas and more) had become members of the Society of Friends, a secret society who was
preparing the ground for the Greek Revolution. After the end of the Revolution, Amorgos and all the
Cyclades islands became part of the Greek State.
In 1835, the municipality of Amorgos was formed, the easternmost boundary of the New Greek State,
and had one of the first schools to function in free Greece (organised under the initiative of the
Hozoviotissa Monastery).
Museums - Archeological
The characteristic island of Amorgos is inhabited since the prehistoric times where hundreds of
finsings were discovered throughout the ages from the three ancient settlements of Aegiali, Arkesini
and Minoa, most of which can be viewed in the Archaeological Museum of the island. Of major
importance are the several treasures that were brought to light like inscriptions, statues and other
architectural parts.
The museum is housed in a beautiful venetian building, the famous Gavras Tower. Among the most
important exhibits is the marble male figure and the female trunk that depicts goddess Artemis. The
collection is enriched by several manuscripts and relics from the Archaic and Roman period. It is
worthwhile visiting it as it is the only museum in Amorgos.
Beaches
Agia Anna, Agios Pavlos, Aegiali Beach, Katapola Beach, Agioi Saranta, Agios Panteleimon, Finikes,
Fokiotrypa, Hohlakas, Kalotaritisa, Kambi, Kato Kambos, Levressos, Maltezi, Mourou, Nikouria,
Paradisia, Plakes, Psili Ammos
Religious Monasteries and Churches
Amorgos is definitely one of the most picturesque islands of the Cyclades, known for its religious
tradition. At the most peaceful spots of the island, one can see some beautiful churches and
monasteries dating from 17th to 19th century.
The 11th century Byzantine Monastery of Hozoviotissa is considered the symbol of Amorgos located
a couple of kilometers outside Chora. The monastery is literally hanging from the imposing cliffs at
an altitude of 300 meters above the sea. It is one of the most important religious monuments in
Greece and gives amazing view to the endless blue sea.
Apart from the monastery, Amorgos counts on many churches which are dedicated to Panagia
(Virgin Mary). Among them is Panagia Kastriani and Panagia Katapoliani, two old churches located
in Chora. On a fabulous location over looking the sea stands also the small chapel of Agios Georgios
Valsamitis and close to the village Kolofana is found the blue domed church Agia Paraskevi. In the
middle of the square lies the church of Agioi Pantes.
Gallery