View of the sandy beach from above, with pine trees, rocks and people hanging around

Alonnisos

NOW 11 °C

Next 5 days

SUN 10 °C
MON 13 °C
TUES 10 °C
WED 10 °C
THURS 7 °C

Source: National Observatory of Athens /meteo.gr

Enjoy nature in all its splendour

Blessed with rugged natural landscapes, and surrounded by small islands scattered around the Archipelago, Alonnisos is an island ideal for those of you who want to unwind and enjoy leisurely walks through pine forests, olive groves and orchards. The island is the most remote of the Northern Sporades island group, and home to the National Marine Park of Northern Sporades, a refuge for rare seabirds and the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus Monachus.

Picturesque village of the island with many fishing boats and greenish blue waters

Alonissos was one of the first Islands of the Aegean to be inhabited, as indicated by Neolithic settlement remnants found at the Cape of Kokkinokastro (meaning “Red Castle”).

Sightseeing

Upon reaching the island you will encounter Patitiri, the picturesque harbour and capital of the island with the beautiful stone-paved waterfront that took its name from the wine presses used by the locals, who were mainly occupied with wine making. Chora is the old capital of the island. A medieval castle offering sweeping views to the sea, stone houses with picture-perfect courtyards, narrow paved streets and a number of churches encapsulate the essence of a typical Greek island village. A trail from Chora leads to the church of Agioi Anargyroi, where you can enjoy a lovely walk in the dense pine forest.

At Milia, in a green idyllic location, you will find the International Academy of Homeopathy, which still keeps alive the deep-rooted and cherished tradition of folk medicine thanks to the valuable herbs that grow on the island. Sea lovers will also find on Alonnisos beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters (Megalos Mourtias, Steni Vala, Milia, Chrisi Milia, Marpounta) that promise to offer you unforgettable moments of peace and serenity.

Spend a day on a boat trip and explore the uninhabited islets around the National Marine Park:

On Gioura Islet visit the stalactite cave, inhabited since the neolithic times, that sheltered Homer’s Cyclopes. You will see a rare species of wild goat there. According to findings it’s been inhabited since the Mesolithic Era (9th-7th millennium B.C.).
Pay a visit to the 12th century monastery (a dependency of the Megisti Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos), which includes an olive press and a well-preserved flour mill, and is located on Kyra-Panagia Islet (or Pelagonissi). The islet used to be the site of ancient Alonnisos. You can also see one of the biggest natural harbours of the Mediterranean Sea, Planitis bay.
Access by boat is prohibited to Piperi Islet as it is a breeding zone of the Mediterranean monk seals and seabirds.
Don't miss the pristine sandy beaches of Ksiro (or Peristera) Islet.
On Skatzoura Islet visit the impressive Evangelistria Monastery.
Psathoura Islet is a volcanic islet dominated by its lighthouse, one of the tallest in the Aegean Sea, constructed by Frenchmen in the 19th century and the ruins of a prehistoric city on its sea bottom.

Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Alonnisos Island and mingle with the locals, who hold dearly to their customs and traditions. Throughout the summer, participate in all the festivities on offer, such as the traditional wedding on 15th August, or the harvest re-enactment in July. Savour local specialties: cheese pie, grilled figs with honey, kakavia (fish soup) and walnut pie.

And don’t forget to buy some fouskakia (traditional donuts), hamalia (triangle shaped phyllo crust sweets filled with a mixture of ground almonds, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg) and mouthwatering amygdalota (almond sweet) to offer to your beloved ones back home!

Myths and History

The very first habitant of Ikos (as the island was named in antiquity) was Stafylos (meaning grape), the son of Dionysus and Ariadne. The myth demonstrates the island’s strong bonds with viticulture from ancient times until today. In antiquity, urns were stamped with the word IKION and exported all around the ancient world, corroborating the fact that the island was a famous wine-producing region.

Alonnisos was one of the first Islands of the Aegean to be inhabited, as indicated by Neolithic settlement remnants found at the Cape of Kokkinokastro (meaning Red Castle). On Gioura Island human presence dates back to the 9th millennium BC, according to findings at the Cyclopes Cave.

The island is strategically located in the Aegean and it was from here that Argo, the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed to Kolchida to retrieve the Golden Fleece and the ships of the Greeks sailed to Troy. Numerous shipwrecks of classic and Byzantine times lying on the sea bottom confirm the naval history of the island through the ages. Travellers, like Cristoforo Buodelmonti back in 1420, recorded that the inhabitants were experienced sailors and they used various signs to guide the passing ships.