Alonissos Villages photo Gallery

The Old Town dates back to the Byzantine period in history and was the original capital of the island before the houses were destroyed by the disastrous earthquake of 1965.  As with all hilltop Hora's the houses are knitted together with an intricate network of narrow paths and lanes that were originally designed to make life difficult for invading pirates.  All they manage to do now is to lead countless visiting tourists into a state of confusion as they walk up and down identical looking pathways trying to get back to where they started.

Most of the houses that are capable of being renovated have been bought by Northern Europeans who now have beautiful houses or holiday homes in this most picturesque of places.  There are a few tavernas where good food is in large supply as well as supermarkets and tourist shops.  The views from the outer areas of the Old Town are absolutely stunning and there are paths down either side to the beaches below the Hora.  Accommodation is in short supply so if you cannot get rooms in the Old Town just stay in Patitiri and visit the Old Town by taxi, bus (summer only), scooter or take Shank's Pony up the donkey track from Patitiri.

PATITIRI

Patitiri is the main port of Alonissos and also houses the bulk of the island's population.  All ferries, hydrofoils and excursion boats arrive and depart from here.  Many guide books on Greece dismiss Patitiri as an unattractive concrete sprawl which in our opinion does the town a grave injustice.  This is an impression obtained by people who only visit Greek islands superficially and never get under the skin of anywhere.  Greece is simply not only about attractive buildings and sandy beaches.  The beauty of Patitiri and the Island of Alonissos lies with the people who live there and not simply the buildings they live in.

The warmth and friendliness of the local people is in stark contrast to the events of the past 50 years which has seen their vines decimated in 1956 by phylloxera followed by the disastrous earthquake of 1965 which destroyed the houses in the old town and led to the relocation of the population by the Greek Junta to Patitiri.  If you wish to visit Patitiri simply avoid the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August which constitute the height of the tourist season on Alonissos.  Outside these times there are generally rooms to be found and for lovers of sea food the fresh local fish in any of the tavernas will satisfy your craving.  The image below shows an indication of the layout of the harbour-front in Patitiri.

VOTSI

Votsi is the closest village to Patitiri and is the second largest in terms of population and is best described as two different places in one.  To the residents it is a collection of houses and shops where they go about their everyday lives.  To visitors on the island it is a sheltered bay and harbour with a small beach and a few tavernas and bars that open during the summer months.

In the summer months the bay of Votsi is a lovely place to visit.  You can while away endless hours watching yachts and fishing boats sailing in and out of the harbour over an ice cool drink.  As with everywhere around the coast of Alonissos the water is crystal clear and invites you to take a cooling dip.

ROUSOUM YIALOS

Rousoum Yialos is the most popular beach in the area; 7 minutes walk from the centre of Patitiri and only 5 from Patitiri.  There are tavernas and rooms to let.

Rsoum (now Rousoum), means 'tax' in Turkish.  During the long period when the islands were under the rule of the Ottoman Turks, wine was shipped from this beach and all the island's taxes were collected here by the Turks.

KALAMAKIA

Kalamakia is a small fishing harbour, 12km from Patitiri and even quieter than Stenivala.  The village is quite new, with not much in the way of rooms to let and only a few tavernas.

The village is a popular for the fresh fish and lobsters served in the waterside tavernas - all owned by fishermen.

Unfortunately there is no bus to Kalamakia from Patitiri, so to get there you must either take a taxi or use your own hire car or bike.

Kalamakia and Agios Dimitrios make a good combined trip.  Kalamakia's beach is small, but you could swim at nearby Agios Dimitrios and have lunch in Kalamakia

STENI VALA

Steni Vala is a very small fishing port with a pretty harbour in a lovely setting about half-way up the island of Alonissos.  The fishing port consists of a quayside with some tavernas, a shop and a bar  The port is popular with the boating fraternity because the harbour offers good shelter from the Meltemi although the area is subject to winds from the south west and has only about one metre of water depth near the quayside.

The harbour is pretty well deserted out of the summer months but things start to ramp up along with the temperature on Alonissos.  Steni Vala is known for the above average tavernas and the quality and freshness of the fish available

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