Chora

Chora the noble capital of Andros

Chora Village is the capital of Andros island and home to renowned captains and shipowners. This capital is different from all the others in Cyclades, due to its beauty. A stunning combination of Neoclassical houses and buildings, stoneroads, squares, picturesque alleys, beautiful churches and renowned museums is what makes Chora so unique. The village is built on a small peninsula, at the center of the island’s eastern coast, between two large sandy beaches: Neimporio and Paraporti.

Strolling around in Chora

The village of Chora is full of majestic buildings and houses of shipowners that bring to mind memories of long - distance journeys, ports and golden ages that have come to pass. 
Take a walk on the stone - laid main road of the village to get to the Unknown Sailor square, the place where the island seems to be diving into the sea. That is the exact location where the renowned 13th century venetian Castle was built and maintained, until it was destroyed by the Germans during World War 2. It is also the place where Tourlitis Lighthouse is located, a Lighthouse dating back to the 19th century. Tourlitis is, to this day, the only lighthouse in Europe built on a rock that’s into the sea. 
When you are done wandering around in the village, don’t forget to make a stop for coffee and some sweet preserves underneath the central square’s plane trees.

Chora and the nearby villages

There are plenty of picturesque villages you can visit located near Chora, like Lamyra. Lamyra is a stunning village with beautiful traditional houses, built in between the trees and Mesaria. Leivadia, a village that is built on the hillside of Gerakones mountain; Menites, where in the central square one can find taverns and traditional cafés as well as impressive lion statues with water running out of their heads and Stenies. Apoikia is a picturesque village, with lush greenery, worth visiting as it’s home to the famous Sariza springs. Near Chora’s center the villages of Aladinos, Vrachnous and Falika are located. Aladinos village has a beautiful old stone bridge and the distinctive cave of Foros. Vrachnous village is lying on top of the hills of Gerakones mountain and Falika village is small and very beautiful, built underneath the Panachrantou monastery.
In Katakaleoi village, above Apoikia village, you can enjoy an amazing view of the pelagus and the Chora of Andros. More traditional villages nearby are Strapouries, Mesathouri and Ypsilou.