Tag: Kastro

A teasing glimpse of Korthi

Korthi Bay and the village of Ormos Korthiou are seen in a photo from the Andros travel and information website Island Andros.

Quick peek: Have you ever experienced that nagging feeling, while travelling from one scheduled holiday destination to the next, that you’re missing out on some really worthwhile sights and attractions you simply don’t have time to stop and visit along the way? We certainly did during our trip to Andros last spring.

After spending 3 nights in Andros Town at the beginning of our vacation, it was time to move on. Our friends had to return to Athens, and they agreed to drop us off at our next stop — a hotel near the resort area of Batsi, on the northwest coast of Andros — while they drove to Gavrio port to catch their ferry back to the mainland.

So that we could all see a little more of Andros during the drive, we avoided the most direct highway route from Andros Town to Batsi and detoured to the south, following a highway that winds through the island’s Korthi region. The plan was to stop at the fishing harbour and seaside village of Ormos Korthiou to have a coffee before resuming the drive to Batsi.

Click here or on the link under the next photo to turn to page 2 of this post, where you can continue reading about Korthi and view more pictures of some of its top attractions.

One of the iconic sights we didn’t get to see in Korthi was Tis Grias to Pidima beach (also called Old Lady’s Leap), shown in this photo from airbnb.gr. Pictures of the sandy beach and its towering stone pillar can be found on scores of postcards, websites and travel publications for Andros.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

December 16, 2015
A colourful lane on the Kastro hillside on Milos

Pots of pink and red geraniums add pops of colour to a blue-painted footpath on the Kastro hillside above Plaka village on Milos island. This is only one of many impressive sights visitors will encounter while hiking the steep footpath from Plaka to Kastro. The spectacular panoramic views from the Kastro mountain peak, especially at sunset, are a “must-see” attraction on Milos.

That’s me at the blue lane during our climb to Kastro for sunset

Pink geraniums in a white pot beside the blue lane

You’ll pass the lane partway up the path to Kastro. It’s a pretty place to stop and catch your breath before climbing the rest of the steep steps to the mountaintop.

A wall-mounted planter brings the lane’s blue theme to eye level

The lane bathes in the golden glow of the slowly-setting sun

The Gulf of Milos and mountains on the west side of the gulf are visible from the end of the lane …

… as you can see from this shot, taken facing toward the west and looking down the steps we have climbed so far

We saw this cat sitting in the lane during our first visit to Milos back in 2007

March 27, 2014
A captivating view of Kastro village on Sifnos

One of the most memorable moments of our trip to Sifnos happened while we were hiking down the valley below Apollonia, and Kastro village suddenly came into view. The centuries-old settlement perched on a cliff high above the sea was one of the most exhilarating and breathtaking sights we have ever seen while walking in Greece. Built between the 14th and 18th Centuries, Kastro was the capital of Sifnos during the medieval period. It’s a must-see if you ever visit the island.

February 11, 2014
Greece holiday pics of the day

A sign on a narrow street in Chora points the way to Astipalea’s Kastro, below

October 25, 2012
Greece holiday pic of the day

The Venetian-era Kastro (castle) towers above the whitewashed houses of Chora in this view from the Livadi district of Astipalea island

June 11, 2012
Greece holiday pic of the day

A blue-domed church and the tall stone walls of the medieval-era Kastro command attention from the mountaintop above Chora village on Astipalea

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March 5, 2012
Greece holiday pic of the day

Approaching the hilltop village of Kastro on Sifnos. In medieval times, Kastro was the capital of the charming Cycladic island.

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March 4, 2012
Greece is: Spectacular scenery. Beautiful beaches. Charming villages. Stunning sunsets. Historic ruins. Picturesque churches. Amazing Athens. And more…

The imposing Kastro (castle) towers above whitewashed mountainside houses in Chora, the main village on Astipalea island

Look familiar? This blue-domed Church in Firostefani village on Santorini has been pictured on countless postcards, posters, travel brochures and websites.

Sunbeds at popular Elia Beach on Mykonos overlook the sparkling Aegean Sea

Spectacular cliff scenery on the north side of Folegandros island

The Panagia Church on Folegandros sits high above the island`s main village, Chora

Syrmata (fishermens houses) in the seaside village of Klima on Milos

A Cycladic-style house overlooking Agios Prokopios beach on Naxos

The Venetian fortress next to the old harbour at Iraklion on Crete

No sandy beach? No worries! In the Greek Islands, there’s literally thousands of miles of coastline with secluded coves and inlets…

…and countless more great spots to relax in the sun, fish, play or swim in the sea, like this rocky point near Kalithea Bay on Rhodes

Historic archaeological ruins on the hillside and seaside below Mt Kynthos on sacred Delos island

The “Little Venice” area of Mykonos Town is a perenially popular spot for tourists to enjoy a cocktail while watching a spectacular sunset…

…like this one, viewed from the Little Venice seaside

The Portara (Temple of Apollo) is one of the symbols of Naxos island…

…and a popular spot for tourists to visit for sunset viewing

A tourist sketches at the Knossos Palace ruins on Crete

A view over the volcano island (Nea Kameni) off Santorini at sunset

Not a soul in sight on the soft sands of Mikri Vigla beach on Naxos…

or on the soft sands of Achivadolimni Beach on Milos…

…or at Mikri Vigla beach on Naxos…

…while the people in this boat have the sparkling waters of this entire quiet bay all to themselves on Milos

Fira, the bustling main town on the immensely popular island of Santorini

The white cliffs at Kleftiko on Milos

Part of the long sandy beach at Ammoudara near Iraklion on Crete…

…and looking to the right along the same stretch of Ammoudara beach

Looking toward Mykonos Town from the northwest tip of Mykonos island

Some of the hillside hotels and houses overlooking Mykonos Town

Elia beach on Mykonos island

Beach chairs and umbrellas on Elia Beach at Mykonos

Windmills in the village of Chora on Astipalea island

The medieval castle in Rhodes Town on Rhodes

The mountainside village of Filoti on Naxos island

Going for an early morning sail on calm seas off Milos island

Chora, the mountaintop village on Astipalea island

Mountains in the distance off Vathi Bay on Samos

Naxos Town, the bustling main port town on Naxos Island

A rabbit shaped rock formation in the sea off Milos island

Platis Gialos beach on Mykonos

Temple of Apollo at the Asklepieion on Kos

Looking down on Super Paradise Beach on Mykonos

Waves crash against the rugged coast below the Chapel of Seven Martyrs on Sifnos

Amoudi Bay below the village of Oia on Santorini

Beautiful Agriolivadi Bay on Patmos

Pelicans, like these two seen waiting for a fish dinner at ever-popular Niko’s Taverna in Mykonos Town, are famous mascots of Mykonos island…

…while the incomparable Paraportiani Church is another Mykonos landmark

Seagulls trail a fishing boat as it returns to port at Egali on Amorgos

The village of Kastro on Sifnos

On Amorgos, the spectacular 900-year-old Chozoviotissa Monastery is carved into the face of a cliff, 300 meters above the sea

May 6, 2011