Andros Island Things to Do

The Cavo Doro straits between Andros and Euboea are still an important passage for ship traffic between the Bosphorus and other parts of the Med. Old maps show a "Guardia" location, where the third (in order of assumed importance) of the island's Venetian fortresses stands (in a rather miserable condition today).

In Greek it is called Pyrgaki (little tower) and it is next to a small but quiet beach, partly sandy, accessible via largely (good) dirt road. No nearby eating places so do bring along stuff for picnic!

Didn't find a way to get to the "little tower" itself. You can certainly see it from below while swimming.

Nearby you can see the Fassa lighthouse (active and pretty), the contemporary "guardian" on the Andros side.

There is no surface water flowing in this small valley near Kaparia but nevertheless, water is flowing discreetly underground and brings enough moisture for growing oleander and tamaris, even willows with the grayish foliage (Salix cinerea, grey willow),

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Most of the dovecots stand in the south, between Kaparia and Korthi. While dovecots in neighboring Tinos are famous, those in Andros are little known. In both islands, they were introduced by the Venetians. They are always square towers 5-6 meters high. Small turrets stand on each corner. The openings are made with thin slates that draw various geometrical figures.

How many are there, I do not know. I am presenting here four of them. Most often, they are not near the main road and are not easily reached.

The first photo shows a pigeon house near Kaparia with mostly triangular openings, the easiest shape to build with slates! The photo was taken with powerful telephoto lens. On the right, the other building is not a dovecot. Slates are buried inside the walls and protrude outside. Why and what for, I do not know

The second photo shows the same two buildings in their general environment.

The third photo shows the top of a pigeon house photographed near the chora, on the seaside. The design is different, with mostly triangles of various design and circular holes that seem to be the actual entrances for the birds.

Photo number 4 was taken near Korthi. It has not been recently white washed which allows to better see the structure, entirely made with thin slates, even the round openings.

I am not sure that the tower shown on photo number 5 is a dovecot as it has a very different design and no openings on two sides.

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The two photos show two different villages (or hamlets ?) in the south of the island, near Kaparia. As almost everywhere on the island, the terraces are well farmed and maintained but in this area there are more trees than cornfields. They look dark green, which means that they are not are not olive trees that would look grayish green as it is too wet for olive trees. They are mostly almond trees, lemon trees and mulberries trees.

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Andros has numerous trails, some are still in use, when they lead to houses or to farmed terraces. Others, like the one on the first photo are more or less abandoned but nevertheless should make superb treks with such a great landscape!

The second photo shows a part of dry stonewall with a standing stone that has been arranged to provide a small shelter either against the sun or against the wind. Good for a trekker!

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I took the photos of this amazing structure not far from Apothikes bay. It uses the same slates of schist as the dry stonewalls. It is 4-5 meters high and 10-15 m long. A first series of standing stones hold large horizontal slabs that hold several pillars made of dry stone themselves (except one which is a single slab). These pillars holds a second series of horizontal slabs with a dry stonewall on top.

I do not know at all what it is and I have not the slightest clue!
When was it built?
What is it designed for?
And moreover, why did I find no mention of such a special structure, neither in books nor on the web???
Help, please!

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Close to the chapel, a superb threshing floor, the best I ever seen, with standing slabs of stone around, had obviously been recently abandoned as it was still in perfect condition but had not been used for the recent harvest that had taken place a few weeks before our visit (first photo).

The second photo shows the threshing floor with the chapel in the background.

The third photo, shows a peasant threshing his corn on another threshing floor standing further away from the road.

Photo number 4 shows that he waves to say hello to the photographer.

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This holy fountain and chapel stands inland to Apothikes bay, on the roadside (first photo)

There are several stone (or concrete!) tables and benches that are most likely designed for a pilgrimage. We found that the one that were shaded were perfect for a picnic! (second photo)

The third photo shows a vaulted passage that leads to the rear part of the chapel with an old plane tree.

Photo 4 shows the rear of the chapel with a basin full of water (and mosquito larvae swimming happily!)

Photo 5 is on the side with an even older plane tree that has plenty of water to grow!

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Besides the towns and villages, the habitat is highly scattered, which means that water is easily available.

The first photo shows a white washed house standing alone on a terrace.

The second photo shows a chapel standing equally alone on another terrace.

The third photo shows a couple of houses, most probably a whole family, not really a hamlet.

The fourth photo shows a house wher parts have been added, one after the other, without any plan but when there was a need because the family increased!

Note that all the houses are freshly painted and in good condition, which is not the case in all the island, when many inhabitants have left either for Athens or for abroad.

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Andros is said to be the greenest of the Cyclades and indeed it is.

The first photo shows that though in August, some of the terraces are bright green. Sorry, I do not know what is the crop. May be Lucerne to feed the animals.

On the second photo, there are only a few green terraces (on the right) as on the others are corn fields that have been harvested but the terraces are perfectly kept.

The third photo shows a hamlet near Kaparia with another slope covered with terraces from foot to top.