Amorgós

Area of island: 130 sq. km/50 sq. mi

Amorgós is a bare, rocky, mountainous island 33 km/22 mi long by 2-6.5km/1.25-4 mi across. The southeast coast mostly falls steeply down to the sea; the northwest coast is gentler, with two deep bays, the sheltered Katápola Bay to the southwest, with the island's principal harbor, and Aiyiáli Bay to the northwest.

Picture - Old gate on the island of Amorgos.

View a slideshow of Amorgos Pictures

The islanders - declining in numbers as a result of emigration - live by farming and fishing.

The remains of several ancient towns, extensive cemeteries, finds of coins, and rock inscriptions show that in Minoan and Hellenistic times Amorgós was an important port of call on the sea route between Melos and the southeastern Aegean. In Roman times a place of exile, and in later centuries much harried by pirates, the island has never been a place of any economic or political importance, and as a result has remained largely unspoiled. In recent years, however, this very beautiful island has increasingly suffered from the visitations of large numbers of backpackers.

Related Attractions

Amorgos Town, Greece

The chief place on the island of Amorgós is Amorgós (Khóra). It lies on a hill, its typical white Cycladic houses, its many barrel-vaulted family churches and windmills huddling round a ruined 13th century Venetian castle on the hilltop. A number of ancient reliefs can be seen built into house walls.

Amorgos Archeological Museum

The Amorgos Archeological Museum has a unique collection of finds from all over the island. It is well worth a visit.

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Monastery of Panayía Khozoviótissa

From the town of Amorgós, it is a 30-minute walk (or donkey ride) to the little Byzantine monastery of Panayía Khozoviótissa (founded 1088), built into a recess in a sheer rock face 1,204ft/367m above sea level. From the lower terrace there are fine views of the sea.

Katapola & Minoas, Greece

Four km/2.5mi west of Amorgós Khóra is the port of Katápola. At the south end of the bay, on the hill of Mountiliá, are the remains of the ancient town of Minoas, believed to have been founded by Cretans in the second millennium B.C.

Katapola is the location of the interesting church of Our Lady Katapoliani, built on the site of a temple of Apollo.

Kastri, Greece

On the southern tip of the island of Amorgós, at Kastrí near the pretty village of Arkesíni, are the remains of a town which was inhabited from Mycenaean to Roman times.

Mt Krikelo

Near the north end of the island of Amorgós, in Aiyiáli Bay, are remains of a settlement founded by Milesians. From here Mt Kríkelo (2,710ft/826m), the island's highest peak, can be climbed.

Egiali, Greece

The second port of Amorgos, Egiali is a pretty village consisting of three distinct quarters and famed for its superb sandy beaches. It is easier to reach Egiali by sea than along the poor and steep road linking it to Khora.

Surroundings

Levita Islands

The Levíta group of islands, northeast of Amorgós, consists of two main islands, Levíta (area five sq. km/two sq. mi; alt. 167ft/548m) and Kínaros (area nine sq. km/3-1/2 sq. mi; alt. 1,050ft/329m), and a number of small islets, mostly uninhabited. Here it is still possible to find beautiful lonely beaches.

Kéros

The small island of Keros has revealed the ruins of settlements dating to the early Cycladic period.

Finikia, Koufonissia

Koufonissia has a fine sandy beach at Finikia (Pano Koufonissi), where the water is crystal-clear. The island also has remains of buildings from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The island is located just north of Keros.