The Old Village of Alonissos is situated up a hill 3km away from Patitiri. It was the capital of the island until 1965, when a major earthquake forced the people to move to the port village, Patitiri. After the earthquakes many foreigners (mostly British and…Read More

The Old Village of Alonissos is situated up a hill 3km away from Patitiri. It was the capital of the island until 1965, when a major earthquake forced the people to move to the port village, Patitiri.

After the earthquakes many foreigners (mostly British and German) started to buy the old houses, and most kept the character of the village, repairing many of the old buildings.

Only a few years after the earthquake, a second disaster struck the island, as phylloxera (a grape blight). This devastated all the vineyards at late 60's. However many local people tried to replant and make their one wine from the old rootstocks that survived from the Phylloxera. You can try some of this local wine at the restaurant Astrofegia in Old Alonissos.

The location of Palia Alonissos is, I think, rivalled only by Oia on Santorini. Situated on top of a mountain, the sunsets are spectacular, and there is an ever-increasing nightlife there.

Visitors will find a number of small hotels offering traditional rooms, many small shops, and some of the best restaurants on the island.

From Patitiri, you can take the bus with its frequent timetable (but only in July and August - we arrived in June, and the bus only ran once a day). Or you can take can a taxi or the old footpath, walking approximately 30 minuts to go up and 20 minuts to come down. This is a decent walk - especially in the heat of the summer. I would not recommend the hike up with children - even the hike down is often sweaty and buggy.

During the summer time a lot of highlights are organized under the responsibility of the municipality and with the cooperation of other local unions, such as music festivals, theatre, exhibitions of photography, or painting etc. The traditional Festivals, one on 26 of July in the…Read More

During the summer time a lot of highlights are organized under the responsibility of the municipality and with the cooperation of other local unions, such as music festivals, theatre, exhibitions of photography, or painting etc. The traditional Festivals, one on 26 of July in the harbor ( Agias Paraskevis) and the next on 15 of August in the old village (Panagias) are also very exciting. Close

Patitiri is the main harbour of the island and the place you will see first when you will arrive at Alonissos. Many other journals are outdated, and describe this port as dirty and unspectacular, but since Greece's entry into the European Union, much money has…Read More

Patitiri is the main harbour of the island and the place you will see first when you will arrive at Alonissos. Many other journals are outdated, and describe this port as dirty and unspectacular, but since Greece's entry into the European Union, much money has gone into upgrading the port. Now, it is as quaint as any other island town, with a sleepy charm and lots of great harbor-side cafes.

After the earthquake of 1965, most of the local people moved from the Old Village to Patitiri. The name "Patitiri" means "winepress" in Greek because all of the winepresses and storage areas of the wine of Alonissos were in this town (check out the museum to see an example).

The majority of the hotels and shops are situated here in Patitiri. You will find also the post office, supermarkets, banks (Agrotiki and National Bank of Greece with a 24-hour cash machine available), tourist agencies, the police station, health center, etc.

From here, you can take the bus to Old Alonissos and Steni Valla, and the taxi's starting point is also here. The majority of nightlife is also here at Patitiri, with several bars and clubs.

The ancient name of Alonissos was Ikos, and on ancient maps, this is the name that is applied. Tradition holds that the Cretans, with the mythical hero Staphylos as their leader, established colonies on Peparithos and on Ikos, in the 16th century B.C. during the…Read More

The ancient name of Alonissos was Ikos, and on ancient maps, this is the name that is applied. Tradition holds that the Cretans, with the mythical hero Staphylos as their leader, established colonies on Peparithos and on Ikos, in the 16th century B.C. during the Minoan domination of the Aegean Sea.

The Minoan colony later acquired a Mycenean character. The Mycenean city stood on the site today known as Kokkinokastro, on the eastern side of the island. However, it is historically ascertained that the Geometric period finds Ikos under the domination of the Dolopes.In time the Dolopes turned into dangerous pirates and became the scourge of the Aegean. The Athenian navy later on set out to confront them, under the leadership of Cimon, who routed them and annexed all the islands to Athens. Thus, in 476 B.C. the island joins the first Athenian Alliance.

During the classical period Ikos must have contained two cities. one of them was probably located at Kokkinokastro, where ruins of the wall remain till today and the other one on the site where the Village of Hora or Old Alonissos stands today. During this period the island was renowned for its vineyards and its exceptional wine.

In 190 B.C. the island was taken by the Roman navy. After this point there is no further information on the history of Ikos until the occupation of Constantinople by the Franks in 1204 A.D.when both Constantinople and the other neighbouring islands pass in to the hands of the Venetian.

Together with Skopelos, Alonissos is occupied by successive conquerors. After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks, in 1453, the islands are turned over to the Venetians. They remained Venetian until 1538, when the Turkish navy, under the leadership of Khair-ed-Din Barbarossa, imposed Turkish authority.

During the Greek revolution of 1821 and the first years of independence of Greek Nation, Greeks from different parts of Greece took refuge on Alonissos. These people, along with the natives of the island compose the present population of Alonissos.

Steni Vala is a small fishing harbour situated 10km away from Patitiri. The village is quite old, even older than Patitiri, but keeps its traditional character. There is a small harbor (this is where the yachts dock), with quaint cafes lining the shore. A couple…Read More

Steni Vala is a small fishing harbour situated 10km away from Patitiri. The village is quite old, even older than Patitiri, but keeps its traditional character. There is a small harbor (this is where the yachts dock), with quaint cafes lining the shore. A couple of small rock-lined beaches are a short walk away, and it makes for a very nice day trip with or without children.

The town is famous for the fresh fish you will find there, and almost all of the tavernas are owned by fishermen.

A boat is needed. On a night without the moon, head to the northwest of Alonissos out of the bay Gialia and Vrisitsa in a distance of about 1 mile from the coast. A small lamp is always kept on, and lighting kalamariera is recommended…Read More

A boat is needed. On a night without the moon, head to the northwest of Alonissos out of the bay Gialia and Vrisitsa in a distance of about 1 mile from the coast. A small lamp is always kept on, and lighting kalamariera is recommended for better results.Close