Alonissos Old Village

An earthquake in 1965 damaged the hilltop capital of Alonissos, and the state declared it unsafe and moved the population down to the new port at Patitiri, leaving the old village, Chora, empty. Most Greek villages in that position simply decay; this one was bought up cheaply through the 1970s and 1980s by foreign residents, mainly British and German, who restored the stone houses, so the village came back as something different from what it was. The result is a small, well-kept settlement of lanes and terraces at two hundred metres with a view over the sea toward Skopelos, a handful of tavernas and bars on the edge of the cliff, and almost no cars. The old church of Christos stands at the top.

What you actually see

• The restored stone houses - rebuilt after abandonment by later owners.
• The cliff terraces - taverna and bar terraces with a long sea view.
• The car-free lanes - narrow paved streets closed to traffic.
• The Christos church - the old village church at the summit.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn; the village is busiest at sunset in summer when people come up from Patitiri to eat. Winter is very quiet with few places open.

Honest expectations

The village is small and can be walked in half an hour, and it is more a place to sit than to explore. Prices at the cliff-edge terraces are high for the island. The uphill walk from the port is steep, so most people take the bus or a taxi.

Nearby

Patitiri port lies below; the National Marine Park boats leave from the harbour.