Chora Tour
In the northern and central part of the island lies the largest settlement and capital of Kythnos, Chora or Messaria. Until 1537 Messaria was a small rural settlement. That year, the notorious pirate Barbarossa attacked the island forcing the Frankish rulers to leave the Castle of Oria and move to the mainland, specifically to the settlement of Messaria.
A guided tour of Chora is the perfect way to discover the Cycladic traditional architecture hidden in plain sight: picturesque cobblestone streets, countless churches whitewashed stone houses with tiled roofs, windows with Cycladic colors, beautiful arches and blooming flower gardens.
Finally, you can’t miss a stroll through the lively market of the settlement, which includes traditional folk art shops, taverns, cafes and bars.
Activity
We follow the hiking trail which leads to the entrance of the settlement. Before entering Chora, we can view in the distance 4 wind turbines, which are the first wind farm in Europe, built in 1986.
Continuing hiking, and entering the settlement we find the Katholikon. The Katholikon was a church during the Venetian domination in which in the past took place the “silitourgo”, ie the combined Catholic and Orthodox church service. Today Katholikon is an outdoor museum with great exhibits from Vryokastro, the ancient capital of the island.
Our experience finishes with a guided tour of the traditional mansions, Cycladic arches and whitewashed alleys of Chora.
Features
- Starting time: 09:00am
- Location: Upon request
- Implementation period: All year round (upon request)
- Trail distance: 3.5km
- Route type: Circular
- Activity duration with breaks: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Suitability: Suitable for all but you should be reasonably fit
Information
There is a minimum number of 4 participants required for the implementation of this outdoor activity. Experience Kythnos reserves the right to postpone or cancel the activity in case of non completion of the required number of participants. For individual bookings or for less than 4 participants please contact us to request a price.
Includes
- Guide
- Tour planning - Sightseeing
- Transfer from the exit point to entry point (if applicable)
- Photographs from the tour
- Liability insurance
- All taxes
Price
- Standard: 30€ per person
- Private: 45€ per person