Chora in Alonissos

Chora (or Palia Alonissos) is an extremely cosy village with high charm factor about 3 kilometres west of Patitiri. The Sporades was hit by an earthquake in 1965, Alonissos did not get away, and large parts of Chora was destroyed. Clear traces of the earthquake are visible even today, several houses are still in ruins. (For those who wonder, only one person died, an old lady who suffered a heart attack.)

Chora in Alonissos.

Foreigners (mainly Germans and British) started to buy houses in Chora for some fifteen years ago. Since the houses in most cases were in ruins, the prices were low. Many of the houses have been restored today and Chora has slowly started to revive.

In the winter it is rather quiet and deserted in Chora, in general the foreigners only spend the summer on Alonissos. Nevertheless there is some hustle and bustle in the village during the summer months. More and more tavernas, cafes and bars have opened, and there is also some hotels and pensions.

The nicest way to approach Chora is on foot, you get a nice hike and you have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful painting that Chora is part of: snow-white houses with brick-red roofs that climbs uphill on a verdant mountain ridge that goes all the way down to the blue-green sea, in the distant you get a glimpse of the pine tree covered mountains of Skopelos.

Of course the scenery is the same if you go by bus or by car or scooter, but to slowly, slowly approach the village in silence is just a cut above. The hike is easy and goes along the old donkey path, expect 30-40 minutes. The footpath starts a bit further up on the left inland street leading from Patitiri. It is signposted.

If you drive car or scooter you may park outside the village, Chora is mostly car-free. Just like a real Chora should be. Follow the main street into the village, you will soon see an old church, there is a cosy square with a couple of inviting cafes to the right of the church. Turn left after the church to get into the actual "centre".

Soon you will reach a maze of narrow alleys with tavernas and cafes - both chic and typically Greek - and a fairly large number of souvenir shops. Parts of Chora is quite touristy, but not so annoying. At the top of the village is an old worn Kastro, from here it was easy to discover potential intruders at the time when pirates were common.

The nearest beaches are Vithisma, and Ghialia Megalos and Mourtias which you can read about here »

ACCOMMODATION IN CHORA

When I came to Alonissos for the first time, it is many years ago, there were only a few pensions in Chora. Today there are many more, some of the new hotels are really luxurious, as Althea Armonia Suites.

Althea Armonia Suites »

Book hotels in Chora here »