Chora is the capital of Amorgos and lies 400 metres above sea level. Narrow, winding alleys, whitewashed houses and squares define the village; two hiking trails also start here. If you are considering staying overnight in Chora, you can factor both the village’s built environment and its hiking trails into your plans.
Churches and architectural features in Chora
Chora has thirty churches; most preserve renewal inscriptions on their intricately crafted marble doorframes. The texts refer to renovations and are set on parts of the buildings that are also carefully designed. In this way, the entrances become an architectural feature in their own right, alongside the places of worship. The alleys, whitewashed houses and squares provide the broader setting; the marble doorframes offer a specific detail to look at more closely.
In Vorina stands Kato Lakkos, a barrel-vaulted, arched cistern dating from the 15th century. A cistern is used to store water; a barrel vault is a vault that extends lengthwise. Kato Lakkos adds a different type of construction to the religious buildings. Its form and date give it a distinct architectural character and broaden the view of Chora’s built heritage beyond its churches. “Arched” describes the cistern’s shape, while “barrel-vaulted” describes how it is roofed; the terms distinguish two aspects of the same structure and help clarify its architectural classification.
Hiking trails and places nearby
The easy Fotodotis hiking trail starts in the northern part of Chora, in the Vorina area. Old Strata also starts in Chora and passes via the Hozoviotissa Monastery, Kapsala, Asfontilitis and Potamos on its way to Langada. The two trails therefore share a starting point but differ in their landmarks: Fotodotis is rated as easy, while Old Strata passes through several named places before reaching Langada. Check current trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.
Asfontilitis, an old rural settlement with wells, rock paintings and the Church of Saint Nicholas, lies along Old Strata. The route therefore also leads to a settlement whose features extend beyond a single building: wells and rock paintings are part of its character too. For travellers who want to take in settlements and rock art as well as churches while hiking, Asfontilitis is a specific place to visit.
The Ecclesiastical Museum is located in Hozoviotissa Monastery, outside Chora; Old Strata passes by the monastery. The monastery is therefore a route stop outside the main village and is geographically distinct from the churches in Chora. Travellers who include cultural sites in their hiking plans can take its location into account when navigating.
Discover more destinations: Vroutsis, Agkidia, Stelida, Schinoussa, Moutsouna, ApĂłllon, Glinado, Aghios Prokopios.
For the main travel overview: Naxos.
