Tholaria combines narrow alleys and whitewashed houses with hiking trails leading to ancient sites. This puts two kinds of discovery side by side when planning a visit: the village’s appearance and the routes to historic sites. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tholaria, you can decide whether village architecture, ancient traces or hiking should shape your stay.
Hiking Trails and Planning Your Time
The 4.5 km Melania hiking trail connects the bay of Aegiali with Lagada and Tholaria. Along the way, it passes ruins from the Early Cycladic period; the hike takes two hours. The route thus connects several places with archaeological traces along the way.
Another hiking trail leads from Tholaria to the ancient settlement of Ancient Aegiali and takes about 15 minutes. Compared with the two-hour Melania hike, this is a considerably shorter timeframe for visiting the settlement. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by the time available: a short link to a historic site or a longer hike between several places.
Mikri Vlychada beach in Tholaria can only be reached on foot via a hiking trail. If you include it, the hike is part of the access itself and therefore part of the planned activity.
Ancient Traces near Tholaria
Opposite Tholaria, the ancient settlement of Ancient Aegiali stands on the 212 m-high Vigla Hill. From there, you can enjoy a view of the Mikri-Glifada Gorge. A visit thus combines the archaeological site with a specific perspective on the landscape.
Only a few sections of wall remain at Ancient Aegiali; there are also rock carvings in the surrounding cliffs and statues from the Hellenistic period. Vigla was the acropolis of its time, and the largest sculpture from the Cycladic period was found there. The hill’s historical significance thus complements the impression made by the limited structural remains.
Alleys, Houses and Landscape
Narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, and traditional cafés and tavernas define the village’s appearance. The houses have distinctive chimneys covered with broken jars. Terraces line the surrounding slopes; the architectural scene thus extends from details on the houses to the hillside landscape.
The church of Agioi Anargyroi in Tholaria is visible from afar. It has a blue dome, two bell towers and dark red outlines. As a single building, it adds a different architectural form to the impressions of the alleys and houses.
Tholaria is surrounded by mountains rich in flowers and herbs. Together with the terraces on the surrounding slopes, the mountain landscape is another aspect of the area, alongside the houses and ancient sites.
Discover more destinations: Agkidia, Donousa, ApĂłllon, Moutsouna, Egiali, Kastraki, Melanes, GalĂni
For the overall travel guide: Naxos.
