Guided Tour of Chora traditional village, Kythnos

Tour of the Country

In the Northern and Central parts of the island is the largest settlement and capital of Kythnos, Chora, or Messaria. Before 1537, Messaria was a small agricultural settlement. That year the infamous pirate Barbarossa attacked the island forcing the Frankish lords to leave the Castle of Oria and move inland and specifically to the settlement of Messaria.

The tour of Chora reveals the tradition of the Cyclades which is reflected in the picturesque cobblestones, the countless churches, the whitewashed stone houses with tiled roofs and the windows with the Cycladic colors, the shady stadia (porticoes) of the settlement and the musk-scented flower gardens.

Finally, don't miss the walk in the lively market of the settlement which includes traditional folk art shops, taverns, cafes, and bars.

Activity

We follow the path that leads to the entrance of the settlement. Before we enter Chora, 4 wind turbines can be seen in the background, which is the first wind park in Europe, built in 1986.

Continuing the hike, and entering the settlement we meet the Catholic Church. The Katholiko was a church during the Venetian rule in which the mass was held, i.e. the simultaneous liturgy in both the Catholic and the Orthodox ways. Today it is an open-air museum with great finds from Vryokastro, the ancient capital of the island.

Our walking tour concludes with a tour of the traditional mansions, arcades, and whitewashed alleys of the Town.

Characteristics

• Meeting point: By arrangement
• Start time: 09:00pm
• Implementation period: All year round (after consultation)
• Route length: 2 km
• Route type: Circular
• Activity time with breaks: about 2 hours
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Suitability: Suitable for all / Relatively good physical condition required

General information:

• There are no altitude differences and the entire route is within the settlement.
• A minimum of 4 participants is required for the implementation of the activity. In the event that the required number of participants is not reached or due to adverse weather conditions or technical difficulties, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel the activity.