ALONISSOS AND THE NATURAL LANDSCAPES

 ALONISSOS


Alonnisos (Greek: Αλόννησος), also transliterated as Alonissos or Alonisos, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. After Skiathos and Skopelos it is the third member of the Northern Sporades. It is 3 km (2 nm) E of the island of Skopelos. Alonnisos is also the name of a village on the island, as well as the municipality that encompasses the island and the village.
The village of Alonnisos is located on the southern part of the island. It is locally known as Chora. The main port of the island is located in the southeast and is called Patitiri. There is ferry and hydrofoil service from Patitiri to Volos, Agios Konstantinos, and Thessaloniki on the mainland and to the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros. The bay at the southern end of the island is also called Alonnisos.

 Blessed with rugged natural landscapes, and surrounded by small islands scattered around the archipelagos, Alónissos is an island ideal for those you want to unwind and enjoy leisure walks surrounded by pine forests, olive groves and orchards. The island is the most remote of the Northern Sporades island group, and plays host to the National Marine Park of Northern Sporades, a refuge for rare seabirds, dolphins and the Mediterranean monk seal, monachus monachus.
“Íkos”, as was named the island in antiquity, was first inhabited by Stafylos (meaning grape), the son of Dionysus and Ariadne. This myth explains the island’s strong bonds with viticulture from ancient times until today. Urns bearing the stamp “IKION” were exported all around the ancient world confirming the island’s great fame as excellent wine-producing region. According to the myth, Pileas, the father of Achilles, was buried on Alónissos. This is the reason why the island’s second name is “Achilliodromia”. Different versions of this name have survived throughout the years: “Hiliodromia”, “Liadromia”, “Diadromia”.

 Alónissos was one of the first Islands of the Aegean to be inhabited, as indicated by Neolithic settlement remnants found at the Cape of Kokkinókastro (meaning “Red Castle”). On Yioúra Island human presence was first detected in the 9th century BC, according to findings at Cyclop’s cave.

The National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades is a unique combination of land and sea Mediterranean habitats with hundreds of species of plants and animals, but also important archaeological and historical sites.
The area is of special scientific, educational and cultural interest with findings from Prehistoric, the Classical and Byzantine period (shipwrecks, old monasteries and churches).
In areas where access to general public is free, guests can become involved with the swimming, diving, observing wildlife, recreational photography and videography, visiting historic monuments, walking etc.