Ios Island - General Information
 Ios
Island Hotels
Ios has a strong traditional Cycladic colour. Its houses, descending
the hill, have their sparkling whiteness interrupted only by belfries
and blue domes.
Today, next to the old edifices, new ones have been built, somewhat altering
the island's original character
without taking anything from its quaintness. In addition, the old settlement
has been preserved, and its two
closed cobbled squares with the fountains or "piatzes" are very
characteristic. The locals in Ios are simple people who have managed to
keep their traditions alive despite of the intrusion of modern life.
Their feasts have typical Cycladic colour and all the islanders revel
together in the two settlements of the island. There are local dances
and big tables are set where food and drinks are offered to everyone present.
How to get there:
From Piraeus (Athens Port), there are daily trips scheduled to the port
of Ios.
The distance covered is 111 nm and the trip with ordinary ferry (Piraeus-
Paros - Naxos
- Ios) lasts 7- 8 hours .
Ios Island Transportation:
There is a bus service conducting regular service from Hora to
Milopotas, to Ormos and to Agia Theodoti.
Rented caiques conduct regular journeys from Ormos to Manganari
and to all the seaside areas on the island.
Ios Island Sightseeing
HORA (Ios Town)
Hora, the island's capital, lies on its western side. It is a picturesque
town of typical Cycladic architecture with
white-washed houses, quaint chapels, narrow alleyways, mills, and stone
staircases. The town embraces the hill
on top of which stand a Venetian castle, the lovely chapel of Agios Nicholas,
and the ruins of an ancient city.
Despite the touristic development of recent years, the island has not
lost its traditional colour due to its proclamation as a preservable settlement.
In the interior of the town, there are the chapels of Agios Ioannis Prodromos,
Agii Anargiri, and Agia Ekaterini. The Ios town small Archaeological Collection
includes early-Cycladic
and Roman bas-reliefs and ceramics.
From Ios Town, one can go to the Vigla location to see the ruins of an
ancient settlement.
AGIA THEODOTI
Agia Theodoti is a small settlement for holidays at a distance of 10 km
north-west of Ios Town.
Its few houses are built next to its marvellous sandy beach. The inhabitants
of Agia Theodoti live first on fishing
and second on tourism, which has developed lately.
Near the village the ruins of a Hellenistic tower and an ancient aqueduct
have been traced.
MILOPOTAS BEACH
Milopotas is situated at a distance of 3 km south of Ios Town and is the
most touristically developed settlement
for holidays on Ios. It is a small, picturesque, seaside settlement with
a few houses built in front of a wonderful
long sandy beach, which attracts many people who go there to swim during
the summer
Ios Churches:
CHURCH OF AGIA EKATERINI
The Church of Agia Ekaterini stands in Hora (Ios Town). It is believed
to have been built on the site of an ancient town where a temple of Pythian
Apollo also stood. It is a quaint white church gleaming in the sunlight
with an austere, elegant interior
CHURCH OF AGIOS IOANNIS PRODROMOS
The quaint little church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos stands in Ios Town.
It a classical representative of Cycladic architecture with its well-kept
precinct and gleaming white colour
THE CATHEDRAL OF IOS
The Cathedral of Ios overlooks the centre of Ios Town. It is an imposing
church of large dimensions which
impresses the visitor. In its interior are beautiful icons and a wonderful
decor.
|
The Main Square of Ios lies peacefully in the center of Chora - the main
village. The village is a labyrinth of winding alleys and whitewashed
buildings. The Main Square is calm during the day and you just find it
as beautiful as it is mentioned in various travel books.
