Andros - das unberührte Tor zu den Kykladen

The Cyclades have been described as the most beautiful islands in the world. Unfortunately, some of them are quite busy. Let us take you to a little island secret, not far from Athens..

Andros is geographically one of the closest islands to Athens, which makes it the perfect weekend getaway for real Athenians. It hasn’t been affected much by the mass tourism, managing to keep its laid-back, unspoiled vibe which makes it an ideal fit for Grekaventura trips. In comparison to other cycladic islands, it has a lush vegetation and a scenic natural landscape with mountains and an abundance of natural resources, mainly fresh water.

The island’s capital, Chora, is a mixture of Venetian, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. This coexistance of different styles creates noble mansions and neoclassical buildings which live in harmony with the modern part of the town. The architectural beauty stems from the islanders’ love for the sea, as these mansions used to belong to the local sailors and captains. One must know, that the history of Andros is very nautical. Despite the largely agricultural community, Andros has a very lengthy and prosperous shipping history, which has brought generational wealth to the island. This made it possible for its population to afford the luxury of sustaining itself without the burden of heavily relying on tourism. As a result, there are no large hotels and hardly any souvenir shops to be found.

What Andros has, indeed is paradise-like beaches. From organized ones to barely untouched spots, Andros beaches are a passpartout. Batsi and the Golden Sand belong to the most popular ones, Vlychada and Halkolimnionas to the untouched places, but go and explore for yourself.

Moreover, Andros is, without a doubt, an island of culture and art. Another little secret is, that many Andriots excelled in literature and arts, with greater examples like that of poet Andreas Embirikos or Theophilos Kairis, one of the greatest Greek intellectuals of the 19th century. The art is also confined in the many museums. Just to name a few: the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation’s Museum houses the modern art collection of Basil Goulandris, a descendant of one of Andros’ most prominent shipping families. Another exhibition worth a visit is the Andros Maritime Museum, where visitors are welcomed to gaze at historical pieces and information from Andros’ maritime history. Besides the museums, Andros itself still pertains its rich cultural tradition. Every summer, it hosts numerous events that attract thousands of visitors, while the island itelf becomes a museum.

Finally, since 2015 the island is also home of the “Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe”. This label hides a system of criteria that takes care of the needs of hikers and thereby guarantees a high standard. The network called One Foot Forward Travel consists of people and enterprises who love nature, look at life holistically and promote responsible eco-tourism. No wonder, Grekaventura cooperates closely with Ariana, the key person of this network.

Talking about certified hiking trails. Feel your senses lighten up, during your activities in Andros. Witness chestnut trees, walnuts, planes and oaks and rest in their granted, well-deserved shade. Taste the mulberries growing next to the trail, feel the olives from the olive trees besides you between your fingers and smell the aromas of aromatic thyme and sage along the way. The natural beauty of this verdant island is divine and this natural paradise will make you fall in love with it easily.

What else can we say, other than: congratulations, you have finally found a truly Greek island.