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Alonnesus



Prefecture of Magnisias

Alonnesus and the eleven around islets, among them uninhabited ones, constitute the homonymous community of Scopelos of Magnesia prefecture.

History

The island was inhabited since the Prehistorical Times. Myceneans settled there in the 14th century. In the ClassicTimes, two towns were developed and enriched by the export of wine. In the 4th BC century, the Athenians founded on the island a naval station. Later, it was conquered by the Romans but it was given back to Athens in BC 42. In the Middle Ages, it was pillaged by the famous pirate Barbarosa. In 1538, it became island of the Ottoman Empire. The earthquake of 1965 caused great damages in Old Alonnesus or else "Chora" and many inhabitants moved in the coastal areas or emigrated.

OLD ALONNESUS OR "CHORA"

After the earthquake of 1965, that almost leveled the village, the inhabitants built a new one, near the area of Patitiri. Old Alonnesus was uninhabited for many years. The local people sold their ruined houses to foreign people (mainly Germans) who repaired them while many of them are living there permanent. Among 2,985 inhabitants of "Chora" the local people are few.

Worth seeing places:

  • Ruins of fortifications and walls, repaired by the Venetians.
  • The churches of Christ (17th century), Agios Athanasios and Agios Georgios.
  • The monastery of Agioi Anargyroi, northwards.

VOTSI

It is situated one kilometre north of the port. It is a modern touristic group of houses, in a very green area full of waters and a beautiful sandy beach .  

KOKKINOKASTRO

It is 30min way from Patitiri by sailboat. Its coast is fantastic while, there, one can get food from a cantina. Excavations made in the past on an islet, opposite Kokkinokastro, revealed many tools and petrified bones of the Middle Paleolithic Age -BC100,000 till BC33,000. These are the most ancient signs of human presence in the Aegean. One can see some of these things in Bolos`s Museum.

Worth seeing places:

  • Ruins of ancient acropolis and Venetian fortification.

MARPOUNTA

Touristic group of houses, 3km south of Patitiri. One can get there by sailboat, taxi or on foot. The whole area is very green. It is believed that in the sea area of Marpounta there are probably the ruins of temple of Aesculapius.  

PATITIRI

pictures from Patitiri

The islanders settled here after the ruin of "Chora" by the earthquakes of 1965. It is connected to Old Alonnesus by bus. Its coasts are enchanting and green dominates all around.

Worth seeing places:

  • The church of Agia Paraskevi.

STENI BALA

Touristic group of houses, where the most fishing-boats of Sporades are mooring. One can get there by sailboat from Patitiri or Botsi.  

Around islands

Gioura. On its coasts there are many caves with stalactites and stalagmites of many colors. In Gioura there are still living some wild nanny goats, looking like the "kri-kri" of Crete and Antimelos. It is 16n. m. from Alonnesus.

Kyra Panagia. This islet which is located 15n. m. from Alonnesus, has two small ports named Planetis and Agios Petros. Its few inhabitants are cattle-breeders. The monastery of Kyra-Panagia, which belongs to the monastery of Megisti Lavra of Athos, disposes guests`quarters.

Kyra Panagia

Xiro or Peristera. It is located near Alonnesus, opposite Steni Bala. Its few houses are built around the natural port, at the inmost part of Bassilikos anchorage, which looks on Alonnesus. Xiro has beautiful sandy beaches -in the port, areas of Kokkalia and Peristeri. It also has many places offered for fishing.

Skantzoura. It has beautiful coasts and small ports. Here, there are all the kinds of rock-fishes. The monastery of Evangelistria, at the north-west of the island, disposes small guests`quarters. It is located 14n. m. from Alonnesus.

Psathoura. Here, there are ruins of an ancient city, lying at the sea`s bottom, in a short distance from the port. The divers can easily dicsern the traces of its roads and houses. The ground, where the city was built, sank and the island was separated in two islets which nowadays are named Psathoura and Psathouropoula. On Psathoura there is one of the stronger light-houses in the Aegean. Mediterranean seals are living in the caves of Psathoura. It is 20n. m. from Alonnesus.

 

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