Place - History of Amorgos

Η Amorgos is a relatively large and elongated Cycladic island. Although its area is 121 square kilometers, larger than the nearby islands (Mykonos is 105 sq. Km and Santorini 75 sq. Km) Amorgos has a population of only 1800 people (according to the 2011 census), ie the about one tenth of the population of the above islands.

The main reason for this is the mountainous landscape and of course, the small and measured tourist development. The geophysical configuration created units of habitats, the Downside, The Inside and Pano Meria while Great Army was the road that connected Chora with Pano Meria.

Today, after the opening of the Chora-Aegiali road in 1991, Megali Strata became a unique walking path. Amorgos got its name from the plant amorgis, a kind of flax from which the "aliko amorgides", tunics of Amorgos, were made. It has two natural ports, the Katapola port of Amorgos Town and Aegiali.

The inhabitants are traditionally engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. Amorgos is an ideal destination for hiking. There are paths that lead the visitor to landscapes of exceptional -calm or wild- beauty.

Most important landmark of the area is the unique architecture monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa and in modern times the most important time milestone is in 1988 when the island gained fame thanks to "Endless blue", a film by Lic Besson whose scenes were shot in the blue waters of Agia Anna, under the wild rocks of Hozoviotissa and made the island sought after mainly by French travelers.

Historically in Amorgos we find traces of human presence from the end of the 4th millennium BC. In ancient times Amorgos became one of the most important centers of Cycladic culture. Minoa, Arkesini, Tholaria, Aegiali, were in antiquity the most important cities of the island. In Roman times it was a place of exile, something that continued from time to time until the 20th century when during the seven years of the Greek junta (1967-1974) democrats who opposed the junta of the colonels were exiled to Amorgos, including the businessman Vardis Vardinogiannis.

After the revolution of 1821, Amorgos was integrated into the newly formed Greek state, in fact an inscription on the school states that - the school - was founded on 21/6/1826 with money from the Holy Monastery of Hozoviotissa, which proves that in Amorgos operated one of the first schools of free Greece.

Amorgos is today a Cycladic island untouched by mass tourism, where you will find impressive monasteries and many chapels scattered in the Amorgian countryside, untouched by building development, authentic villages, beautiful cafes, old trails, a dynamic livestock and people with a smile on their face, who sing, party and participate in dozens of local festivals and holidays.

The "good morning" in Amorgos is called accompanied by roasted raki, in cafes they serve rakomela and at the first opportunity set up improvised music parties, in the taverns they serve local food, while in the countryside the air smells of thyme, fennel and sage, the whitened small churches shimmer in the light of the Aegean.

The kids carelessly follow their daily paths on the mountain slopes or in the middle of the roads, while in legendary Amorgian festivals This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet. potato It is cooked in 300 kg cauldrons and the scales of the violin and the lute play "My Amorgian perama you have a good morning" or "I tell you it is beautiful when it hunts in the Aegean" or "Amorgian is the water Amorgian and the fountain, Amorgian is also a girl who is going to fill up ”.

We left as a last comment a personal assessment. Amorgos is not easy, it does not have glaring beauties, endless beaches attractive for water sports. Her landscape has one unique energy, for those who perceive it and its people are proud for their place, after all, "the guards have knowledge" of the island.

The island is not endangered by modern dangers, it does not raise it lightness of mainstream and frivolous trends. Because the wild Amorgos  tames the "civilized" people.

Amorgos is an idea, is something unique, as unique was "Amorgos", the (unique) poetry collection of Nikos Gatsos that was presented in 1943, so without having a special relationship with the island. And from this collection I choose five verses - and a photo full of coolness, joy and innocence - that express my feelings for this island:

"I only know how much I loved you,

I who once touched you with the eyes of the checker

and with the mane of the moon I hugged you

and we danced through the summer plains,

on the harvested reed ".