Amorgos

The island covers an area of 121,5 sq Km and stands at a distance of 138 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus. Its oblong shape and the mountainous nature form impressive steep and rocky coasts with sandy beaches.
The island is situated in the eastern part of Cyclades close to Naxos and the Dodecanese islands. It is an ideal place for vacations with easy access to Small Cyclades (Koufonisja, Donousa, etc).

• Innumerable churches with unique byzantine relics can be found all over the island, typical examples of the traditional insular architecture.
• The Venetian Castle at Chora
• The archaeological collection
• The monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa with the rare relics built into the rocks.
• The ancient town of Minoa
• Kastri at the area of the ancient city Arkesini

History

Amorgos is inhabited since 4.000 BC, as demonstrate the findings on the hill of Mountoulia, that hulks over Katapola port. The third millennium BC was extremely important for Amorgos, as Cycladic culture was spread to the island. However, early in the second millennium BC, it was influenced by the Minoan culture. During that period was created and prospered Minoa, the legendary resort of Minos, over Mountoulia hill. Afterwards the Mycenaean Culture was predominant at Amorgos, while later the island was inhabited by Naxians who established Arkessini. In the 7th century BC, Ionians from Samos came to Minoa, as well as colonists from Militos that founded Egiali. Since the 6th century BC, Amorgos gets to a phase of economic and intellectual prosperity due to its geographic position.
At Classical Age, Amorgos was a member of the Athenian League and in 337 BC the island pertained to Macedonian kingdom, maintaining close ties with the Egyptian Ptolemaic Dynasty after the dissolution of the Macedonian Empire. As a part of the Asian province of the Roman Empire, Amorgos became an exile island for eminent Roman dignitaries, but also famous for its wine and other products.
Above the foundation of the Byzantine Empire, at the island have already arrived the first Christians. The decaying of Byzantium and the pirates’ dominion in the Aegean forced the populace to move to the island’s interior until the 9th century. Two centuries later, the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa was built by the Emperor Alexios Komninos.
Later the island was conquered by Venetians and in 1537 by the Turks. The monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa was the island’s intellectual and religious centre, Amorgos prospered economically and then as a part of the independent Greek state had a populace of 3500 habitants. During its modern history, Amorgos accomplished to maintain its unique physiognomy, even though it was affected by the immigration.