ALONISSOS

The island of Alonissos (Greek: Αλόννησος) is a green oasis with stunning natural beaches. It is the ideal place for those who prefer a quiet location to the bustling resorts of the nearby island of Skiathos. Here, too, the rule applies that the further away from the airport, the more peaceful it is. For large travel agencies, transportation to more remote locations is complicated and expensive, so they "dump" their clients as close to an airport as possible. More remote places, such as Alonissos, are therefore visited only by more knowledgeable and independent tourists.

Significant finds from Cyclops Cave reveal the presence of humans on the neighboring island of Gioura in the 9th millennium BC.

Alonissos was one of the first inhabited islands in the Aegean Sea. In ancient times, it was known as Ikos, and according to mythology, its first inhabitant was Stafylos, son of Dionysus and Ariadne. Stafylos, along with other Minoans from Crete, settled Ikos and Peparithos (today's Skopelos) in the 16th century BC. The colony grew thanks to the cultivation of olive trees and vineyards, and this tradition has continued to this day.

Numerous shipwrecks from the Minoan to the Byzantine periods prove that the island of Alonissos was located on one of the most important sea routes in the Aegean Sea. It was part of the route taken by Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece in Colchis and, according to Homer, the route taken by the Achaean ships on their way to Troy.

During the Mycenaean period, a city was probably founded near the area of today's Kokkinokastro. At the end of the Mycenaean era, Pileus (Achilles' father) came here, determined not to leave the island until the last day of his famous life.

In 476 BC, the island of Ikos was annexed to the First Athenian Alliance after the Athenian fleet led by Cimon destroyed the Dolopes pirates who were plaguing the Aegean Sea. In the 5th century BC, the geographer Scylax described the island as having two cities. These were probably Kokkinokastro (where the ruins of ancient walls can be found today) and ancient Chora. This was a period of great prosperity for the island. Ikos was famous throughout the ancient world for its excellent wine, which was exported in amphorae bearing the inscription "ΙΚΙΟΝ". Ikos also became the base of the Athenian fleet during the war against Philip II of Macedon.

In 190 BC, the island was conquered by the Roman fleet. In 1204 AD, it was ruled by the Franks, then the Venetians (1453 AD) and the Ottomans (1538 AD). During the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and in the early years of the independent Greek state, Alonissos attracted people from the wider Greek region, who successfully formed a newly established Greek community in cooperation with the local population.

Remains from the Middle Ages include a castle with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and narrow streets with traditional stone houses in the island's capital, Alonissos, known as Chora.

Beaches

Most of the beaches, from sandy to pebbly, are hidden in small bays surrounded by pine and olive trees in the southeastern part of the island. The northwest coast is mostly rocky and difficult to access. Among the most famous beaches on Alonissos are Agios Dimitrios, Kokkinokastro, Chrisi Milia, and Leftos Gialos.

National Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades

The National Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades is one of the largest protected marine areas in Europe and the first of two national marine parks in Greece. In addition to the marine area (approximately 2,260 km²), the park also includes many islands (Alonnisos, Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skantzoura, and Gioura) and 22 small islets.

Many caves along the coast provide an ideal environment for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) to rest, live, and reproduce. The isolation of the area, the Mediterranean climate, and minimal human intervention in the park provide an ideal environment for rare species of fauna and flora.

The park is a nature reserve for a number of terrestrial and marine species living in the Mediterranean Sea, including hundreds of plants and animals, but also remarkable archaeological and historical monuments.

Due to archaeological finds (shipwrecks, ancient monasteries, and churches) dating back to prehistoric times, the classical period, or the Byzantine Empire, this is an area of great importance.

Visitors can swim, dive, visit monuments, or watch dolphins in areas where public access is permitted. Amateur fishing is permitted in specific marine areas. Hunting is only permitted on the island of Gioura, subject to a special permit.

Alonissos Underwater Museum

The seabed surrounding Alonissos hides treasures that are now slowly and spectacularly being revealed. The pioneering underwater museum off the coast of Peristera, along with dozens of ancient and modern shipwrecks, offers unique opportunities for exciting diving adventures.

The shipwreck near the island of Peristera, at a site known as "Pethamenos" (Dead Man), is the oldest wreck in the world that can be visited. The ancient ship sank between 425 BC and 415 BC and was about 30 m long and 10 m wide. It carried 4,200 amphorae, of which approximately 3,000 were intact, weighing approximately 126 tons. The amphorae were filled with wine from Mende (Chalkidiki), Skopelos (ancient Peparithos), and Alonissos (ancient Ikos). In addition to amphorae, the ship carried black-glazed cups, plates, and bronze utensils.

In the lowest layers, 82 small pieces of wood were found, providing the first evidence of the ship's construction. Fourteen of these pieces were wooden pegs about 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) in diameter, inside which were large copper nails.

The ship's enormous displacement of over 120 tons astonished the scientific community, as it greatly exceeded previous estimates of ancient Greece's shipbuilding capabilities.

The wreck was discovered in 1985 by local fisherman Dimitis Mavrikis. The Ephorate of Marine Antiquities examined it in the summers of 1992 and 1993. Underwater excavations and highlighting amphorae at a depth of 20-30 meters were a challenge for the archaeological community, as they required different procedures than a regular museum.

In 2020, Greece's first underwater archaeological museum was officially opened.

Who can visit the Underwater Museum?

The underwater museum in Alonissos can be visited by certified AOWD (Advanced Open Water Diver) divers with diving equipment. It is located at a depth of 21-27 meters. Divers can carry a tablet that provides information about archaeological finds.

Those who have no diving experience can admire the underwater exhibits with the help of digital 3D technology at the museum in Chora. The museum offers a unique virtual diving experience with 3D augmented reality glasses. The information center is open to the public daily with free admission.

You can also watch five underwater cameras broadcasting live footage 24 hours a day at Undersea Vision Surveillance System.