Amorgos SIGHTSEEING
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CASTLE OF HORA

PhotoThe Castle stands over the picturesque houses, reminding visitors of this land's glamorous history. It was built in 1290 by Ieremias Gizis in order to protect the locals form pirate raids. Today, the only things standing from the original building are parts of the walls and the barracks, three towers and the small chapel of Agios Georgios, at the entrance.




CHURCH OF PANAGIA KATAPOLIANI

PhotoThe church of Panagia Katapoliani is built among picturesque houses, dominating the settlement of Katapola. It was built on the position of a Proto-Christian basilica. In the same location, in ancient years, stood the temple of Apollo.




MONASTERY OF PANAGIA HOZOVIOTISSA

PhotoThe Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is built on a steep rock (300 m.), north-east of Hora. It is an imposing multistory building which was build by Alexios Komnenos in 1088 or, according to another tradition, monks from Palestine built it and Alexios Komnenos renovated it. According to tradition, the monastery's famous icon came here from Hozovo, a village in Asia Minor, when, during the iconoclasm, the Christians threw three icons into the sea in order to save them. The icon, sailing through the Aegean Sea, was found in the port of Amorgos in a boat glimming in the dark. The locals, excited by the miracle, decided to build a monastery in the port to keep the icon. For a mysterious reason, everything they would build during the day, would collapse at night. Then, a monk prayed and, suddenly, on the steep rock a nail appeared, from which a worker's bag hung. This nail, which is said to have remained in this position for 900 years, indicated the proper location for the monastery. Entering the Monastery, one can see the blazon of Sanoudos on the entrance wall, a sample of the palace's glamorous history. In the temple, one can admire the remarkable icon of the Virgin Mary with valuable offerings and a beautiful wood-carved icon stand. In a special chamber, there is a small collection of ecclesiastic heirlooms and rare manuscripts. The Monastery is celebrated on November 21st, while the icon's litany, throughout the island, takes place during Easter week.




MUSEUM OF GAVRAS'S CASTLE

PhotoGavras's castle is situated in the centre of Hora. It is an old mansion from the 18th century, a typical example of the architectural trend of that period. In its properly arranged halls is a remarkable museum with archaeological finds from the excavations that have been conducted on the island, such as sculptures, ancient vessels and inscriptions. Most of them date back to ancient years, the Hellenistic and Byzantine period.

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