ANDROS > OVERVIEW

Andros has been occupied since the end of the 4th Millenium B.C. and owes its name to the mythical hero, Andro, the grandson of the god Apollo. Carians, Phoenicians, Egyptians and Cretans were some of the early inhabitants of the island until the Ionian Greeks settled here just after 1000 B.C.

It is mostly a mountainous island (the highest peak is Profitis Ilias at 997m) with valleys covered in olive groves and citrus trees. Water is abundant and you can find natural springs around every corner of the island, the most important one being the Sariza Spring.

The coast line hides many impressive beaches, such Achla, Piso Gialia, Korthi, Chalkolimiona, Zarko, Agios Petros, Paraporti and Batsi. Andros has three ports, Gavro - where all the ferries stop- , Batsi and Andros (also known as Chora).

It is worth visiting the Archeological Museum where a rich collection of artifacts from all the island's periods is displayed, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Folklore and Christian Art, the Nautical Museum and the Kairios Library. The island is also famous for its almond sweets.