Andros Page 3

Andros Town

This island's capitol is Andros Town (Chora) with a population of over 9,000. Andros has pristine white houses, archways and churches. At Mesa Kastro, on a tiny peninsula just outside Andros Town, parts of the Venetian ramparts, towers and bridges can still be seen.

Andros Town owes its wealth to shipping. The neo-classical mansions which line the narrow spit of land upon which it rests testify to this rich heritage. Between the two world wars Andrians owned fully one-fifth of all Greek merchant ships.

What's different about Andros is the rare sense of public spiritedness these wealthy inhabitants possessed. You can see evidence of this around Andros Town. The statue of the Unknown Sailor who guards the ruins of the Venetian Castle in Platea Riva. Close by is the stone arch which is all that remains of the bridge to the Castle Mesa Kastro, which was damaged in WWII by bombs.

In Andros Town, there is a small maritime museum representing Andros involvement in shipping. There's an archaeological museum with finds from all eras and art by the sculptor Tobros. The Archeology Museum (open Tues-Sun, 8:30-3, fee) houses the Hermes Psychomorphos or Conductor of the Dead.

On the way back to the center of town from the Mesa Kastro is Panagia Theoskepasti, a chuch dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The roof for the church was delivered under miraculous circumstances involving prayers to the Virgin and a convenient storm at sea which was calmed in answer to the prayers. The church is therefore known as Theoskepasti, meaning sheltered by God.

The Riva District, where many mansions may be seen, and Andros' central square called Platea Kairis have steps leading down to Kato Kastro, the labyrinth of streets that form the medieval city. These are wedged between the two Bays of Paraporti and Emborios where sandy but windy beaches, bungalows and pensions exist. Just to the north of Platea Karis is the Archeology Museum.

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