Amorgos is a long, narrow island, the easternmost of the Cyclades, with a south-east coast of cliffs plunging into the sea. In 1988 director Luc Besson filmed The Big Blue here, making it world famous: the wreck of the Olympia, aground in Liveros bay, is still visible.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Hozoviotissa monastery | Dazzling white, wedged into a cliff 300 metres above the sea; founded in Byzantine times, visited in modest dress |
| Chora | Lanes, windmills and the crag with its Venetian castle |
| Katapola | Main port, with the remains of ancient Minoa on the hill |
| Aegiali | Second port, with a long beach and the villages of Tholaria and Langada |
| Trails | A network of old mule paths links the villages along the ridge |
The finest beaches are Agia Anna, below the monastery, Mouros, with sea caves, and Kalotaritissa in the south; boats leave for the islet of Gramvousa. Try psimeni raki, warm grape spirit with honey and spices.
Getting there
Ferries from Piraeus take 7-9 hours; Amorgos is linked to Naxos and the Small Cyclades. There is no airport: the nearest is on Naxos.
See also Naxos.