STUDIOS KILINDRA

Places To Visit

THE CASTLE

Worth Visiting

It was founded by Giovanni Querini, a Venetian official of the Duchy of Naxos, in 1413. At that time the island had been desolated due to the consecutive pirate raids. The castle was built using local ferrous rocks at the position were the ancient acropolis of the island once stood reviving the village and ensuring its survival against potential invaders. The architecture of the castle makes it very impressive even today. It only has one entrance on its southwest side which is just a low vaulted passageway. The surrounding wall of the castle leaned on reinforced house walls at several points. Those were called "xokastra" and formed a protective ring like a second line of defense around it.

Click here

Ag. Georgios

S. Giorgis

The Entrance of the Castle

entrance
Major Attractions
“Keeper of the Gate”

The Church of Panagia Portaitissa

The church of Panagia Portaitissa constitutes the religious centre of the island and the most renowned and visited spot of worship. It started being built in 1762 by Saint Anthimos from Kefalonia, who, despite the fact that he was blind, had previously built the monasteries of Zoodochos Pigi at Sikinos and of Saint George in Kastellorizo. The construction of the church lasted for nine years. The church is dedicated to Panagia Portaitissa of the Holy Monastery of Iviron. A copy of the icon of Panagia Portaitissa of this monastery at Mount Athos was brought to Astypalaia by Saint Anthimos.

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR
ARCHAEOLOGY

Museum of Astypalaia

The Astypalaia Archaeological Museum is housed in a ground-floor hall, which was granted to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture by the Ecclesiastical Charity Fund of Astypalaia in 1994. The exhibition was organized in 1995-1996 and in the following years it was improved and enriched with the special audio-visual programme (Echorama). The museum was inaugurated in September 1998.

READ MORE
In Vathy

Rock Paintings

Remarkable rock paintings were discovered in Vathy Bay dated 5000 years old. Based on the presence of other carvings, the assistant professor at the University of Ioannina, said that these paintings of 70cm length, depict oared ships, 3 of which have fish and other various drawings on their bows.

READ MORE
ARCHAEOLOGY

Infantile graveyard excavation

At the edge of Chora towards the southern part, at Kylindra, there is a big rescue excavation. The only infantile graveyard in the world was found here. A sacred place, from the Geometrical years to the Hellenistic age.Some thousands of infants buried in pots, in an outstanding archaeological and anthropological interest. Already, foreign and Greek archaeologists, as well as special scientists, are especially interested inthese unique findings so a special museum and research centre is needed on the island.

READ MORE
Translate