Chora of Alonissos

The Old Town, or Palio Chorio, also called Chora, Hora, Chora tis Alonissos, and Alonissos, was once the main town on the island. Until 1965 it was the island’s capital, but a strong earthquake forced its inhabitants to leave. With most of its homes half destroyed and the town uninhabited, Chora was restored by foreigners (mostly German and British), who loved it and respected its history and culture. They decided to buy the ruins and transform them into a beautiful, lively settlement. Today, 60% of its inhabitants are foreigners. They have opened restaurants, cafés, rooms for rent, and tourist shops in its narrow streets. It is small enough to be easy to explore. Especially noteworthy are the mill, the threshing floors at the edge of town, what remains of the castle, the old churches (such as Saint Dimitrios, the church of Christ, and the churches of Saint Athanasios and Saint George), the Venetian government office building, and the traditional house that is open to the public.