Patitiri

Today, Patitiri is the island’s capital and port. Until 1965, it was the seaport of the old capital, which was then in Chora (Alonissos). Because of the disastrous earthquakes of 1965, the old Chora was deserted, and the capital was transferred to Patitiri. ‘Patitiri’ means ‘press,’ and the settlement was named after the many grape presses that existed here since antiquity. Unfortunately, the 1965 phylloxera epidemic destroyed all the vineyards in the area, so today only the name of the settlement reminds us of its past. Now, Patitiri is the marketplace for the whole island, with many accommodations, restaurants, cafés, bars, etc. The residential extension has reached the neighboring settlements of Rousoum Gialos and Votsi. From the port of Patitiri, many tour boats organize day trips in the area around the island. There are also two beaches in the bay with the harbor: one in the center, below the shops, and the other a little more to the southeast, at the entrance to the harbor.