The Postcard Race Round #4
June in Aigiali, Amorgos
Anecdotes about Amorgos
Greek Islands; over 6000 of them, dot the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Sea but only 227 are inhabited. 39 islands, (24 inhabited), make up The Cyclades, the most famous of all Greek Islands including Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Folegandros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros and Tinos.
Amorgos is the island is where the French filmmaker, Luc Besson, shot some scenes of his famous film, The Big Blue; including the opening scene on the quay at Aigiali. Because art influences life, a large part of tourism on the island is French.
Amorgos, the most easterly of the Cycladic Islands, is a narrow island about 40km long. It consists of bare, precipitous cliffs rising lonely and eerie. Although in the middle of the open sea, it literally obscures the horizon to the traveller coming from the west, as if blocking any sailing beyond its’ boundary, giving the newcomer the impression that the end of the world must be somewhere near.
According to ancient mythology, King Minos of Crete ruled a second kingdom on Amorgos, where remains of the ancient Minoan civilization have been found. The remains of 3 ancient fifth century BC cities are on the island: Minoa, Akro Kastri and Vigla. The King’s summer residence was said to be at the site of Minoa.
The extraordinary Monastery of Hozoviotissa (pride of Amorgos) is built on a steep cliff, visible only from the sea. Legend tells that during the Iconoclastic period, a woman from Chotziva, Palestine placed an icon of the Virgin Mary in a boat that arrived in Amorgos. The inhabitants decided to build the Monastery high on the rock where the iron "chisel" of the master builder was found, a sign from the Virgin Mary.
Amorgos has two ports, Katapola and Aigiali. The capital of the island Chora, is way up on the Profitis Ilias Mountain, unseen from the sea, protecting it from pirates. Pirates have ravaged the islands many times throughout history and because of its perfect location; the pirates not only raided but also settled and used Katapola as a base.
A delicious drink from an ancient recipe; The Amorgian Rakomelo, is the traditional liquor of Amorgos: raki distilled from grapes, local honey, cinnamon and cloves makes it a must after dinner, they say to serve chilled but great at room temperature too!
Electricity arrived in Aigiali in the early 80’s and the quay to receive ferries was built in 1982. A road linking the Island’s two ports; Aigiali and Katapola with Chora, the capital, was only completed in 1998. Before that transportation was by boat or on the vast network of ancient footpaths linking all the villages.
Greek Independence (1821) improved security and conditions for Amorgos. At that time the island was self-sufficient and exported many products including wine, olive oil, honey, herbs, cotton, silk, timber and tobacco. Signs of terraced fields are everywhere. These days, Amorgos has a population of 2000 people, with numbers growing considerably in summer. Most things are imported to the island now, BUT signs of local production are increasing.
On Amorgos the summer is hot, with the cooling “meltemia” (north winds) coming in August.
1 comment:
We got our postcard! Hooray! The date is July 7th, just 20 days after the mailing. Are we the first Canadian winner? The first Vancouver winner? Why is there only one prize?
Oh yeah, the postcard says "The extraordinary Monastery of Hozoviotissa (pride of Amorgos) is built...blah, blah, blah...a sign from the Virgin Mary."
Just so you don't think I'm cheating.
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