General information
Amorgos is still an unspoiled island where traditional customs exist in everyday life.
The breathtaking scenery is full of beautiful walks, flowers and herbs. Here you will find ancient culture, outdoor recreation and hospitality in a relaxing atmosphere.
Nature
Amorgos stretches out to a long and narrow island, length 32 km and width between 1.9-5.5 km south-east in the Cyclades. It is wild and beautiful with high mountains that falls steeply into the sea. The highest mountain “Krokellos”, 821 m, dominates the north-western part of the island. Other mountains are “Prophet Elias”, 699 m and “Korakas”, 528 m.
In the northern part of Amorgos there is a nature reserve which stretches from just outside the village of Langada all the way to the northern tip of island.
If you walk in the mountains you can find mountain crystal. In the three biggest long valleys (Aegiali, Katapola and Kalotaritissa) it is carried out a little cultivation, but mainly you will find olive groves. The mountains are covered with Juniperus, Cactus (Fragosikia) and bushes in all colours.
The first thing who hit you when you arrive on Amorgos is the scent of herbs. Amorgos is well known for it´s rich flora and many exceptional medical plants. It is said that Amorgos got its name from the flower “Amorgos”. This flower was used during the antiquity in order to produce gossamer tunic which was coloured deeply red.
The different Aromatics and medical herbs you can find is for instance mint, basil, chamomile, fennel, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage thyme and yellow gammander. The list of flowers is endless but just to mention some of them; dianthus microlepis, anemone coronaria, aguiiffhe dlegia amaliae, clematis viticella, alcea heldreichii, viola poetica, cyclamen persicum and anthemis orientalis.
In September you can enjoy many fresh fruits like figs, grapes, fragosikians fruits and pomegranates direct from the tree.
History
According to archaeological discoveries, Amorgos has been inhabited since the prehistoric era. There used to be 3 important cities on the island: Minoa, Aegiali and Arkessini. During the Roman years it was place of exile. In the Byzantine years it was included in the Province of Islands. Afterwards it passed in the sovereignty of Francs and finally in the Venice Domination. In the years that followed Amorgos had to face the pirates’ raids as well as Turkish sovereignty. It participated in the Greek Revolution in 1821 and was appended to Greece in 1832.
Still today you can go around the island and see remains from the ancient times. You can also visit the Archaeological Museum in Chora which for instance exhibit remnants of the Minoan civilisation which existed here more than 4000 years ago.
