Gavrio Andros

The Gavrio village, we find it in the northwestern part of Andros about thirty kilometers from the capital Chora.

It is part of the municipality of Hydroussa and is the only port that connects the island with the port of Rafina second seaport of Athens and the Tinos island and Mykonos. Located in a closed bay protected from north winds, it was originally a simple fishing village but since the sixties due to its position and the fact that it is not exposed to gusts of wind it has been transformed into the main sea landing in the past, on the other hand, Chora was the capital of the island in the east.

It is located very close to the Batsi town the best known of the whole Andros island and the Gavrionissia island. The Gavrio village with about a thousand inhabitants all year round, has all the comforts a guest can look for, from bars to cafes to typical taverns, from the most refined restaurants to accommodation facilities such as hotels or guest houses. It must be remembered that the island of Andros is much loved by the Athenians who move almost en masse for the weekend for a couple of days of sea and relaxation.

In addition to wandering through the narrow streets of the village in search of the perfect souvenir or an ouzeria where you can taste local delicacies accompanied by a fresh glass of the Greek national liqueur, the Gavrio village boasts excellent monuments such as the Agios Petros Tower.

Right in a dominant position on the hill with a view of the bay, the Agios Petros Tower of the Hellenistic period IV-III century BC had the function of watching over the sea and the land to prevent sudden attacks by pirates and allow the population to get to safety. From the cylindrical shape with a height of twenty meters and a width of ten made of local slate, the tower is quite well preserved and inside it has a spiral staircase that leads to its five internal floors. All around the copper mines of which the island of Andros was very rich operating until the beginning of the century. It can be reached up to a certain point by car, and then with a walk you reach the summit where the view is infinite over the Aegean to the coast of Attica.

Near the town of Gavrio there are picturesque villages such as that of Fellos, Makrotantalos, Amolochos (which was the capital during the Turkish domination), Ano Agios Petros (where the majestic tower is located), Varidi and many others. In addition to picturesque villages, near Gavrio there are also beautiful beaches of fine sand such as Kyrpi Ammos beach, Chirssi Ammos beach also called Golden Beach and Agios Petros beach.

South of Gavrio, it is worth visiting Ano Gavrio at about six kilometers which can be done either by car or on foot through the fertile countryside and rustling waterways where it is also possible to find one of the famous dovecotes of Andros small slate buildings where doves nest, sacred animal up to Christianity which for the Greek people symbolize peace, love and tenderness.

It is very simple, if you are mechanized we recommend the car as the island is not so small, just follow the paved road that crosses the island, if you do not have a vehicle and want to travel by bus, the service is there just check the timetables of the races and keep in mind that the distances are not so small it could take even more than an hour, for example to go from Chora to the port of Gavrio.

Certainly a stop to be included in things to do in Andros, perhaps taking the opportunity to explore the beautiful coasts of the surroundings and discover a piece more of this green and fantastic island.