Travel Guide Psara Chora - Χωρα

This is the only village and port on this rocky outcrop in the middle of the Aegean, famous for its patriotic history in the Greek War of Independence. The village was razed to the ground and then abandoned after the Ottoman massacre of 1824: today, the historic buildings date mainly from the late 19th century, when the survivors returned to live in Psara. The village's small stone houses are mostly in poor condition. However, some fine pre-1824 captain's houses remain on the Kavos overhang that closes off the harbor to the north. You'll also see the rock-engraved locations of anchors and bollards that bear witness to Psarote's rich maritime history. Even today, the few families living on the island work in the navy, with many of the men sailing around the world half the year as mechanical engineers or ship captains. Chora's maritime heritage and the history of its sacrificed population hold a special place in Greek patriotism: today, monuments to the heroes of the revolution blossom all over the sleepy town, dominated by the mass of the church of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of sailors.Chora is where all the island's activity is concentrated. Here you'll find terraced cafés along the waterfront, a bakery and a handful of grocery stores in the back alleys, and a handful of rooms to accommodate summer visitors who only come for a few weeks in August, including Psariotes immigrants to the USA who return in the summer. The whole place is very quiet, to say the least, but if you're coming in August, book your accommodation well in advance, as there are very few options. The beaches to the south and west are accessible by road, but not all are windy.