Psara Awaits: Experience Greece’s Untouched Island Paradise

1. Its unspoilt seashores

Psara is likely one of the few Greek islands with out seaside bars, permitting guests to take pleasure in swimming in its unspoiled, calm seashores even in August. In addition to Lazareta Seashore, the place the island’s lone seaside bar might open this yr, there are numerous small coves with sand or pebble seashores for swimming. For these in search of consolation, the much less distant and extra well-liked seashores of Katsounis, Aghia Kyriaki, and Kato Yialos provide free umbrellas, sunbeds, and showers courtesy of the municipality. When you have your personal tools, head to Lakka, Psara’s largest seaside, Archontiki, and Ftelio within the west, and Limnos, Limnonaria, and Fanari close to the Kokkino lighthouse within the south.

2. Its charming village

Strolling via Psara’s alleys brings to thoughts the white, plain fantastic thing about the Cyclades, however with out the vacationer crowds. You’ll see fishermen untangling their nets, housewives getting ready greens for lunch, and kids enjoying within the streets. Cease on the village’s solely bakery and go to the captains’ homes and historic websites. A station for electrical bikes has simply been arrange, permitting guests to benefit from the village in an environmentally pleasant method. Discover the bikes on the sq. in entrance of the city corridor and lease them for simply €0.25 per ten minutes of use. For extra info, go to psara.cyclopolis.gr.

3. Its Superb Historical past

Psara, an emblem of resistance and self-sacrifice, commemorates 200 years since its destruction by the Ottomans, which impressed poets and painters corresponding to Dionysios Solomos and Nikolaos Gyzis. The island is wealthy in historical past. Monuments and objects just like the statue of the Glory of Psara, which welcomes guests on the foot of Mavri Rachi, the home of Konstantinos Kanaris, and the sword of Dimitris Papanikolis, which is displayed alongside different reveals at the Municipal Guesthouse subsequent to the Port Authority, reveal Psara’s delight in its combat for independence. E book a visit with Diana Katakouzinos at [email protected] or Tel. (+30) 22740.613.51 to discover the island’s historic buildings.

4. The Scrumptious Lobster Pasta

Lobsters are believed to like the seafloor of Psara. In the event you admire this crimson king of crustaceans, Psara stays top-of-the-line spots in Greece to eat lobster, regardless of the results of overfishing. Whether or not grilled over coals, fried with garlic sauce, or served in pasta, you possibly can’t depart Psara with out making an attempt their specialty at one of many island’s three eating places: Resalto (Tel. (+30) 22740.611.61), Aldebaran (Tel. (+30) 22740.612.00), and Spitalia (Tel. (+30) 22740.611.30). Spitalia is housed in certainly one of Psara’s most iconic buildings on Katsouni Seashore. The 18th-century construction, which initially served as a quarantine station for sailors, was transformed right into a restaurant within the Seventies by architect Aris Konstantinidis, and it’s positively price a go to.

5. Antipsara 

This little speck within the North Aegean, ten occasions smaller than Psara, is a part of the Natura 2000 community of protected areas and a very good place to watch uncommon birds. Psili Ammos is a beautiful seaside that’s considered top-of-the-line within the Mediterranean. To get to Antipsara, lease a ship from Psara and discover the little close by islands of Daskaleio, Kato Nisi, Mesiako, Nisiopoula, and extra.

You will get to Psara by ferry from Piraeus each Wednesday and Friday, in addition to from Limnia in Volissos, North Chios, each Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.