According to mythology the island was named after Andros, a hero and descendant of God Apollo.  Another version supports that Andros was a General from “Minoic” Crete, who settled on the island and became its first king.

The findings that certify the existence of a prehistoric settlement on the island are very few and information for the ancient years derives mostly from mythology. In the end of the Neolithic Period (4th millennium B.C.) the important settlements were those of Strofilas on the west coast and Microgialiou on the northeast coast.

During 3000-1600 B.C. the most important organized settlement was Plaka, a naturally protected and of strategic importance settlement on the west coast. The Geometric Period (10th-8th century B.C.) was an era of great prosperity for Andros, as reflected on the fortified settlements of Zagora and Ypsili, built on the hills of the west coast.

The cultural centre of the island during the Archaic Period (7th - 6th century B.C.) is the area of Paleopolis, a settlement with a citadel and main town, fertile land and natural ports. Andros founded the colonies of Stageira, Akanthos and Argillos in Halkidiki. The island took the side of the Persians in the Persian Wars and the Athenians attempted to punish it with a military campaign. Then, it joined the first Athenian Alliance of Delos, helped Athens in the Peloponnesian war and in 393 B.C. became independent. During the 4th century B.C. it came under Macedonian Rule until 199 B.C. when the Romans ruled in the Aegean Sea. During the 4th-6th century A.D. it was a part of the Byzantine Empire.

The Saracen pirates were a permanent menace to the island. Between the 11th and the 12th century A.D. though, the development of silk production and clothing trade, contributed to the economic prosperity of the island.

Andros was ruled by Venice, after the fall of Constantinople in 1204 A.D. by the Franks. The Ottomans conquered the island in 1566 A.D. During the Ottoman rule the island was granted many privileges that contributed to economic prosperity. Andros, just like the rest of the Cyclades, came under the Russian rule in 1770 during the Turkish-Russian War. In 1821 the island took part in the Greek Revolution. Being part of the newly formed Greek State it developed a great shipping power.

Anios, king of Delos, son of God Apollo and Rhious, had three daughters and two sons whose names were named Andros and Mykonos. Each one of them gave its name to the island were he reigned over. Andros Island had other ancient names as well, such as Ydrousa (because of the abundance of water) and Lasia (meaning lush).

The Tower of Agios Petros was built in the Hellenistic Era (4th - 3th Century B.C.). It has a cylindrical shape and the part that remains today is almost 20m high. Around the building facilities for copper extraction are found which were in service until the beginning of the 20th century. The tower is built in a strategic position overlooking the valley of Gavrio and the sea.

The monastery of Zoodohos Pigi is the largest on Andros and, according to a tradition, it used to be a School during the Byzantine Era before becoming a monastery in 842 A.D. by Empress Theodora. It was renovated in the 16th century and again in the 20th century. In 1928 it changed into a nunnery. Hosted in the monastery is a library, an exhibition with utensils and vestments and a collection of prehistoric tools.

Palaeopolis was an ancient settlement that prospered during the Classical Era. Today it is a charming village located on the hillside of mount Petalo, at the top of which waterfalls are formed. The ancient town was almost at sea level, near the port. There is a beautiful path leading towards the sea to the ancient port and passes near ancient ruins where one can admire some ancient Christian churches, huts partly made with ancient remnants and the old wall.

Zagora peninsula can be reached after about 45’ hiking, following the path that starts from Stavropeda. The ancient Zagora (10th - 8th century B.C.) was located on a steep plateau on the Zagora peninsula. The settlement was protected by a strong wall. There is also a temple from the 8th century B.C. that operated until the Classical Era.

This castle was the largest and strongest settlement on the island, built by the Venetians on a plateau north form Korthi. Almost impregnable due to its fortification wall and difficult access, it fed a lot of rumors about its true story, as there is not enough information about its history. According to one theory, the Turks sent an old lady with her pregnant daughter to ask for help and to enter the castle. During the night she opened the gates and therefore the town was conquered. The old lady deeply regretted for her action and she committed suicide by dropping herself from a high rock into the sea. The castle took the name “castle of the old lady” (tis grias to kastro) and the beach “jump of the old lady” (tis grias to pidima).

The Museum was inaugurated in 1979 with its old wing exhibits sculptures of famous Greek artists. In 1986 the new building right opposite the old one was inaugurated, which is composed of a library, a projection room, a shop and an exhibition hall. Every summer since 1986, an exhibition is being organized here hosting important and famous artists’ works. Till nowadays there have been presented works of Greek and foreign artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Kadinsky, Giacometti, Chagall, Κlee, De Chirico, Rodin, Miro, Karagatsi, Paniaras, etc.

The Museum is operating since 1981 and its collection contains findings from the excavations in the ancient Zagora, as well as models and aero photographs. Sculptures from the Archaic and Roman era are also exhibited here, mainly coming from Paleopolis, together with inscribed plates, parts from Byzantine churches, the headless Kouroi, Hermes of Andros and the body of Goddess Artemis.

Its collection contains sculptures, statues, coins and signs found in the excavations in Paleopolis. The most important exhibits are the marble lion, the marble statuette of Artemis and a marble plate with a hymn to Goddess Isis.

The library was founded in 1987 and is housed since then in a neo-classical building in Andros Hora. It contains almost 60.000 volumes of scripts and manuscripts, a large archive about shipping tradition in Andros and other various works of art (pictures, paintings, ancient vases, statuettes and figures, etc). There is a department from which books can be lent and a fully equipped, modern workshop for bookbinding, book preservation and seminars.

CLIMATE
Andros is the northernmost island of the Cyclades and the second biggest one following Naxos. It has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and cool summers because of the August northern winds.

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 7 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).

The Area Code for Andros is: +30 22820.
If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

BY BOAT
The port of Rafina in eastern Attica is connected with the port of Gavrio in Andros and the trip lasts about 2 hours. The island is also connected with the island of Tinos and from there with other Cycladic Islands like Syros, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos.

Blue star Ferries
For accurate timetables and ticket costs please visit: www.bluestarferries.gr
Tel.: +30 210 3249 997, +30 210 3319 079, +30 211 2215502

Agoudimos Lines
For accurate timetables and ticket costs please visit: www.agoudimos-lines.com

Fast Ferries
For accurate timetables and ticket costs please visit: www.fastferries.com.gr
Tel.: +30 210 4182005, 4182163

Golden Star Ferries
For accurate timetables and ticket costs please visit: www.goldenstarferries.gr
Tel.: +30 212 222 4000

Andros Port Authority: +30 22820 22250
Rafina Port Authority Tel.: +030 22940 28888, 22940 22481, 22940 22487, 22940 22300

Tickets Rafina-Andros
Tel.: +30 22940 23561, 22940 22112, 22940 22700, 22940 24398

Tickets Andros-Rafina
Tel.: +30 22820 71222, 22820 72363, 22820 29220, 22820 71489, 22820 41198, 22820 41771

LOCAL BUSES
Local buses connect the port of Gavrio with the towns of Andros, Batsi and Korthi and with the other villages of the island.

KTEL Andros Tel.: +30 22820 22316

TAXI SERVICE
Gavrio Tel.: +30 22820 71561
Batsi Tel.: +30 22820 41081
Korthi Tel.: +30 22820 62171

RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE
The best way to discover the beauties the island of Andros has to offer is by renting a car or a motorbike. The roads though, are usually narrow, winding and not well maintained, so attention is always required.

BANKS & ATMS
In the city of Andros you can find branches of many Greek banks. Bank branches or ATMs are also found in some villages.

MONEY EXCHANGE
Banks exchange all major currencies, traveler’s cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels exchange cash and traveler’s cheques but usually charge a higher commission. Credit cards are accepted in shops and restaurants, however, in local cafes, especially in villages you will probably have to pay in cash.

POST OFFICE
The Greek post office is called ELTA. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

Andros Post Office Tel.: +30 22820 22260
Gavrio Post Office Tel.: +30 22820 71254
Batsi Post Office Tel.: +30 22820 41423
Korthi Post Office Tel.: +30 22820 61286

POLICE STATION
Andros Police Station Hora, Tel.: +30 22820 22300
Gavrio Police Station Gavrio, Tel.: +30 22820 71220
Gavrio Police Station Gavrio, Tel.: +30 22820 41204
Korthi Police Station Korthi, Tel.: +30 22820 61211

Municipality of Andros
Tel.: +30 22820 22275

Municipality of Ydrousa
Gavrio Tel.: +30 22820 71250
Batsi Tel.: +30 22820 41343

Municipality of Korthi
Tel.: +30 22820.61360, 22820.61219

• Tourist Police: 171, +30 26950 24483-4
• Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
• Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
• Andros Port Authority: +30 22820 22250
• Rafina Port Authority: +30 22940 22300 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS
International Press can be found mainly in the big settlements of the island.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• Police: 100
• Fire Department: 199
• Ambulance: 166

HEALTH
Andros Health Centre
Andros Town, Tel.: +30 22820 22222, 22820 33333, 22820 23703

PHARMACY
You can find a pharmacy in every big village on the island. Pharmacists are well-qualified to deal with the majority of minor medical complaints or to prepare prescriptions. The opening hours are listed at the front doors or in the windows of each Pharmacy. For your convenience find below an indicative list with pharmacies:

Gavrio Tel.: +30 22820 71329
Batsi Tel.: +30 22820 41541
Korthi Tel.: +30 22820 62058
Andros town Tel.: +30 22820 23203

Labriatis is an Easter traditional dish of Andros. A marinated goat is stuffed with a mixture of cheese, eggs, onions, butter, rice, spearmint, parsley and its own inwards which is first fried in a pan with olive oil. Then the goat is covered with rosemary branches and baked in the oven. The stuffing and the meat are served separately.

A mixture of crushed walnuts, breadcrumbs, peeled almonds, honey, nutmeg, clove pins, rose water and caster sugar is given the shape of little balls. The mixture is put in very thin dough which is then folded in an oblong shape and baked. When ready, caster sugar is added on top.

Potatoes are fried in a pan with sausage and pork meat. A mixture of eggs, salt, pepper, grinded cheese, oregano, spearmint is added in the pan and cooked till the mixture thickens. Then, it is turned upside down in the pan and cooked a little more, like the omelet.

In the cyclades the natural mineral water springs are generally scarce. Andros though, is famous for its pure and high quality mineral water springs. Specifically in Apikia village, water is bottled under the label “Sariza”.

Andros has a tradition in fine quality honey production which is supported by the local Apicultural Cooperative.

Syneti village in Andros has a long tradition in wine production most of which is stored and bottled by the locals for self consumption and for friends.

Andros produces special types of cheese under traditional methods:

Analati/Armexia/Petroti Cheese
Rennet is added to the milk and kept in a casserole for a day. Then put in a cloth and hanged for several hours to lose its moisture and dry. Then, a flat heavy stone is put on the top of the cloth over the night, to lose even the last residues of moisture. Should be consumed fresh, because it doesn’t contain any salt and therefore it cannot be preserved.

Volakia
Same process as the Analati, but it is being grinded, salted, shaped into small balls, put in a cheese cloth and finally left for a few days into a ventilated room.

Tyrovoli/Kalathoti
Produced like Volakia but instead of cheese cloth a small basket is used which gives its characteristic shape to the cheese.

Kopanisti
A thick and very spicy cheese made from mizithra cheese fermented three times with salt in a clay pot. The third time, a cloth soaked with vinegar is being placed over the top.

• In Andros Town (Chora), every year is organized by the Kydonios Foundation the annual music and arts festival called “Ploes”.
• In the summer at the Museum of Modern Arts an exhibition hosting works of art from important and famous, by the “Vassilis and Eliza Goulandris Foundation” is held.
• In Gavrio “Gavriotika” cultural festival is held every year during first fortnight of August, which is a celebration involving games and exhibitions. The visitors are treated with wine, kakavia (fish soup) and fourtalia (local omelet).
• In Batsi a dance exhibition is held with the participation of folk dance groups from all over Greece in September.

Usually the religious feasts, after the morning church services, are followed by traditional music, dancing, food and drink, offered at an open feast.

• On the 17th of July Agia Marina is celebrated at the homonymous monastery in Paleopolis.
•  In Korthi on the 15th of August Dormition of Virgin Mary is celebrated the.
• In Makrotantalo on the 7th of September is held a festival in the church of Ayios Sozon.
• Agios Panteleimon is celebrated at the Monastery of Panachrantos on the 27th of July in Katakilo.
• Agios Fanourios is celebrated in Ormos Korthiou on the 27th of August.

The sun is very strong in summer and especially in August. Try to avoid the direct exposure for extended periods of time, especially from 11.00 to 16.00 and should always have a hat, a T-shirt and sunscreen with you.

As in most Greek islands, you should be very careful when you drive a car or a motorbike because the roads usually are not well maintained and they are often narrow and winding.

Appicultural Cooperative of Andros
Promotion and support of local honey production methods.
Kapparia, Andros
Tel.: +30 22820 62300

Women’s Cooperative of Korthi “Agromelissa”
Traditional recipes, Promotion of standardized local products.
Ormos Korthiou, Andros
Tel.: +30 22820 62100

Women’s Agricultural Cooperative of Ydrousa “The Lady of the Aegean”
Local products and traditional homemade recipes.
Batsi, Andros
Tel.: +30 22820 41834

El Verano
Handmade Jewels, gifts
Kamara, Andros Town, Tel.: +30 22820 23669

Idiorythmo
Handmade gifts
Batsi, Tel.: +30 22820 42006

To Rodon
Accessories, clothing, gifts
Embirikou str., Andros Town