Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Numerous “minor” churches and monasteries around Hóra contain beautiful icons
and examples of local woodcarving; almost all are locked to prevent thefts, but
key-keepers generally live nearby. Among the best are the church of
Dhiasózousa
; the
convent of
Zoödhóhou Piyís
(daily except Sat 9am-noon), and the convent of
Evangelismoú
, at the edge of Hóra (daily 9-11am).
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
HÓRA
By bus
Seven buses from Skála serve Hóra daily, from
7.30am until 7pm.
On foot
The 40min walk from Skála to Hóra follows a
beautiful old cobbled path. Don't try it in the full heat of the
day, and whatever you do, don't walk up the much longer,
switchbacking main road. To find the path, head through
Skála towards Hokhlakás, then turn left onto a lane that leads
uphill to the main road - you'll see the cobbles ahead of you.
Festivals
The best dates to visit, besides the Easter
observances, are September 25-26 (Feast of John the
Theologian) and October 20-21 (Feast of Khristodhoulos),
both featuring solemn liturgies and processions. The annual
Festival of Religious Music (late Aug/early Sept) is held in
the grounds of the Apokálypsis monastery (see p.587).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Ì
Archontariki
Hóra
T
22470 29368,
W
archontariki
-patmos.gr.
Very gorgeous B&B, concealed behind high
walls in a traditional village house that's been beautifully
converted to hold five exquisitely furnished, exceptionally
comfortable suites. As well as the lovely central courtyard,
there's a garden and roof te
rrace;
rates include a superb
breakfast. Closed Oct-Easter.
€200
Loza
Platía Loza, Hóra
T
22470 32405.
Nicely positioned
café/restaurant just below the eponymous platía, close to
the main road, where the broad terrace offers sweeping
views, and as well as hot and alcoholic drinks you can get
mezédhes for €7-8, salads and pasta dishes for under €10,
and pricier steaks.
Open for all meals daily.
Pantheon
Hóra
T
22470 31226.
The village's most
authentic restaurant, at the start of the monastery
approach. Good atmosphere and music, a lovely old interior
or terrace views over the village and friendly management
offset somewhat run-of-the-mill, pricey mezédhes.
Easter-Dec all meals daily, until late.
8
The rest of the island
Pátmos's
best beaches
are concentrated north of Skála, tucked into the startling eastern
shoreline, and accessible from side roads of the main road. Most of the island's
west-facing bays are unusable, owing to the prevailing wind and washed-up debris.
Gríkou and Pétra
Not far south of uninspiring Sapsila beach, roads converge at the sandiest part of
Gríkou
. The beach itself, far from the island's best, forms a narrow strip of hard-packed
sand, yielding to sand and gravel, then large pebbles at
Pétra
immediately south. It's
not possible to drive any further south along the coast.
Melóï and Agriolívadho
A couple of kilometres northeast of Skála, the large crescent beach at
Melóï
is handy and
quite appealing, with tamarisks behind the slender belt of sand, and good snorkelling
offshore. It's accessible by road at its southern end, which is home to a taverna. North of
Melóï,
Agriolívadho
(Agriolivádhi) is another attractive sheltered bay. Most of the beach
is pebbly gravel, but there's a reasonable amount of sand at its broad centre.
Kámbos
Hilltop
KÁMBOS
, 4km north of Skála, is the island's only other real village. Originally
built to house the wives and children of lay workers at the monastery, it's surrounded
by scattered farms.
Kámbos
beach
, 600m downhill to the east, is a strong contender for the best beach
on the island, although it fills with local kids in summer. Too deeply indented to be
seen from the rest of Pátmos, it offers peaceful sheltered swimming, along with
plentiful sunbeds, two tavernas, and beach toys to rent.
