Andros is the northern most island of the Cyclades and the second largest in size after the island of Naxos, with a size of 380 square kilometers. It has a length of roughly 40Km and width roughly 17Km. It is 36 nautical miles from the port of Rafina. It is the geographical continuance of the island of Evia, from which it is separated by the straight of Kafireas, better known as Cavo Doro, with a width of 7 nautical miles. The geographical continuance of Andros is Tinos, which is separated by a small passing roughly 1 nautical mile named "Steno". The length of the coastline of Andros is 117Km.
Vacation begins upon arriving to the port of Gavrio, the northwest end of the island. The route to Hora is roughly 36 kilometers and is an absolute pleasure.
From the area of Gavrio and towards the northeast, there extend areas with faint greenery and many farming villages (Fellos, Makrontantalos, Gides). The main road towards the capital of the island gears North and until the area of Stavropeda we proceed mountainside parallel to the islands of Kithnos, Kea, Giaros and Syros.
Just outside Gavrio, mountainside and to the left, rises the Tower of Agios Petros, a cylindrical stone-built tower from the Hellenistic period, salvaged at the height of 20m., whose use is unknown to archaeologists. It may have possibly been used as a viewing point and possibly participated as a signaling system ("friktoria").
Continuing south, the road passes by Batsi with its' beautiful beach, which continues to Aprovatou and Paleopoli, the old capital of the island. Continuing we come upon the area of Stavropeda, where we meet the crossroads (stavro = cross and peda = roads), which lead: left towards Andros (the capital of the island), right towards Korthi and far right towards the beautiful beach of Halkolimnionas.
Andros is an island with distinct architecture in its' structures. The shape of the buildings, from the ancient times, has been established by the abundant structural ingredients which the island provides, split stone boulders found in abundance on the Andriotic land and wood which is also abundant.
The Andriotic house, thus, is built with stone and the roof consists of wooden logs covered with split - stoned tiles and above them a layer of a special type of dirt which is replenished every year and is pressed with special cylinder stones ("bilia"), so that it forms a dense mass.
Depending on the era, the dwellings served the pupose of its' owners. The era where the pirates ruled the area of the Aegean has handed down the large in size, usually three story, building with no windows on the lower floor and narrow windows, like embrasures, on the upper floor, with entrance from the second floor using a movable staircase. They are the famously known tower houses ("pirgospita"). Moreover one must also take into account the arrangement of the houses in Hora, with its' outer walls playing the defensive role with side doors ("paraportia") which lead to a haven from the pirates, the two bays and the large "Exoporta" or main door which leads inland.
During peaceful times, the Andriotic home was built based on the needs of the family, it is situated southeasternly to protect them from the strong northern winds, always with vine arbors ("klimataria" or "anentrada"), a separate kitchen not connected to the house for the summer and, of course, a fireplace. There is also an area of the house which contains the wine-press, the area for the pig slaughetering ("xirosfagia") and a storage area.
With the same stone and the abundant marble - stone, the Andriotic craftsman decorates the whole island. Faucets, windows above the doors, cisterns, pigeon houses, country churches result in works of art. The countryside of the island is marked by the thousands of kilometers of dry stone walls, distinctly characterized by its' vertically placed stones. The inclining lands are held together with these stone built walls called "emasies" or "anavathmides". \&p|
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