Island Hopping: Psara

What? It’s July already!

Your holiday is coming up and you haven’t made any plans . . . what to do, where to go?

Sound familiar?

Although most people look forward to their time off from work in July and August, many never get around to finding time to actually plan ahead.

And, suddenly, here we are.

There are 1400 islands  in Greece, of which 227 are inhabited, and only 78 have more than 100 inhabitants.

Wouldn’t this be a good time to visit one of them . . . perhaps one of the lesser known islands? But which  one?

Well, just spread out a map of the Greek islands on the kitchen table, close your eyes and stick it with a pin.

Hmm, let’s see . . . Psara?

The island of Psara, which occupies an area of only 43 square kilometres and has a population of less than 500, is situated in the North Aegean Sea and is the largest of the islands to the west of Chios, 80 kilometres from Athens.

To get to Psara you must take a ferry from Piraeus to Chios, then a boat over to Psara.

While it takes some time to get there, you’ll find the trip well worth it.

Psara has a small but lovely port and harbour, and a selection of accommodations at various traditional hotels, such as the Xenonas Psaron, plus several rent-room apartments, including the Cavos, Psara and Restalia.

Also, Psara features several tavernas serving traditional island dishes and, best of all, seafood freshly caught from surrounding waters.

It is an ideal place to enjoy peaceful and relaxing summer holidays. The island is one of immense beauty, and the picturesque landscapes create a very tranquil feel, and

offer peace and tranquility to their visitors. There are no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace, and the inhabitants are known for their heartfelt warmth and genuine hospitality to visitors.

The Psara island cluster encompasses seven islets, the largest of which is called Psara. The smaller islets include Antipsara, Kato Nisi, Aye Nikolaki, Daskalio, Prasonisi and Nisopoula.
Psara, in addition to the islets, exhibits a rocky terrain filled with hills and mountains. The highest mountain on the island is Prophitis Ilias (Ilias the Prophet) that extends 640 meters. This rocky terrain is inadequate for cultivation, so fishing and other maritime activities are the main occupations.

The island also has an interesting history dating back through to the ancient years.

During the Greek revolution against the Ottoman occupation, the island played a key role and made many contributions to revolution, causing great damage to the Turkish armadas.

Psara is the homeland of Constantine Kanaris, an admiral, freedom fighter and politician, and one of the great heroes of the revolution. He served three terms as Greece’s prime minister, between 1844 and 1854. He died in 1877.

So, if you’re looking for a quiet, peaceful holiday, one that is steeped in history, Psara is the place to visit.