The island of Nisyros is a dormant volcano, which means that it hasn't had an eruption for a very long time but it will probably have in the future and yet it is inhabited and one of the most unspoiled tourist destinations in Greece!
It is part of the Dodecanese group of islands at the Aegean Sea and it lies between Kos and Rhodes.
The main attraction of the island is Stefanos, one of the biggest, most impressive and best preserved hydrothermal craters in the world!
Walking inside the 27 meters deep and 330 meters in diameter crater, is an experience for all your senses. The first thing that hits you is the smell of sulfur and I am talking about a really strong smell! Before you get used to it (actually I never got used to that smell) you feel the heat under your feet, especially if you are not equipped with the proper shoes (sandals and flip-flops are not recommended). Last, but absolutely not least, comes the amazing color palette and the stunning formations of the volcanic rocks. It is a visit that you will live to remember!
The fact that there are people who decided to live their lives on a volcano is shocking enough, but building two villages literally hanging above the crater, is something beyond my comprehension.
The first one is Nikia, a well preserved picturesque village, built with very interesting architectural elements and special details such as Porta, the famous elliptical plaza with the unique pebble mosaic, made by a local craftsman.
The second one is Emporios, a lovely traditional settlement with exceptional stone-built houses that until recently was left to decadence but fortunately I saw a lot of very promising renovation work to be done.
Of course most of the island’s residents live by the sea. Mandraki is the port and the capital of Nisyros. It is a beautiful village built under the shadow of the Venetian castle. Here you will find everything you might need (food, drink, settlement etc) while you are enjoying your walk through the narrow streets with the colorful houses.
And since I am talking about a Greek island I have to tell you about, at least one, gorgeous beach! This isn’t other than Pachia Ammos which means “thick sand” in Greek. It is around 10 km east from Mandraki and it deserves every second of the 10 minutes walk that you have to do after the parking area, to get to this virgin beach with the dark sand and the amazingly clear waters.
