PSARA TRAVEL GUIDE

PSARA > OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

Psara is a complex of islands located at the west of Chios with only the largest island to be inhabited, also the homeland of Konstantinos Kanari.

Psara was firstly reported by Homer as Psyria Island. During 17th century many Piliorites, Ipirotes and Evoeis travelling to Asia Minor landed on Psara where they tried to survive. The land was unproductive and poor so the habitants turned to the sea, navigating small boats with which they travelled to the islands nearby, to Asia Minor and eastern Thessaly.

In the early days of Revolution, the island was among the larger naval forces of the enslaved nation along with Hydra and Spetses. Psara paid a heavy price for their participation in that war as in June of 1824 Turkish forces levelled the island and massacred all residents. The island was set free in October 1912.

Psara of today is a picturesque settlement in the south west of the island. Some places to visit are the houses of the admirals Konstantinos Kanaris and Nikolaos Apostolis also there is Paleokastro (Mavri Rahi), a rocky elevation of the southern settlement which is a site of heroic sacrifice of Antonis Vratsanos, his warriors and womenfolk who shut themselves into the fort and died there.

The island has marvellous beaches at Spitalia, Agia Kyriaki, Lazareta, Limnos, Kato Gialos, Arhontiki Ftelio as well those of Limnonaria, Avlaki, Isari that can only be reached by boat.