Alonnisos: Old Village, Hiking Trails and Maritime History

Alonnisos Town, also known as Old Village or Palio Chorio, lies at an altitude of about 180 metres. Old Village is one of the best-preserved medieval settlements in the Aegean. The hill offered protection from pirate raids; the settlement was continuously inhabited until the 1965 earthquake. Here, the history of a settlement and its elevated location come together. Exploring Alonnisos on foot lets you compare different routes and destinations.

Old Village and the Underwater Museum

One route leads from Kato Alonia through the picturesque lanes of Old Village to the Old School. The Alonissos Underwater Museum’s information centre is located there, in the Old School in Old Village. So, if you take the route from Kato Alonia, you’ll also reach the information centre at the Old School. The schoolyard offers panoramic views.

At the information centre, interactive platforms offer insights into marine fauna and flora. There are also 3D displays of pots and vessels from Peristera. A virtual reality experience lets visitors dive into the Peristera shipwreck. The exhibits range from the underwater world to archaeological finds and a virtual perspective on the wreck—different ways to explore maritime history in one place.

On foot to different destinations

Another hiking trail begins at the bus stop and leads downhill from Chora (Old Alonissos), through orchards, to the port of Patitiri. It takes no more than 45 minutes. Its destination is therefore quite different from that of the route via Kato Alonia: one passes through the lanes of Old Village to the Old School, while the other goes through orchards to the port. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out. From the summit of Kalovoulo, the view extends towards Chora and Skopelos. For getting your bearings, the options therefore include both a named route with a destination and maximum duration, and a view from the summit.

Tradition at the Alonismata festival

At Alonismata, threshing is reenacted on historic threshing floors known as Alonia. In the past, locals beat bundles of grain there to separate the kernels. The demonstration thus draws on a specific traditional practice. Visitors can sample local dishes and wine, dance, and learn about the tools used in traditional threshing. If you’d like to include this festival in your travel plans, check that year’s arrangements before your trip.

Peristera: virtual experience or dive

Those interested in the wreck can choose between the virtual reality experience at the information centre and a dive in the vicinity of the destination. At the Peristera shipwreck, visitors dive with certified guides among ancient amphorae to a depth of 25 metres. An Advanced Open Water Diver certification, the second level, is required. Confirm the current operating arrangements before your trip. This keeps the virtual experience at the information centre clearly distinct from the dive in the vicinity, which requires a specific qualification.

Choosing the right holiday apartment for your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Alonnisos, a useful starting point is to consider what you’d like to focus on during your vacation: would you like to explore Old Village and maritime history, follow hiking trails with clearly named destinations, or experience traditional festivities? The activities described offer different highlights. You can choose a base that suits your interests without treating the different places and activities as a single destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Skiathos, Isomata, Sporades, Koukounaries, Stafilos, Kolios, Achladias, Platanias.

Back to the overview of the region: Sporades.