12/12/2013
ASFONDILITIS
Along the footpaths that connect the Monastery of Chozoviotissa with other places of worship such as Panagia, Ag.Theologos and Ag. Stavros there are towers, ruins of agricultural buildings and a village. A stop at this semi-abandoned village is an experience which is fundamental in understanding the history of this most secretive side of Amorgos. Asfondilitis stands on mountain pass that connects the northern part of the island to the south. The topography is level and has been cultivated for centuries producing wheat, Amorgo’s fava - lentils, barley, and fruits like grapes, almonds and figs. In the past the area also saw the cultivation of cotton and to***co. The stone houses and dry stone walls are among the oldest and most typical examples found on the island. The double church dedicated to the Saints St. George and St. Nikolas welcomes the visitor to the village. It is of typical Cycladic architecture and stands out white on a background of dry stones that surround the fields to create an abstract design of fascinating geometries. The urban part is characterized by the presence of large cisterns and wells, circular areas where the wheat from the chaff was cleaned with the help of the wind which never fails. Individual homes are linked to one another by a complicated system of stairs, sometimes narrow, sometimes wide and square in form. The architecture follows a very precise logic due to the presence of animals, water and the needs of men in an organic integration.
The scenery is breathtaking. It ranges from views of Donussa, Naxos and Nigurià to the north and Astipalea and Anafi to the South. On a clear day we get to see Santorini and the silhouette of the islands of the Dodecanese in the distance.
Photos are made by Milda Levandraitytė
