Alonnisos Island - Quiet Anchorage

While there is a village called Alonnisos, or Chora on the island of Alonnisos, the main port on this island, when visiting by crewed yacht charter, is in the town of Patitiri, where ferry service only connects one with the mainland or other Sporadic Islands.  There is no airport, so visiting Alonnisos, the northernmost of the Greek Sporadic Islands, by crewed yacht charter is a great way to visit this very green spruce tree covered Sporadic Island.

Alonnisos Traditional Village

Mainly an agricultural island, the soil on Alonnisos supports the cultivation of olives, grapes, figs and almonds.  Throughout history Alonnisos was known for the quality of wines produced from the grapes grown on the island until recent history in the 1950’s when many of the vineyard vines were destroyed by a fungus.  The vineyards are slowly re-establishing however, and today local wines can be found on the island.  Life on the island was centered on the village of Alonnisos, with wine presses still hard at work, until a major earthquake in 1965 relocated many of the villagers to the port town of Patitiri.  The original village of Alonnisos, an old fortified village, is still inhabited, although not by as many villagers as before the earthquake, and is still well worth visiting for a feel of traditional Greek island village life at its very best.

Alonnisos Beach

 

Alonnisos is the only inhabited island within a group of islands that form the National Marine Park of Alonnisos.  The establishment of this national park marked the very first marine park created in Greece.  Besides the island of Alonnisos, the marine park includes the islands of Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathoura, Piperi, Skantzoura, along with 22 additional uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops offering excellent cruising areas in peace and quiet.  On a crewed yacht charter you could spend several days in the marine park. 

 Much work has been done within the Park to protect the Mediterranean Monk Seal, believed to be one of the most endangered mammals in the world.  A seal health center has been established on Alonnisos for support of the national marine park and the Mediterranean Monk Seal.  The marine park is a great area for bird watchers as several very rare species can be found and when spending time in the park cruising, one will inevitably see a variety of dolphin species and even whales swimming through the waters.

Alonnisos Marine Park Tranquil Water

While on a crewed yacht charter, you can not only visit and explore the island of Alonnisos, but also visit and spend time exploring the national Marine Park of Alonnisos, enjoying the many anchorages, beautiful waters and serene tranquil surroundings, and there is a good chance you may have a sighting of one of the rare Mediterranean Monk Seals. 

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