{"id":2962,"date":"2019-08-01T09:59:01","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T09:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coco-matserifos.com\/the-chora-of-serifos\/"},"modified":"2019-08-01T10:17:44","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T10:17:44","slug":"the-chora-of-serifos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coco-matserifos.com\/el\/the-chora-of-serifos\/","title":{"rendered":"THE \u201cCHORA\u201d OF SERIFOS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Considered one of the most \u2013 if not the most \u2013 picturesque central residential settlements of the Cyclades island complex, Chora in Serifos<\/a> boasts beautiful
\nspecimens of traditional architecture, imposing ruins from the past scattered around its narrow streets and magnificent views over the Aegean sea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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THE ARCHITECTURE<\/h2>\n

Its glorious sight grips you as soon as the island comes into full view. With the ferry approaching Livadi, the lively port of Serifos, all eyes can\u2019t help but wander upwards. Less than 5 kilometres away from the port and perched on top of a 230 meter high hill, Chora<\/strong> hovers above the island inviting its visitors to have a closer look.<\/p>\n

Built amphitheatrically on the rocky hillside above Livadi bay, its houses crawling up all the way to the top, Chora<\/strong> follows the typical fortress settlement structure, very common in Cyclades during the Middle Ages. With the Aegean waters infested by pirates, the islanders seeked protection from raids and moved away from the shores, bulding their houses on higher grounds. The settlements where dense, with two- or three-storey, long and narrow faced houses raised in closed circuits. In 1434, a castle was built by the Michieli family, above the settlement\u2019s ancient acropolis, its ruins still visible at the edge of Chora today.<\/p>\n

Walking around Chora\u2019s narrow, cobblestoned streets, the visitor can readily appreciate its architecture and the way it molds into the surrounding natural habitat,<\/strong> enclosing traditional residencies and churches. The winding paths are carved into the rock \u2013 nowadays regularly interrupted by asphalt \u2013 connecting Chora\u2019s two main neighbourhoods: Ano and Kato Chora \u2013 meaning above and below settlement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n