Asfontilitis, a monument of Amorgian rural architecture

The once vibrant agricultural establishment, untouched by later influences, seals the site with its simple aesthetics: threshing floors and wells, ovens and the internal configuration of the house (location of home, built-in beds, etc.), the stone path crossing… Stone, as a building material, is difficult to distinguish from the natural surroundings, forming a complex picture, in all the simplicity of its traditional folk architecture.

On the right and left of the road, travelers will observe atypical carved rock paintings. These were painted about 100 years ago, by the hand of a disabled child, whose soul and senses were supported and strengthened by the firmness of the barren and desert landscape! Pictures that associatively lead to ancient times, sealed by rare rock paintings.

In the centre of interest is the church of St. Nicholas, demonstrating special architectural touch, a rough white touch onto the gray pattern of the stone. A rough downhile trail leads east from the village to Halara, an unspoilt coastline in the SE, with a significant source of water.

The Cycladic Asfontylitis is able, important and historic times, since remains of a Hellenistic tower have been identified in the region.

1885 – J.Th. Bent
The mountainous village, where we dined, bore the long name “Asfontilitis”. It’s a dairy making village and is made up of hovels. The one where we stopped was full of cheeses that were set to try on sticks, hanging from the walls so that they would form shelves. In this village, senior citizens wear an ancient type of costume, which is made up of a strange vest or bust and a red cap, a woven cover that hangs down from the one side. This is made by their wives by woving the material and painting it with some kind of berries they find on the hills.