Korthio: Churches, Frescoes, and History

Church architecture, frescoes, and the history of Faneromenis Castle offer different cultural points of interest for your trip to Korthio. In addition, the Hora–Dipotamata–Korthi route connects central and southern Andros and reaches Korthi. The places and structures mentioned differ in their focus: you can experience architecture at the churches, historical information and preserved structural features belong to the castle, while the route describes a connection between parts of the island.

Church Architecture and Frescoes in Korthio

The Church of Saint John the Theologian stands on the eastern edge of Korthio. It is designed as a free-cross church: its arms are covered by arches, and a blind hemispherical dome rises at the crossing. These features describe both the cross shape and the structure of the building. When viewing the architecture, you can focus on the relationship between the arms of the cross and the central dome area.

The church’s frescoes also offer a distinct point of reference in time. They were discovered during conservation work and can be dated to the 13th century. The architecture and the frescoes thus offer two different perspectives on the same building: one concerns the floor plan, arches, and dome, while the other concerns the dating of the wall paintings. If you are interested in church architecture or historical painting, Korthio offers more than a single focus for sightseeing.

Around Korthio: Faneromenis Castle above Kochylos and Agios Nikolaos in Ano Korthi

Around Korthio, above Kochylos, stands Faneromenis Castle, also known as the Upper Castle. It was built between 1207 and 1233 under the Venetian ruler Marino Dandolo. Parts of the walls and the Church of Faneromenis have been preserved. The focus here is therefore on the history of the building and its surviving historic fabric. From Kochylos, 143 steps lead up to the entrance. Take this staircase into account when planning your visit, and check current access conditions beforehand.

In Ano Korthi, around Korthio, stands the Church of Agios Nikolaos. It dates from the 13th century and is a two-column cross-in-square church with a dome and a western narthex. A few fragments of the fresco decoration are visible inside the church, including an example in the arch of the diakonikon; the rest of the church interior is plastered. In comparison with the Church of Saint John the Theologian, different architectural details are described here: the two-column layout and the western narthex. This distinguishes the two churches by their respective architectural features.

A Route Between Central and Southern Andros

The Hora–Dipotamata–Korthi route connects central and southern Andros and reaches Korthi. Its purpose differs from that of the churches and the castle: it links different parts of the island, while the buildings each highlight a particular aspect of cultural history. If you include the route in your plans, check current conditions. The route is a separate point of reference for planning your trip and is not associated here with any particular mode of transport.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

These points of interest differ in their subject matter and geographical focus.

Discover more destinations: Menites, Gavrio, Paleopoli, Pitrofos, Agios Ioannis, Andros, Kypri, Kato Agios Petros

Go to the main travel overview: Andros.