Beautiful Greek Villages

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Chora of Samothrace

Chora, the capital of the island of Samothrace, is located towards the interior part of the island, in an area with natural beauty and partly covered with pine trees. Despite the short distance from the sea, it is well hidden from the coast due to the fear of pirate’s raids in the Middle Ages. Although it is not the largest settlement on the island anymore, it is still the island's administrative center where all the public services are situated. The picturesque village is amphitheatrically built on the slopes of Mount Saos, between two strongholds, Vrychos, the prehistoric citadel to the west and the castle of Gatteluzi (1300 - 1400) to the east.

It is a traditional village with amazing views to the sea, that stretches under the castle. At night the castle is illuminated offering a magnificent spectacle. The main characteristic of its architecture is the stone-built two-storey houses with the tiled roofs and the cobbled alleys. In Chora visitors can find tavernas serving the famous stuffed lamb, old-fashioned cafes and folk-art shops selling local products. Apart of what is left from the citadel, you can visit the folklore museum, housed in a two-storey old mansion of the 20th century. It displays items of the traditional way of living and things that people used in their everyday life as well as costumes and handicrafts. Furthermore, it is worth visiting the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, an imposing building of 1857, where the holy remains of “The Five Sacred Martyrs of Samothraki” are kept. For hiking lovers, several paths start from Chora leading to the top of mount Saos, also known as Feggari.

Having preserved its architectural character, Chora has been designated a protected settlement since 1979. It lies 6 km from the port of Kamariotissa and it can be a good place to stay since you can easily reach other parts of the island.