The picturesque village of Nikia with its famous pebble paved square and panoramic view of the volcano, is one of the places you should not miss if you find yourself in Nisyros.
Nisyros is an island unlike any other in the Aegean. The aura of the volcano, the picturesque villages,the thermal springs, its wild allure and energy make it unique.A place worth discovering if you find yourself on Nisyros is Nikia,a village builton the slope of a hill at an altitude of 400 m., which offerspanoramic views of the Aegean and the caldera. Narrow lanes, restored mansions, colorful doors and tiled roofs create a picturesque setting in oneof the loveliest villages of the Dodecanese.
All the lanes lead to Porta, the village’s small and much-photographed square,famous for its elliptical shape and the stunning pebble mosaic at its center, the work of local craftsman Paschalis Paschalakis. Here you will see the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, one of the most beautifulin the Aegean. Sit for a coffee or a small meze at the cafés on the square and stay there until duskto enjoy the view of thevolcano’s craters.
Nikia is also home to the only Volcanology Museum in Greece - a first-class opportunity to enrich your knowledge.Housed in the village’s former primary school, it is ultra-modern and interactive and operates year-round. Its locationis ideal, right on the rim of the caldera, with panoramic viewsover the interior of the volcano. Here you will learn everything about the volcanoes of Greece, see how Nisyros was formed and admire volcanic rocks with unusual names and colors.
Holidays on the volcano
The most important attraction on Nisyros is without a doubt the volcano, which you canvisit. 25,000 and 15,000 years ago, two eruptions of the volcano “gave birth to” today’s 4 km-wide caldera. “Stefanos”is the most famous of the hydrothermal craters located within the caldera. As you descendinto the vast crater, you seeyellow and white hues, boiling vents, gaping fissures, while the smell of sulfur makes the experience even more otherworldly. Here you willtruly feel the earth’s warm breath beneath your feet.
