Dryopida is hidden inside a ravine, invisible from the sea and protected against the wind. It has one original trait compared to all other Cycladic settlements. All of its houses have tile roofs, due to the fact that the ceramics craft flourished on the island until the previous decade.
Nowadays, Dryopida maintains its neoclassical character and remains quieter and less touristically developed than Chora.
After exploring its narrow uphill and downhill alleys, make a stop at Piatsa, where you will find taverns and coffee shops.
The settlement and Galatas, its opposite neighborhood, are full of beautiful churches, such as the churches of Agia Anna and Agios Minas. You can admire the skillfully crafted bishop’s throne, the wood carved iconostasis and the masterfully embroidered Epitaphios cloth in Agios Minas.
The imposing church of Taxiarhes, a domed basilica that used to be the main church of a monastery, is located north of Dryopida, at Velidi. The beautiful church of Timios Prodromos is located at an elevated position. You can visit it during sunset and admire the view.
Finally, the two museums of Dryopida, the Folklife Museum and the Ecclesiastical Museum, as well as the cave of Katafiki, are also worth visiting.
Info
Dryopida used to be called Sylakas. It was named Dryopida during the reign of King Otto, in honor of the pre-Greek tribe of Dryopes, who lived on the island during the Archaic Period.
