| The gleaming white village of Chora stands out | | | | street, and before you know it, dazed by what |
| conspicuously the moment the boat enters the | | | | you've seen, you come to the Kastro, and the |
| deep bay of los. Clinging to the sides of the hill, it | | | | church of the Panayia Gremniotissa with the |
| draws the eye like a magnet. You immediately | | | | palm-tree next to it. And those of Ayios |
| want to find the quickest to get up there and | | | | Eleftherios, Ayios Georgios, and Ayios Nikolaos on |
| investigate it. You gaze at it as you approach and | | | | the top of the hill. |
| enjoy its beauty. And soon you're walking in the | | | | Then, you glance down at the sheltered bay and |
| labyrinth of its narrow alleys, enjoying the | | | | its harbour. A ship is anchored at the jetty. The |
| atmosphere. Something new, a bend, a little | | | | sun shimmers on the water in the harbour. The |
| unexpected space, at every step. | | | | light is intense, as too are your emotions. This is |
| A staircase decorated with flowers, leading up to | | | | not a place to calm the spirit. On the contrary, it |
| a flat terrace roof, the boudi, overlooking the sea. | | | | is disconcerting. You can feel your blood racing in |
| You stroll through porticoes called stiadia by the | | | | your veins. Cyclades, los, the sea, the Aegean! |
| locals, and just for a moment, you feel you're | | | | Find one of Ios hotels to leave your suitcases and |
| living through a medieval siege, or a pirate attack. | | | | take a Tour to Ios as soon as possible to admire |
| Then you suddenly find yourself in another little | | | | its beauties. One of the greatest hotels on the |
| clearing, with the blinding sunlight striking off the | | | | island is Far Out Hotel. |
| white walls. You go up the steps of the narrow | | | | |