| Architecture plays its own special role in the | | | | years ago. The only exceptions are a number of |
| formation of the cultural identity of a place. In the | | | | old houses and a few neoclassical buildings. These |
| case of los or the Cyclades in general, this role is | | | | neoclassical houses, the "mansions" (archontika) of |
| particularly important. Architecture is one of the | | | | the island, which were built at the beginning of the |
| basic elements in the distinctive character of | | | | 20th century, have two storeys, with a pediment |
| these islands. The brilliant white houses with their | | | | and plaster columns on the facade. On the ground |
| vaults and arches cling to the bare rock, creating | | | | floor is a large room with a hearth in one corner, |
| a superb contrast with the deep blue of the sea, | | | | used for heating and cooking, and a table in the |
| which is unmatched anywhere else in Greece, not | | | | middle for the daily family meal. The formal dining |
| to say the entire world. The architectural style of | | | | room, in which dinners were held on the occasion |
| the houses is spare, uncluttered, even severe. | | | | of weddings and all family celebrations, is on the |
| There is no adornment, merely plain lines and | | | | upper floor. It is a large room known as the sala, |
| curves. Above all, there are no building regulations. | | | | furnished with a table in the centre on which a |
| The houses are built next to each other, one | | | | Venetian lamp used to stand, and with a sofa |
| above the other, in a clear example of free, | | | | decorated with traditional embroideries or textiles, |
| unplanned development. The required design is | | | | and a cupboard with a mirror, usually adorned with |
| executed without any hesitation. | | | | a few family photographs. To enter this room, |
| The design effortlessly links the house to the | | | | one had pass through a veranda known as the |
| landscape and reconciles it with the environment. | | | | boudi, which was reached by way of an exterior |
| At the same time, it serves another purpose: that | | | | staircase. There was often a secondary, interior |
| of protecting the inhabitants against extreme | | | | spiral staircase called the klavani. The bedrooms |
| climatic conditions and against any other unwanted | | | | are to right and left of the sala, with which they |
| "visitors", such aspirates or invaders. The houses | | | | communicate directly. |
| are cramped in the narrow, labyrinthine streets to | | | | In the countryside there are still a number of old |
| withstand the strong winds. Porticoes offer | | | | houses whose purpose was to serve the needs |
| protection against rain in winter and sun in | | | | of the inhabitants' farming activities, mainly during |
| summer. Great care is lavished on whitewashing | | | | the summer. They are very simply constructed |
| the structures, to protect the houses from the | | | | and are normally single-storey buildings with one |
| heat of the summer by reflecting the sun's rays. | | | | or two rooms. These little houses are normally |
| Finally, the thick walls afford excellent insulation | | | | found together in groups of five or six, forming |
| against both high and low temperatures. As for | | | | small settlements known as katikies. |
| protection against invaders, the inhabitants would | | | | In the context of architecture, mention should be |
| withdraw to the castle in times of danger, but the | | | | made of the numerous, very interesting churches |
| tiny windows and doors of the houses were also | | | | to be found in Chora or scattered through the |
| designed with defense in mind. | | | | entire island, which add their own characteristic |
| Most of the houses in Chora were built over 200 | | | | tone to the landscape. |