Astypalaia: What you should visit: Livadi (Part 5)

It means ‘meadow’ and it is the ‘Lido’ of the island. It is situated on a pleasant site: on the coast , on the plain surrendered by the rises that protect it from the North-East wind.

Livadi is more modern than Chora - that’s why it has more structures and facilities. Nearly every family has a second home they rent to tourists.

They grow crops, fruit and various vegetables because large fields are available in Livadi. The houses are bigger and have more stores. There are two main paths that link the country to the smaller houses on the coast.

The promenade is about 200 meters long and runs through the beach and the row of houses, cafes, restaurant, pubs, drugstores that sell a bit of everything. The beach is under and along the rocks that lead to another smaller, but less crowded beach.

A church built on Byzantine foundations raises on the path. The church courtyard is covered by a now faded light blue mosaic reminding a marine style. The church is still open; on the wall there’s an icon covered by a golden leaf - it is of a recent handwork, but it has its own value.

It is quite astonishing for the visitor the fact that the icon can be easily detached from the wall; as a matter of facts, it is just hung by a nail, totally unlocked.