On the eastern edge of Korthio stands the Church of Saint John the Theologian; nearby, in Ano Korthi, is the Church of Agios Nikolaos. Faneromenis Castle, also known as the Upper Castle, is in the surrounding area. Another point of reference is the Hora–Dipotamata–Korthi route, which connects central and southern Andros and reaches Korthi. These locations differ in scale: they concern buildings in Korthio, nearby places in the surrounding area and a connection across parts of the island.

Church architecture and frescoes

The Church of Saint John the Theologian is a free-standing cross-shaped church. Its arms are covered by arches, and a blind hemispherical dome rises at the crossing. This describes both the cross-shaped plan and the arches over the arms, as well as the structure at the crossing. If you are interested in the architecture, you can follow the description through these elements rather than viewing the dome in isolation.

Agios Nikolaos in Ano Korthi dates from the 13th century and is a domed, two-column cross-in-square church with a western narthex. A narthex is the entrance hall of a church; the term “western” locates it on the west side. Compared with the Church of Saint John in Korthio, columns and a narthex are distinct architectural features here, alongside the dome. This makes it possible to compare two different descriptions of sacred architecture without conflating the churches or their locations.

The frescoes also offer different insights into the two churches. Frescoes discovered during conservation work at the Church of Saint John can be dated to the 13th century. At Agios Nikolaos, a few fragments of the fresco decoration are visible, including an example in the arch of the diakonikon; the rest of the church interior is plastered. In Korthio, the focus is therefore on the possible dating, while in Ano Korthi the locations of individual visible fragments are noted.

Faneromenis Castle and access from Kochylos

Faneromenis Castle, also known as the Upper Castle, was built between 1207 and 1233 under the Venetian ruler Marino Dandolo. Parts of its walls and the Church of Faneromenis have survived. The name Upper Castle refers to the same castle; its construction dates and builder place it in its historical context, while the surviving walls and church are specific architectural points of reference.

From Kochylos, access to the castle involves climbing 143 steps to the entrance. If you are considering a visit, check access in advance. This allows you to factor the directions into your plans without treating them as a statement about current access conditions.

A route between central and southern Andros

The Hora–Dipotamata–Korthi route connects central and southern Andros and reaches Korthi. It is a separate geographical point of reference: while the information about the churches and castle concerns particular buildings and places, the route describes a connection between parts of the island. This is a useful distinction when planning your trip. A search for a hotel in Korthio focuses on the named place; the route, by contrast, describes the broader connection, not an additional attraction.

Discover more destinations: Lamira, Kypri, Paleopoli, Menites, Agios Ioannis, Mpatsi, Andros, Kato Agios Petros.

Back to the main travel overview: Andros.