Panagia is a picturesque mountain village at an altitude of 300 meters. It is located in the northeastern part of the island, 8 km from the port. After the revolution of 1821 it became the capital of the island and took its name from the name of the church. It was reorganized in the last 300 years when the inhabitants of the port were forced to leave the coast and hide in the mountains due to the attacks of the pirates. 900 residents live there today. In the past it even had its own currency, the Bakir, which you can see in the village church.
Panagia is densely populated. The architecture of the houses is typical of the island: slate roofs, wooden balconies and painted ceilings. The village is crossed by running water canals and you will see many fountains and trees while walking around.
The church of Panagia is celebrated every August 15. To keep the traditions, the women of the village prepare “kourbani”, meat with wheat, rice or potatoes and give it to the people in the churchyard after the Divine Liturgy. On Ash Monday, the 1st day of Lent and last day of the carnival, there is a huge celebration in the streets of the village. The people are dressed in carnival costumes and march along with their chariots satirizing the current events and politics of the country.
