In ancient times, salt was already indispensable for seasoning.  At first it was evidently less often used just to flavor food, but more as a way of preserving fish and meat - there are countless sources containing references praising salted tuna fish.  Salt was also important in the production of a strong, spicy fish sauce (igaros, Roman igarum), which formed part of many dishes in which you would not expect to find it today.  Various kinds of fish and fish waster were mixed with salt and fermented in the sun in large earthenware pots for three or four months, while being constantly stirred.  After being strained, flavored with herbs, and transferred to more manageable clay jars, igaros would keep for a relatively long time.  You have to imagine a product something like the Asian fish sauce.

Good sea salt should not be bleached and should feel slightly moist.  The biggest salt suppliers get their salt from central Greece.

It is unnecessary to stress the importance of salt in modern Greek cooking But salt production is inextricably linked to one of the unforgettable names in Greek history, which will never lose its importance for Greek national feeling.  The modern day salt center for the country lies very close to the town of Missolonghi, which is situated on the Gulf of Patras in the southwest of central Greece and was a center of Greek resistance at the beginning of the 19th century.   The major Greek salt companies are located here.  As in the other salt producing regions of the world, salt is produced by channeling seawater into big, shallow evaporating pans, in which the first pollutants can settle to the bottom, and the salt content of the water can be increased by repeatedly letting new sweater.  These pans feed the salt gardens, where the water finally evaporates in the sun until the crystallized salt remains.  About one third of the world demand for salt is produced from the sea in Greece and France.  Unlike tock salt, sea salt contains very small amounts of additional minerals such as bromine or iodine.  The latter regulates the metabolism and the functioning of the thyroid gland, so sea salt can prevent iodine deficiency and the symptoms connected with it.  high quality sea salt is sold unrefined, unbleached and without anti-caking agents.  It is pale gray and lumpy. 

The salt pans of Missolonghi are also home to a huge variety of birds.  Avocets, great white herons, and stilts are as much at home here as calandra, crested, and short toed larks.  There are plenty of fish here for them. 

 

Natural Iodized Greek Sea Salt Kalas 400gr Cooking Iodized sea salt with equal sized granules. From sea and sun. Vacuum refined. For all houselod purposes.

  Featured Destination: Andros

GEOGRAPHY. Andros is the northernmost island in the Cyclades, the second largest and the closest to Euboia, which is only 7 nautical miles away (Cape Kafirea or Cavo d'Oro). 380 sq. km. in area, 177 km. of coastline, distance from Rafina 36 nautical miles. There are car and passenger ferries from Rafina which also link the island with Tenos and Mykonos, as well as Paros, and Naxos (more frequent during the summer). The island's capital, Andros, has a population of 9,020. Its terrain is mountainous (highest point 994 m. a.s.l.), dissected by ravines and three lush, verdant valleys with running water. The coast is likewise precipitous and there are sandy beaches only in the south. As of old most of the inhabitants are seafarers. On account of its extraordinary scenery, therapeutic springs, picturesque villages and historic monuments, the island is gaining in popularity, despite the locals' objection to tourism.



HISTORY. Little is known about the island's remote past. It was colonised by Ionians in historical times and was closely associated with Athens and Euboia. Its acme lasted from the 7th to the 4th century BC, particularly in art
and literature. Andros sided with the Medes during the Persian Wars, for which action the Athenians imposed a punitive tax. A member of the Athenian League, it supported Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, afterwards passing into Macedonian hands and, later, to the Romans who ceded it to Attalos of Pergamon. The floru it enjoyed in Byzantine times, despite persistent piratical attacks, was due to the thriving silk industry. In 1207 it was taken by the Venetians, belonging to the Duchy of Naxos, and was ceded to Marinos Dandolos. At that time towers and castles were erected all over the island to ward off marauding pirates. It was sacked in 1537 by Barbarossa and captured by the Turks in 1566. The insurgence against the Turks in 1821 was led by Kairis.

SIGHTS-MONUMENTS. The island's capital, Andros (Chora), is built on the southeast side on the same site as the medieval town. In appearance it is typically Cycladic with steep, narrow streets, pristine white houses, archways and churches. At Mesa Kastro, built by the Venetians on the tiny peninsula on the outskirts of Chora, parts of the ramparts, tower and vaulted stone bridge over the moat, uniting it with Kato Kastro, can still be seen today. Entry to Mesa Kastro was through a main gateway (oxoporta) and smaller, secondary gateways (paraportia). Sections of the walls and traces of the buildings have survived from the Kato Kastro. In Chora itself the churchs of the Virgin Palatiani and the Virgin Hodegitria are worth visiting, as is the Maritime Museum, the Archaeological Museum, with rich finds of all eras, and the Art Gallery with works by the sculptor Tobros.

To the west of Chora are the villages of Lamyra, Strapouries and Ypsila with their gardens and greenery, as well as Menites, one of the loveliest on the island with ruined towers and the church of the Madonna of Koumoulos. Further south is Mesaria, centre of the island in the 18th and 19th century, with the Kairis family tower and church of the Taxiarchs, built in the reign of Manuel Comnenus (1143 - 1180), according to an inscription, and with an 18th century marble iconostasis. The churches of Archangel Michael at Melida and the Dormition at Mesathouri are contemporary with the church of the Taxiarchs, while the monastery of Panachrantos at Fallika was founded in 961 by Nicephorus Phocas, after the liberation of Crete. 9 km. southeast of Chora is the village of Livadia with its Frankish church, in olden days the Catholic cathedral. At Apoikia (northwest of Chora) are the Sariza springs and to the north the monastery of St. Nicholas (18th century). Stenies, another very attractive village to the north of Apoikia, has many handsome houses, mostly belonging to sea captains and sailors. One of the most beautiful regions of the island extends from just south of Chora as far as Korthi and includes several charming villages and Venetian towers. The church of the Virgin Phaneromeni at Kochylos merits a visit and the castle to the north, built in the early years of Venetian occupation, is variously known as Apano Kastro, Palaiokastro or tis Grias to Kastro.

On the southernmost tip of the west coast, at Zagora, excavations have brought to light finds of the Geometric era (8th century BC), indicating that the region was also at its zenith during the 7th century. At Palaiopolis, on the west coast of the island, are the ruins of the ancient capital of Andros and its acropolis, which survived into Byzantine times. Batsi (27 km. northwest of Chora), to the north of Palaiochora is extremely popular with tourists. Aprovato, north of Batsi, has a ruined tower and monastery of the Lifegiving Source (Zoodochos Pege), patron of the island. A road leads from Batsi to the village of Katakoilos and from there to the mountain village of Arnas, set in the midst of woodland. On the west side of the island is its main port, Gavrion (34 km. from Chora). On the north side of Andros, just beyond the village of Aghios Petros is Kastellaki, with a ruined tower. Further north, at Makrotalanto, the ruins of yet another medieval garrison are preserved. North of here are the villages of Kalyvari and Varidi and on the hill above them the remains of a fortress known as Vriokastro. Notable churches in the Fellos region (3.5 km. north of Gavrion) are those of St. Charalambos and the Transfiguration. The beaches in both bays at Chora, Nimborio and Paraporti are fine for swimming and sea sports, as are those at Korthio, Batsi, Gavrion and Vitali. For those with boats, water is available at Batsi and water and fuel at Chora. There are several hotels and furnished flats to let.
 

 Museum Guides for your trip in the area

 Saints' Name days in September

Icons depicting the celebrated Saint, make great gifts for namedays.
Shop among our great collection of icons at our store. Also available, namedays, birthday, holiday, and special occasion greeting cards.

Gold and Silver Icons	Hand painted Icons	Icons by Zafiris
Want to know more about Orthodox Saints? Complete biographies of Orthodox Saints are now available.

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