Tribute, Paxoi and Antipaxoi

• Paxoi

• Antipaxos

• Moggonisi

• Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos)

• Panagia

• Kaltsionisi

Paxoi have a total area of ​​19 square kilometres. Despite its sparsely fertile soil, it is overgrown with olive groves and other tree crops. The subsoil is limestone, so that rainwater is not retained and there is a problem of groundwater. The eastern shores of the island are smooth while the western ones are steep and sheer. The island’s capital is Gaios and its ports are Lakka, Longos and Ozias. The highest point of the island is the peak of Agios Isavros, with an altitude of 250 metres.

It has a total area of ​​about 3 square kilometres with prolific vineyards. Antipaxos wine is considered one of the best in Greece. Agrapidia is the natural port of the island. The island has several sea caves that were home to the Mediterranean seal (Monachus monachus). The highest point of the island is Vigla (106 m). In recent years, Antipaxos have been inhabited only during the summer. The secluded small beaches and the wonderful colours of the sea make the island unique for beach break holidays.

These small islands are located in the gulf of Gaios and are the natural protection of the port. Agios Nikolaos has an area of ​​about 150 acres and is verdant with pines and forest species. It is considered a landscape of infinite beauty and is protected by the state. On the island is the church of Agios Nikolaos and the Venetian castle. On the islet of Panagia there is the homonymous church.

Small islands in the SE of Paxoi. Moggonisi (or Boukonisi) has an area of ​​200-250 acres and almost rests on the main trunk of the island. Kaltsionisi is much smaller and houses (almost next to the sea) the church of Agios Spyridon, built in 1650.

Terrain
The main feature of Paxoi is the stone and rock. Wherever the visitor’s gaze turns, they will see a profusion of the stone which engulfs the whole island. The little existent soil just manages to cover certain parts of the ground and create the illusion of fertile soil. Most of the time, the stony ground prevails and the vegetation seems to spring directly from the rock. However, apart from the natural landscape, the stone also characterizes all man-made constructions on the island. The old roads and paths, the steps and the terraces, the houses and the warehouses, the support walls and the dividing boundaries of the land, the windmills, and the cisterns, are all made of the local stone.

Steep shores and cliffs
The west coast of the island has large, steep slopes, forming sharp cliffs that rise to a height of 200 meters. Sometimes the bluffs of the coast are literally vertical (e.g. in Mousmouli, Kastanida, Erimitis, etc.) resulting in spectacular crags, from which the visitor can observe the sunset, the raging sea, or admire the magical elevated views from a heady height.

Sources
In some parts of Paxos and Antipaxos, natural ground water springs are to be found.

Drinking water sources
Naturally, in a place like Paxos, where drinking water is one of the most important necessities, natural freshwater springs are considered a divine gift and, in the past, were a place of meeting and communication for residents. These sources are few and far between and are often in inaccessible locations (e.g. the source in Tripitos).

Thermal springs
Some natural springs gush from the ground and pour into the sea, sulfurous waters that have healing properties. The most important thermal springs of the island are:
Gianna
Ozia (Shortly before Agia Marina)
Glyfada (In Longos)
In the past, the waters of these springs were used for their healing abilities (especially for rheumatism). Unfortunately, in recent years the same importance has not been given, as a result of which their great therapeutic value has been degraded.

Windmills
The old windmills (some of which still dominate in panoramic places) are among the most remarkable monuments on the island. The lack of running water during the summer with the simultaneous existence of strong winds in the area, led the inhabitants of Paxoi to construct windmills, for the grinding of cereals.

Some of the windmills that one can encounter during one’s stay on the island are:
The mill of Vellianitis which was built around 1700.
The Lesianitis windmill, above the cliffs in Mousmouli, built around 1780.
The windmill of the small island of Agios Nikolaos, at the entrance of Gaios, built around 1798.
The windmills of Kastanida, Loggos and Lakaka built between 1820 and 1822.

Sterns
The problem of a shortage of drinking water forced the residents of Paxos to build cisterns to collect and store rainwater. Built of stone, which is abundant on the island, most are paved with slabs and collect water either from their paved part or from just below the ground.

Some of the Sterns that a visitor may notice are:
The Sterna of Agioi Anargyroi. Construction began in 1809, during the French period, and was completed in 1821, during the English period.
The cistern of the Holy Apostles, in Gaios. Construction began in about 1825 and was finished in 1835
Mantropoulos. It was built around 1832 and recently repaired.
Gillio’s cistern, in Longos. It was built around 1837
The cistern of the Plain. It was built in 1862
The cistern in Malathon, in the area of ​​Ozia, was built in 1884
Fudana’s cistern was built in 1890

Churches
There are two early Christian temples and 62 churches on the island, most of which date to the 17th and 18th centuries. The oldest churches are the church of Agia Marina in Porto Ozia and the church of Agios Stefanos, a little further up, which were built around the 8th century. Of the churches that operate, perhaps the most imposing and most beautiful is that of Ypapantis, in Lakka, built in 1600. The church is two-storied and has an amazing iconostasis.

The church of Agios Charalambos (the patron saint of the island), was built in 1737. Paxian craftsmen built the magnificent towering bell tower. On the island of Antipaxos is the church of Agios Emilianos built before 1686.

Old houses and mansions
Often, among the natural beauties of the island, the visitor encounters beautiful architectural constructions of old houses and mansions, habitable or abandoned, with interesting details in the materials and in the style of build.

Dry stones
The little fertile soil of the island is often protected by special stone structures called “dry stones”. At the same time, dry stones define the boundaries of agricultural land and are superb masonry walls of houses and orchards. Several sections of paths cross rural areas through well-built dry stones, creating, to the visitor, the impression of elegance and uniqueness.

Religious and cultural events
During their stay on the island, the visitor can attend and participate in many folklore and cultural events that will better help them understand the place and the people they have encountered.
The main ones are:-
The procession of the Holy Apostles
On June 29, an imposing litany of the image of the Apostle Gaius is held. It is kept in the church of the Holy Apostles (in Gaius).
Corfu Philharmonic Orchestras also participate in the procession.
The epitaph of the Virgin Mary
Annually on the 15th of August, on the small island of Panagia, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated, with the procession of the epitaph that comes out at 9:30 in the morning. At the end of the epitaph, broth and beef are distributed to all participants.

The festival of Ypapanti
On Easter Monday, a big festival takes place in the temple of Ypapantis. The image of the temple is litanized and transferred to Lakka where it remains until the Friday of the Life-Giver. On this day it is transferred to the church of Zoodochou in Longos while on Sunday it is transferred to Agios Nikolaos.