Langada on Amorgos

Langada (or Lagada) is about 4 kilometers from Aegiali and is an absolutely fantastic village. On Amorgos, only Chora can match Langada's beauty. I'm childishly fond of rustic family-run tavernas where it takes time to order and even longer to get the food, tavernas that often are located at the fringe of a small square in small Greek villages. On the square in Langada is a taverna like that. And it is largely thanks to the square, called Loza, that makes me constantly yearn for Langada.

I can sit here for hours and do nothing, maybe I glance at some few pages of a book, otherwise I just sit and receive the Greek everyday life taking place like a movie in front of my eyes. What happens in Langada happens on the square, and the tavernas has parquet place. It is not for the food you go here, you go here for the atmosphere.

Vineyard in Langada.

In the square there is also a butcher, two minimarkets, an old kafenion, a police station (!), and another taverna. A little further down in the village lies Taverna Nikos.

Taverna Nikos in Langada.

Apart from a lunch at the fantastic square, you should take the opportunity to go for a stroll in the village, Langada is a traditional mountain village with winding alleys where bougainvilleas climb between the houses, you meet few people, it's quiet, sometimes you hear a donkey braying or a cock crowing, if you stop you might hear some villagers quietly converse during the siesta. To stroll around in the alleys of Langada is as soothing as meditation.

Small cozy cafe in the beautiful alleys of Langada.

One of many beautiful alleys in Langada.

The baker goes round the village and delivers bread.

To get to Langada, you can either take the bus from Aegiali, hike along the old donkey path or drive (4 km) a private vehicle. The distance is an enjoyment to cover, the nearer the village you get, the nicer the view over Aegiali and the mighty ocean get. If you hike up to Langada, you will see the abandoned village of Stroumbos.

View of Aegiali from the road up to Langada.

Notice the small church of Agia Triada which is squeezed into a rock crevice on the right side of the road. Start to look up when you have reached about halfway, the whitewashed steps that leads to the church begins at the roadside.

Agia Triada church which is located along the road up to Langada.

The abandoned village of Stroumbos. Tholaria top left.

Some of the most popular hiking trails on Amorgos begins near the parking lot just outside Langada: first the hike between Langada and Tholaria, second the hike to the abandoned monastery of Agios Theologos continuing to the mythical church of Stavros, and thirdly the hike to the windmills of Machos.

Here begins the hike to Agios Theologos monastery and the church of Stavros.

Read about our life-threatening hike to Stavros church here »

Aegiali on the left, Tholaria in the middle and Langada on the right.

Langada seen from above. I took the picture when we hiked to the windmills in Machos.

Langada. In the background you see Tholaria.

Langada seen from Tholaria. The windmills in Machos at the top of the mountain.

The beautiful church in Langada.

The church is celebrated on September 17 every year.

The priest calls in the big party.

Then good food and drinks are offered when the church is celebrated.

Kafénion in Langada in 2003.

The same old and beautiful kafénion from the inside.

The square in Langada in 2003.

ACCOMMODATION IN LANGADA

I would gladly stay a few nights in Langada. Of those who are, I think that Amaranto Rooms looks like a very nice accommodation, which offers wonderful views over the mountains and the sea. I could also imagine staying at Art Studio Apartments.

Book Amaranto Rooms here »

Book Art Studio Apartments here »

WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU ARE IN LANGADA

Don't miss the hike to Agios Theologos, which you can read about here »

READ MORE ABOUT AMORGOS