Monastery walls, white mansions and sacred history above the Aegean.
Patmos Chora surrounds the fortified Monastery of Saint John, with labyrinthine lanes, historic houses and views over Skala and the island coast.
The Monastery of Saint John dominates Chora like a fortress, safeguarding manuscripts, icons and centuries of Orthodox history. Below it, whitewashed mansions and narrow lanes form part of the UNESCO-listed ensemble with the Cave of the Apocalypse.
Chora is still a residential village, not an open museum. Quiet courtyards, small restaurants and evening views towards Skala reward visitors who move respectfully and avoid treating doorways as photo sets.
Practical information
Buses and taxis climb from Skala. The monastery has dress rules and limited hours; Chora's steep, polished lanes require secure shoes.
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