Caldera - Crater

The volcano of Nisyros is the newest active volcano in Greece since its oldest rocks do not exceed 150,000 years of age. 60,000 years ago to this day, hundreds of small eruptions built a cone that rose about 600 metres above sea level and had roughly the perimeter of the island as it is today.

Two huge explosions, 25,000 and 15,000 years ago, destroy the central part of the volcano, which caves in and creates the current caldera of the volcano. Since then the volcano remains at rest. But the hot rocks, located a few kilometres in depth underneath the caldera and their hot gases, warm the seawater and the rainwater that circulates around the more shallow rocks and convert it into superheated liquid at temperatures approaching the 500 degrees Celsius. Intermittently, the superheated liquid ejects into the air the rocks that prevent it from reaching the surface, causing hydrothermal explosions and creating hydrothermal craters. Such explosions were recorded in Nisyros in historical times.

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Panagia Spiliani

Built on tall rock at the Castle of Mandraki is the monastery of Panagia Spiliani. According to tradition, in 1400 AD a farmer discovered a small picture of the Virgin Mary, which he brought to the Church of Panagia Potamitissa. A few days later, the picture disappeared only to be found later in a cave at the top of a large rock. The inhabitants returned it to the church but the incident was repeated. For this reason it was decided to build the cave as a church and it was done so a few years later. Going up the 130 steps, the visitor arrives at the holy cave and sees the remarkable wooden altarpiece from 1725 AD. On the altarpiece, images of Jesus, Virgin Mary with the Holy Child and the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St. Charalambos are visible. T

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Palaiokastro

Palaiokastro is the fortress of the ancient city of Nisyros and one of the best preserved in the Aegean area. The ancient city was built at least since the 8th century BC, above the modern settlement of Mandraki. The wall, as it survives today, dates back to the 4th century BC. Built on the brow and the slopes of the hill it led to the cliff from its west side, whilst from its north, it reached up to the rock where the medieval castle and the monastery of Panagia Spiliani lie today.

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Museums

VOLCANOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Located in the village of Nikia, it is the first and so far the only volcanological museum in Greece.  The main areas of the Museum host the following thematic units: -Volcanic genesis and structure -Volcanic process and products –The volcanoes of Greece –The volcano of Nisyros and the other active volcanoes of Greece and Volcanoes-Environment-Human. The museum has an exhibition area, which includes all the rocks of Nisyros as well as rocks from other volcanoes and also, places to view informative material.

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