The road past Karfas
continues along bushes of scented mastic and thyme, passes the Plaka, which was
a large vineyard area during the Genovese period and reaches the area of Agia
Ermioni. This is a very old site, sea sprinkled settlement of historic Votes (former
boat shelters and now summer cottages) on the shore and the picturesque chapel
of Agia Ermioni built in 1754. Here we see the Mantraki (the small marina) embraced
by jagged rocks, where the fishermen find refuge from the mania of the South winds.
In the years of the World War II occupation, this was a German guard
post. It was also here that where Chian boatmen risked their lives by stealing
boats from the German soldiers to transport Greek patriots across the sea where
they could go on to the Middle East.
Today Agia Ermioni boasts newly-built hotels, pensions, tavernas and
various shops for the convenience of the visitor. It is an ideal place to relax.
