Nisyros, because it is a volcanic island with special geological and cultural interest, is suitable for various activities that go beyond the range of mass tourism. Nisyros is an island ideal for alternative forms of tourism such as: conference, religious, spa, walking, diving, gastronomy, etc.
Activities for visitors
Conference tourism
Nisyros, with its special natural beauty, the volcano, Paliokastro, the monasteries, the churches, with the scientific interest they cause in a variety of scientific fields (volcanology, geology, seismology, energy, geothermal, ecology, ecology, archeology, ), can be an important conference destination.
Today, Nisyros can host conferences of 200 people in Municipal buildings designed for this purpose, and is a priority of the Municipal Authority, the construction of a state-of-the-art conference center - multi-space, capable of hosting large conferences, exhibitions and cultural events in general.
Religious tourism
Throughout its long history, Nisyros has been a place of intense spirituality and religiosity. Proof, the numerous places of worship, as evidenced by the remains of temples, the countless temples of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period, the humble churches that are scattered in its countryside.
One is surprised, in front of the variety and beauty of the religious feeling that was expressed on our island over the centuries with the numerous monasteries, churches, hermitages and objects of incomparable religious art (such as Byzantine icons, hagiographies, wood-carved iconostasis, etc. , which compose a mosaic of rare beauty. This beauty is emphasized even more by the natural landscape of our island, full of alternations and surprises.
The acquaintance with the religious monuments and the sacred memories of Nisyros, but also the deep feeling that they transmit, is connected with the search for a different way of life, based on the authentic traditional values. That is why the monuments of this place are not just museum elements or inanimate transmitters of information. On the contrary, it is a strong presence in the cultural tradition of the island, a deposit of soul, hope and renewal and therefore can today inspire and give a different meaning of life to the visitor of the island.
Almost all the festivals that are organized on the island are a pole of attraction for visitors.
At On June 30, in the village of Paloi, a festival is held and their day is honored Of the Holy Apostles.
At July 26-27, at Avlaki, a festival is held to celebrate it Saint Panteleimon .
At August 14-15 the organization of a festival by Holy Monastery of Panagia Spiliani in Mandraki, with people coming from all over the Dodecanese, is the most important event taking place in Nisyros.
At 14-15 August A festival is organized by Holy Monastery of Panagia Kyra.
At August 22-23 becomes a festival in Holy Monastery of Panagia Kyra for the celebration of the nine days from Assumption of Mary.
At September 8 is celebrated Genesis of the Virgin in Emporio.
At September 13-14 becomes a festival in Holy Cross Monastery on the volcano.
At September 25-26 the festival for its celebration Saint John the Theologian to the monastery located in the village Nice.
At November 7-8, in the village Merchant, becomes a festival on his feast Archangel Michael.
At November 21 feast at Entrances of the Virgin at the village Nice.
An excellent season for your presence in Nisyros is the season of Easter, both the Holy Week and the week after Lambri.
Spa tourism
Abundant hot springs are another special feature of Nisyros. In many places along the coast of the island hot water gushes, at temperatures ranging from 30 to 61 degrees. It is a mixture of sea and rain water with the geothermal fluids of the upper hot horizon. These, warmer and lighter, manage to reach close to the surface following the large cracks and crevices in the area.
The best known of the hot springs are those of Loutron, 1500 meters north of Mandraki and Thermiani, next to the church of Panagia Thermiani, at the northern end of the village of Palos. Both are classified as "thermal hydrogen sulfide aliphates".
The source of Thermiani has been known since antiquity. The inscription found in the ruins of the large portico of the Roman baths which operated in the same area "Olbian man by no means Hippocrates of Valania's disease's disease" (Happy man who will become like this (will be healed), [just passes ] the poor (olive wood) threshold of Hippocrates's baths [which wash away] harmful diseases) reinforces the view that Hippocrates's father of medicine had chosen this spring of Nisyros as a spa. The same source probably mentions Buondelmonti as thermal baths:
Ad trionem in pede montis, contigua maris, spelunca consistit, ad quam circumstantes, doloribus oppressi, accedunt, et, diu morati, in patriam incolumes reventuntur.
On the nearby shore, on the edge of the mountain, there is a cave where those who suffer from pain come to be healed, stay for a while and then leave healthy.
The last period during which a therapeutic center operated in the area is from 1895 until the beginning of the 30's, the well-known "Loutra Pantelidi".
Today the old baths have been restored, but they are not yet ready to operate. The temperature of the spring is 33 degrees, but it is expected to increase by 8-10 degrees if the water is pumped.
The waters of the hot spring of Loutra have been exploited by the Municipal Baths of Mandraki since 1872. Is It is famous for its healing properties in rheumatism, arthritis, skin diseases and diseases of the circulatory system. The maximum temperature of the source is 46 degrees.
A third known hot spring is the one in its bay Groove. Its waters had been used for bath therapy before leaving the settlement. The hot water is gushing in the sea today and its maximum temperature is 61 degrees.
Apart from the hot springs, in Nisyros there are many places where hot steam emerges. Two of these sites have been used in the past as natural saunas. The main one, and known since antiquity, is in place Fireplaces, where the steam bath chamber is still preserved and adjacent buildings of the baths. The other place is located at the entrance of the settlement Emporios. The temperature of the vapors is 34-35 ° C.
Diving tourism
The seabed of Nisyros is one of the few places in the world where it can one to dive into an active volcano and swim among the bubbles coming out of the bowels of the earth. The excellent visibility that reaches up to 40 meters is ideal to be able to enjoy magnificent volcanic landscapes below sea level. Underwater faults, caves, craters are waiting to be explored with autonomous but also with free diving. Excellent biodiversity as well it can cause great surprises and emotions. At the bottom of Nisyros you can see endless meadows of Poseidonia, herds of Mediterranean barracudas, magicians, octopuses, hermit crabs, colorful nudibranhw, roaches and anything else exists in the Mediterranean is possible to meet it.
