Ano Meria is located northwest of Chora , approximately 6km away. It is an essentially rural region, made up of groups of farms constituting places called places bearing the name of the first family to settle there. It almost forms neighborhoods, each having its own church.
In Ano Meria , time stops. The inhabitants tirelessly perpetuate ancestral traditions, it really feels like you’re in another world.
In addition, the landscapes are impressive. Hikers will discover a thousand and one fragrant trails. The taverns serve a local specialty: “ matsata ”, a type of stew cooked with rooster or rabbit accompanied by homemade pasta.
To get there, you have to take the Route des Crêtes which is the only road that connectsChora in Ano Meria and which recently extends to Agios Giorgos . It runs along the ridges and offers spectacular views from both sides of the island.
Until a few years ago, it was mainly frequented by mule drivers and their herds.
You can take the bus from the port of Karavostassi or fromChora , or rent a two-wheeler or a car or go there on foot to appreciate the beauty of the landscapes.
You will find halfway the Museum of Popular Art installed in a restored farmhouse. This small museum houses a very interesting collection of domestic utensils. It is also the perfect example of the rural habitat of the island, called “ themonia ”.
In Folegandros , a rural house is always designed on the same principle.
Built with its back to the north to protect itself from the winds, it is divided into several buildings. First of all the main house, right next to it a small building housing the cellar, the wood oven, the oil press.
Next are the stables, the cistern serving at the same time as a watering trough for the animals, a wash house, a wine press, a henhouse and a threshing floor. All around, enclosures delimited by low walls with necessarily a lemon tree protected from the winds by a circular wall and surrounded by a trench, a vineyard and a vegetable garden for summer vegetables.
