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Ano Vathy
A street running inland, perpendicular to the southern part of the waterfront, leads 1 km uphill to Ano Vathy, the original settlement of the town, whose narrow wind-ing streets are overhung with wooden balconies projecting from the wood-frame and plaster buildings of a type common to the areas of Ottoman dominion. The most interesting monument is the double church of Aghii Ioannis Prodromos & Nikolaos, which is at the top of the village, below the newly created (and copiously sign posted) Giannaki Open-Air Theatre. First the church of Aghios Ioannis (‘Giannaki’) was erected in 1750; then Aghios Nikolaos was added 50 years later. The result is a square and unusually compact profile, dominated by a cluster of four cupolas (two over the combined narthex; two at the respective crossings). The interiors are current ly in bad condition, their 18th century wall-paintings and plasterwork, stained with damp. A rare treasure, though, is the floor of Aghios Ioannis (south), which is laid with patterned polychrome tiles in pastel colours, dating from shortly after the church’s construction.
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Samos Island is part of the Northern Aegean Island Group, Greece.