The only hamlet on the island lies in the valley formed by two dried river beds. Until the devastating earthquake of 1968 this is where the locals’ vegetable and fruit gardens used to be. The old hamlet was perched at the top of the hill, above the harbour, with stone built, two -or three- storey traditional houses, but after ‘68 the few residents were forced by the military government (junta) to move to uniform homes, abandoning their old “Chora”. Thankfully, some of the stone homes were saved from complete destruction; these were restored with reverence by the locals of Agios Efstratios. One of them, the Marasleios School of 1909 presently houses the Museum of Democracy.

Source: North Aegean Region - https://www.pvaigaiou.gov.gr