Tis Grias To Pidima Beach, Andros: The Most Photographed Beach in the Cyclades, With a 21m Monolith, Three Versions of the Same Legend, and No Facilities

Greece | Korthi | Andros, Cyclades

The most popular version of Grias Pidima’s legend refers to the Castle of Gria, also called Castle of Faneromeni in the village of Kochylou, which was remarkably fortified during the Ottoman domination and the Turks were unable to take possession of it. For this reason, they turned to fraudulent means, sending an old woman with her pregnant daughter to seek help. At night, the old woman opened a gateway to the Turks, who killed the settlers. The old woman felt ashamed and committed suicide by jumping into the sea. For that reason, the beach is “Tis Grias to Pidima” — “The Old Lady’s Jump”.

There are three predominant versions of the legend, all involving an old woman and a leap from the cliff. The second has the Turks chasing her and her jumping to avoid capture. The third has her widowed three times and jumping from grief. From a distance, the rock resembles an old woman hunched over, and this provided the spark to create the myths behind the name.

Tis Grias to Pidima is, hands down, the most popular and most photographed beach in Andros. It boasts an unspoiled setting, as it is not organised with umbrellas and sunbeds and has no facilities, keeping its raw natural charm. The standout is a huge 21-metre-high cliff emerging from the sea.

Getting There: 23km From Chora, Narrow Alleys Through Korthi Village Following Signs, Dirt Road Final Section, 5-Minute Descent

Tis Grias to Pidima Beach is located on the southeastern part of Andros island, near Korthi. It is 38 km away from Gavrio Port and 23 km from Chora. The beach is considered to be hard to find and reach. Even though the beach is particularly impressive and unique, it cannot be seen while driving because it is not visible from the road. For visitors to reach Tis Grias to Pidima, they will need to cross Korthi village’s small alleys by car, following the signs.

For the last kilometre, visitors will need to walk the dirt road to the beach, on a downhill narrow path — a 5-minute walk.

Lovers of hiking choose to approach via the hiking trail of Gialos and St. Kathrin. The beach is located east of the large bay of Korthi, just behind the small church of Agia Aikaterini.

Bring water from Korthi before the final approach. There is nothing at the beach itself.

The Beach: Sandy, Unorganised, No Facilities, No Shade Except Cliffs, Bring Everything

Tis Grias to Pidima beach has fine golden sand, crystal clear emerald waters and is insulated by towering cliffs. Visitors are advised to bring their own umbrellas, as there is no shade at this beach, except for the natural shade of the cliffs.

It is a small, sandy beach with crystal clear emerald waters, ideal for those seeking an all-day escape. The rocks standing tall behind the beach offer natural shade to the visitors throughout the day. Tis Grias to Pidima is not an organised beach and there is no easy access to food or water, so people visiting should be prepared and have their own supplies.

The water is shallow near the shore and calm — the beach has crystal clear, blue-green, shallow waters — and is ideal for families despite the difficult approach.

The Monolith: 21 Metres High, Wind and Salt Carved, the Most Photographed Feature in Andros

The distinctive rock standing tall just feet away from the beach, along with the turquoise waves, offers captivating and wild views.

The huge rock, stuck in the sand, 15 metres in height, gave the beach its name and much of its popularity. The way the salt and the winds carved the rock, giving it a unique appearance, makes the beach famous in all of Greece. The heights given vary between sources — Greeka cites 21 metres, Hotel Perrakis cites 15 metres — the honest answer is it is a substantial freestanding sea stack whose visual impact from beach level makes precise measurement irrelevant to the visitor experience.

Korthi Village and the Castle of Faneromeni

Pano Kastro, or Kastro tis Faneromeni, or Gria to Kastro, is located high above the village of Kochylos. In the Castle, which is approached through a path from the village of Kochylos, there are many ruins of houses and temples as well as the church of Faneromeni. What is probably worth more is the stunning view of the Aegean Sea.

The castle that appears in the legend is visible from the area and accessible by a separate trail — the specific cultural extension of the beach visit for anyone with the energy after the descent and ascent.

Andros: The Green Cycladic Island, 2 Hours From Athens by Ferry

Andros is reached by ferry from Rafina (2 hours) — Rafina is 20 kilometres from Athens city centre and significantly easier to access than Piraeus for the northern Cyclades. The island is known for its waterfalls, neoclassical architecture in Chora, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the hiking trails. Tis Grias to Pidima is 23 kilometres from Chora — the southeast of the island — meaning a hire car or scooter is essential for the beach visit.

Tis Grias To Pidima Beach on Andros is the most photographed beach in the Cyclades — the 21-metre monolith a few metres from the sand, three versions of the legend of the old woman who jumped, no facilities (bring water, food, and shade from Korthi), narrow alleys through Korthi village following signs to reach the dirt road, then 5 minutes on foot downhill to the sand, 23 kilometres from Chora, 38 kilometres from Gavrio port.

Follow the signs through Korthi. Park at the top. Walk down to the monolith.