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Between a rock and a hard place (72)
Cretense Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3930 W: 65 N: 10779] (37990)
This is a partial view of the Hora (the "capital") of Serifos, a place that has been inhabited for more than 2.800 years. As I have written in one of my previous notes, usually the "capitals" of the islands of the Aegean (which most of the times are called "Horas") were built relatively far from the sea high up on some hills, to be protected from pirates' attacks.

In the photo you see some of the old part of Serifos' Hora, the upper neighborhood, the Ano (Upper) Hora. Later, when the danger of pirates vanished, a new neighbourhood, the Kato (Lower) Hora was built, on the visible side of the hill ( CHECK WORKSHOP ).

Because of lack of space, the houses are very small. The locals often call them "Kelia" (means "cells"). Whole families used to live in houses that were many times smaller that 25-30 m2 !

There are some theories about why the houses were and are all painted white. One of them says, that it was because of some kind of superstition thing by the people. They thought that this way, their Horas would be cleaner and that they could keep away infectious diseases such as plague and cholera. I think that the main reason is more simple. They just wanted to get rid of the heat, at least some of it.

*** HERE YOU CAN SEE AN "INTERNAL" NIGHT VIEW OF THE HORA, ITS SQUARE WITH THE TOWN HALL AND THE "CATHEDRAL", THE CHURCH OF AGHIOS ANTONIOS (ST. ANTHONY)***
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Cretense Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3930 W: 65 N: 10779] (37990)
Ano & Kato Hora
Edited by:Cretense Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3930 W: 65 N: 10779] (37990)
On the right side of the hill, you can see the old, "hidden" Ano (Upper) Hora and on the left side the newer, "visible" from the sea, Kato (lower) Hora.