Below the hill in Aplomata lies Grotta, where the sea eats deaply into the land. There can be no doubt that earthquakes, landslides and, of course, the rise of the sea level have meant that the appearance is considerably different from that it was in antiquity.

At dusk, as the sun slowly sinks like a ball of fire into the sea and disappears, the "Portara" is bathed in a glorious twilight glow. Sunset is a shear delight on this island; despite the proximity of the noisy harbor and the crowded Chora there is a sense of tranquility which transports one back in time, creating a delightful feeling of being far away from it all. In the distance the island of Paros can be clearly discerned on the horizon.

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At the northern end of Chora, at Grotta beach, traces of a Minoan settlement have been found. The area took its name from the cave at Aplomata (grotta being the Italian word for cave).