LOCATION

Mary's House nestles in the village of Vourliotes , perched like an eagle's nest on the side of the mountain.

In 1900, Vourliotes had some 388 houses, and 1,476 residents. Since there is an abundance of clear cold spring water in the area, the soil is both sandy and cool. Near Vourliotes is the spring of Pnaka, with water so cold that many who drank it are said to have "lost their teeth"!

In the past, Vourliotes produced excellent wine in large quantities. These days, production is on a smaller scale. Figs, cherries, apples and other fruit are grown. There are also countless mulberry trees here. The residents are viticulturalists, hard workers and famous for their warm welcome. Near the town one can see the ruins of the houses of a village which was known as Ayiogdytes, which in Greek translates as "Swindlers"!

Vourliotes is also the site of the Monastery of Our Lady of Vrontas.

From the rear of the monastery, one can climb to one of the highest peaks of Mt. Karvounis , at a height of 1,160 metres. Here one can find the ruins of a fortress which bears the name of the Castle of Lazarus . Nearby there are also the ruins of another fortress, called the Castle of Loulouda . Legend has it that it takes its name from the fact that a girl called Loulouda, the daughter of a priest from the village, who lost consciouness while she was sitting on a rock and fell into the ravine, suffering fatal injuries. During those times, fortresses such as these were used in times of enemy raids, or as watchtowers from which a watch could be kept on the passing shipping.

From this vantage point one can see all the villages of the eastern side of the island, while exactly opposite Mt. Karvounis itself rises, from whose highest peak, Profitis Ilias, one can see the whole of the western part. The valleys and ravines between these mountains once served as hideouts for criminals. The countryside around is watered from springs of clear, cool water. One of these is called the 'Spring of Hassan Aga', because one of the Turkish governors of the island stopped here to quench his thirst and immediately dropped down dead as a result of the extreme coldness of the water.

Vourliotes is 22 kilometres equidistant from Vathy and Karlovasi.

The village of Vourliotes was built some 400 years ago by people who came from Vourla (hence the name) in Asia Minor . At that time it was a municipality and capital of the six quarters known respectively as Margarites, Valeontades, Manolates, Stavrinides, Nenedes (now Ambelos) and Agios Konstantinos.

Today its population stands at 759. Within its boundaries are two seaside villages, Kambos and Avlakia, which are being developed for tourism, while it is linked with the main Vathy - Karlovasi road by a good-quality road.

The Vrontiani Monastery. - Three kilometres to the north of the villages is Samos 's oldest monastery, the Vrontas Monastery, built in 1500 A.D., which is noted for its Byzantine icons and its other treasures, which call forth the admiration and awe of its many visitors. The monastery is always kept scrupulously clean. You can reach Vourliotes, part from using the main district road, by three footpaths which take you through countryside of rare natural beauty ; from Kokkari through the Mana and Pouri areas, from Kambos Vourlioton through the villages of Palaiochori and Pnakas, and from Ayios Konstantinos following the Platanakia - Valeontades - Kakkava route.

The whole of the Vourliotes area is delightfully green, but particular beauty spots are : Tsambou Beach , the area around Pnakas, Pera Vrysi, Lazaros, and Agia Marina.

The centre of the village is occupied by a most attractive traditional square, surrounded by coffee shops and modern snack-bars, capable of satisfying the most sophisticated tastes.

The residents, hospitable by nature, are employed chiefly in agriculture (vine and olive - growing) and produce notable quantities of good-quality Samos wine and oil.