Pouria & the Stone Mushroom
The otherworldly seaside site of Pouria on Skyros, an ancient limestone quarry with the mushroom-shaped rock, a rock-carved chapel and clear, deep water to swim in.
Last updated 3 July 2026
Just north of Chora, where the land runs out into the sea, the coast at Pouria has a strange, sculpted beauty all its own. It is one of the island’s quiet hidden gems, a place of worked stone, deep water and a tiny church carved into the rock.
In short: Pouria is a seaside spot just north of Chora, an ancient limestone quarry where the sea has carved the rock into strange shapes. Its landmark is the Stone Mushroom (Manitari), a mushroom-shaped rock, and nearby a tiny chapel of Agios Nikolaos is cut straight into the stone. The clear, deep water makes it a favourite quiet spot for a swim.
An ancient quarry by the sea
In antiquity, Pouria was worked as a limestone quarry, its pale blocks cut and carried away to build. Walk among the rocks today and you can still read that history in the straight cuts, channels and flat faces left in the stone, softened now by centuries of wind and salt. It gives the whole site an otherworldly, half-sculpted look.
The Stone Mushroom
The best-known feature here is a mushroom-shaped rock, known simply as the Manitari (mushroom). Shaped by the quarrying and then by wind and sea, it stands as one of Skyros’s small natural curiosities and a favourite photo stop.
The rock-carved chapel of Agios Nikolaos
A few steps away, a tiny whitewashed chapel of Agios Nikolaos is carved directly into the rock at the water’s edge. Half-cave, half-church, it is a quietly moving little place, and a reminder of how closely faith and landscape are woven together on Skyros.
Swimming at Pouria
The water off the rocks is deep and beautifully clear, which makes Pouria a lovely, low-key place to swim away from the sandy beaches. There is no organised facility here, so bring water shoes, water and shade, and take care on the rocks. It pairs well with the nearby northern coast and the snorkelling coves.
Getting there
Pouria lies a short drive or walk north of Chora, on the coast below the town. It makes an easy add-on to a morning in Chora and the castle, or to a day of slow walking and nature in the island’s quieter corners.
FAQ
Where is the Stone Mushroom on Skyros? At Pouria, a seaside spot just north of Chora, where an ancient limestone quarry meets the sea.
Can you swim at Pouria? Yes, the deep, clear water off the rocks makes it a quiet swimming spot. There are no facilities, so bring water shoes and shade.
What is the little church at Pouria? A tiny chapel of Agios Nikolaos, carved directly into the rock at the water’s edge.
Part of Walks & Nature. Plan your trip →