The only significant settlement on Mykonos outside of Chora, Ano Mera sits in the centre of the island about 8 km from town. It has the feel of an actual village rather than a resort — a square, a few tavernas, a bakery, and the 16th-century Panagia Tourliani Monastery as its centrepiece. Locals eat here and prices are noticeably lower than in Chora.
The Monastery of Panagia Tourliani dominates the village square. Its ornate baroque iconostasis is one of the finest examples of Venetian-influenced Orthodox church art in the Cyclades. The tavernas on the square serve honest grilled fish and local wine; arriving by bus from Chora, you get a more realistic picture of Mykonian life than anything on offer at the beach clubs.