At the “Palios” location on the beach of Mandamados is the church of St. Stephen, cruciform inscribed with a dome. The dome had collapsed in the middle of the 19th century. and wooden beams with ceramic covering were placed in its place.
It is a small building made of carved pink tracheite stones. According to tradition, the inhabitants of the area successfully repelled a pirate attack around 1220. Thus, they offered the “crown” of their victory to St. Stefanos with the establishment of a church in his honor.
However, architectural members of an earlier temple and votive inscription of the 2nd c. to Trajan Caesar have been built into the masonry of the monument. On the eastern side, the three semicircular arches of the sanctuary stand out, while blind arches decorate the northern and southern walls. The floor of the interior is pebbled with a wide variety of decorative patterns.
The dating of the monument is difficult. However, it must be placed from the main morphological elements in the 13th century. The monument preserves in some places the remains of wall paintings, which are impossible to date.
Near the monument there is a small settlement with characteristic pottery workshops and kilns.
