Legend has it that Pasha San Rizas who lived on the island of Evoia lost his tarboosh inside a creek till it finally got washed up inside a fountain at Apoikia village in Andros. The fountain, therefore, was named after him and they say that Sariza Fountain is connected to Evoia. Even though the exact restoration date of the fountain remains unknown, we know that it was constructed in 1787 and was funded and supervised by Makarios Polemis. The fountain was mainly used as a water supply for the inhabitants of the village and as an irrigation system for the fields.
Sariza fountain is rich in minerals and the water has therapeutic properties. Following a royal decree in 1932, it was announced that it can fight kidney problems and other diseases. A sign, which can be found near the fountain, says “Hello stranger. When you go back to your country, remember you owe your life to me”. The water of the fountain comes out at a fixed rate and a factory was built in order to bottle this exquisite water and export it abroad. It is worth mentioning that the quality and reputation of Sariza water is often compared to the very well-known French Evian.
