Milos

Map of Milos

Milos is the 5th bigger island of Cyclades. It has 158km² extension and 5.000 population approximately. Volcanic Milos is a geologically diverse island with weird rock formations, hot springs and odd outcrops off the coast. Minoan settlers were attracted by obsidian. This and other products of its volcanic soil made it one of the most important of Cyclades in the ancient world. Today the quarrying of many rare mineral has left huge scars on the landscape but has given the island a relative prosperity which today translates into several gourmet restaurants.

The Western side of Milos, as well the other islands around it, including Kimolos, is a nature reserve protecting three endemic species: like the extremely rare Mediterranean seal, the Milos viper and the Milos wall-lizard.

Capital of Milos is Plaka, the largest of a cluster of traditional villages that huddle beneath a small crag on the road Northwest of Adhamas., the lively main port of Milos, a small hamlet until it was populated by refugees from a failed rebellion in Crete in the 1840s.

Poros

Map of Poros

Poros is an Argosaronic island. It has 4.010 residents and 22,600 km² extension. Popular with Brits and Scandinavians more than any other Argosaronic island- it is also busy with weekending Athenians, who can get there by road(via Galatas) or on cheap ferries from Pireas. There are in fact two islands, Sferia(Poros Town) - for food, nightlife and shopping- and the far larger Kalavria-a little more peace-, separated from each other by a small canal spanned by a bridge. The Town is a busy place, with constant traffic of shipping and people.

Spetses

Map of Spetses

Spetses is a famous island of Argosaronic complex with 22km² extension and 4.000 population. It's a popular destination, especially for Athenians. Capital of the island is Spetses Town, the biggest town of the Argosaronic islands, with apartments and villas spreading  for several kilometers along the Northeast coast, while the rest of the island remains almost entirely uninhabited, with pine forest inland and numerous excellent small beaches around the coast.

It's located near the Argolic peninsula right of the entrance of the Argolic Gulf, just 1.5 miles from Ermionida  and 50 miles from Piraeus.

Main products are olive oil, cereals, grapes, almonds and figs. The inhabitant's main occupation is shipping and fishing.

Spetses Town

For most visitors, shopping, eating and drinking are the principal attractions of Spetses, but it's a very enjoyable place to wander, with majestic old houses and gardens scattered through the narrow streets. The harbor, Dapia, marks pretty much the center of town, with the main square tucked in behind. To the East lies the town beach of Agios Mamas and beyond that the Old Harbor, upmarket focus of the island's nightlife, where private yachts moor up. West of Dapia is Kounoupitsa where much of the accommodation is here, and there are small beaches and waterfront taverns.

Egina

Map of Egina

A substantial and attractive island with a proud history, less than an hour from Pireas, Egina is a popular weekend escape from Athens. The second largest of Argosaronic islands with 82km² extension and 13.000 inhabitants approximately. The capital of Egina is Egina Town(Hora). It's an atmosphere island especially if you visit midweek or out of season. Famous for its pistachio orchards the island can also boast substantial ancient remains, the finest of which is the beautiful fifth-century BC Temple of Aphaea.

Egina Town

Egina Town, the island's capital, makes an attractive base, with some grand old buildings around a large harbor. It's a large town with plenty of shops places to eat and drink.

Agistri

Map of Agistri

Agistri, fifteen minutes by fast boat from Egina, is a tiny island, that belongs to Argosaronic complex. Capital of the island is Megalohori(Milos). It has 11,693km² and 1.120 residents. There's a small non attractive strip of development on the North coast facing Egina, but the rest of the island is very beautiful, pine-covered, with a very few beaches. The island has four villages: Megalochori or Milos (island country), Skala (the physical port where close to the ferry boat from Piraeus / Egina), Limenaria and Metohi. The island has daily ferry connections with Piraeus. The trip by ferry boat is 2 hours while "flying dolphin" 55 minutes.

Alonissos

Map of Alonissos

Alonissos is the largest island of Sporades complex. The total area reaches 64km² and has a coastline of about 67km. The population of the island reaches 2.600 inhabitants. The capital os Alonissos is Patitiri,the major commercial and administrative center of the island. Alonissos is more rugged and wild than its neighbors but not less green. Pine forest, olive groves and fruit orchards cover the Southern half, while a dense maquis of arbutus, heather and kermes oak the North. The beaches rarely match those of Skopelos or Skiathos for sand and scenery, but the white pebbles on most of them enhance the impression of gin clear water. Remoteness and limited ferry connections mean that Alonissos attracts fewer visitors than its neighbors.

Greek Islands

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