Amorgos

Map of Amorgos

Amorgos, the 7th bigger island of the Cyclades(121km² extension and 1970 inhabitants), with its dramatic mountain scenery and laidback atmosphere, is attracting visitors in increasing numbers. The island can get extremely crowded in midsummer, the numbers swollen by film buffs paying their respects to the film location of Luc Besson's The Big Blue, although fewer venture out to Liveros at the island's western end to see the wreck of the Olympia which figures so prominently in the film. In general it's a low key, escapist clientele, happy to have found a relatively large, interesting, uncommercialized and hospitable island. Families tend to stay around Katapola, while younger tourists prefer Aigiali. This is the island to try rakomelo - a kind of fermented grappa with honey, herbs and spices, drunk in shots.

Capital of Amorgos is Hora, located in the center of the island, one of the better-preserved settlements in the Cyclades, with a scattering of tourists shops, cafes, taverns and rooms. Dominated by an upright volcanic rock plug, wrapped with a chapel or two, the 13th century Venetian fortifications look down on nearly thirty other churches, some domed, and a line of decapitated windmills beyond.

Santorini

Map of Santorini

Santorini or Thira is located in the southern Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades island group, south west of Ios and Anafi. It's the 12th bigger island of Cyclades with 76km² extension and 18.883 population. Distance from Piraeus is 128 nautical miles and 63 nautical miles from Crete. The Athinios is the island's biggest port and Fira is the capital. Santorini is one of the most famous tourist centers of the world. It is known for its volcano.

As the ferry manoeuvres into the great caldera of Santorini(Thira), the land seems to rise up and clamp around it. Gaunt, sheer cliffs loom hundred of meters above the deep blue sea, nothing grows or grazes to soften the awesome view, and the only colors are the reddish-brown, black and grey pumice layers on the cliff face of Santorini. The landscape tells of a history so dramatic and turbulent that legend hangs as fact upon it.

These apocalyptic events, though, scarcely concern modern tourists, who come here to take in the spectacular views, stretch out on the island's dark-sand beaches and absorb peculiar, infernal geographic features. The tourism industry  has changed traditional island life, creating a rather expensive playground. There is one time-honored local industry, however, that has benefited from all the outside attention: wine. Santorini is one of Greece's most important producers, and the fresh, dry white wines it is known for (most from the assyrtiko grape for which the region is known) are the perfect accompaniment to the seafood served in the many restaurants and taverns that hug the island's cliffs.

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.