Folegandros

Map of Folegandros

Folegandros is the 19th bigger island of Cyclades, with 32,384km² and 765 inhabitants. It's located between Milos(15 miles) and Sikinos. It also called Polukandros.

The sheer cliffs of Folegandros rise 300m from the sea in places and until the early 1980s they were as effective a deterrent to tourists as they had historically been to pirates. Folegandros was used now and then as an island of political exile from Roman times right up until 1969, and life in the high, barren interior was only eased in 1974 by the arrival of electricity and the subsequent construction of a road running from the harbor to Hora(capital) and beyond. Development has been given further impetus by the recent increase in tourism and the ensuing commercialization. The island is becoming so trendy that Greek journalists speak of a new Mykonos in the making, a fact that is reflected in its swish jewellery and clothes shops. Yet away from showcase Hora and the beaches, the countryside remains mostly pristine. Donkeys are also  still very much in evidence, since the terrain on much of the island is too steep for vehicles.

The island's real character and appeal are rooted in the spectacular Hora, the capital of Folegandros, perched on a cliff-edge plateau, a steep 3km from the port. Locals and foreigners mingle at the cafes and taverns under the trees of the five adjacent squares, passing the time undisturbed by traffic, which is banned from the village center. Towards the northern cliff-edge and entered through two arcades, the defensive core if the medieval castle (Kastro) neighborhood is marked by ranks of two-storey residential houses, with almost identical stairways and slightly recessed doors.

West of Hora, a paved road threads its way along the spine of the island towards sprawling Ano Meria. In the middle of the settlement stands the large church of Agios Georgios.

Sikinos

Map of Sikinos

Sikinos has so small extension and population -40km² and 270 residents- that the mule ride or walk from the port up to the capital was only replaced by a bus in the late 1980s. At roughly the same time the new jetty was completed. Until then Sikinos was the last major Greek island where ferry passengers were still taken ashore in launches. With no extravagant characteristics and no nightlife to speak of, few foreigners make the short trip over here from Folegandros or Ios. The end result, however, is the most unspoilt rural countryside in the Cyclades where the image of a priest riding a donkey can suddenly materialize from over a hill.

Hora or Sikinos , the capital, consists of the double village of Kastro and Horio. Most of the facilities are in the larger, northeastern Kastro, whereas Horio is mainly residential. Northeast from Hora is Paleokastro, the patchy remains of an ancient fortress. In the opposite direction , a ninety-minute walk takes leads to an old path throufh a steeply terraced landscape to Episkopi, where elements of an ancient temple-tomb have been incorporated into a seventh-century church - the structure is known formally as the Heroon, though it is now thought to have been a Roman mausoleum rather than a temple of Hera.

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.

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

A new blog for travellers from all over the world !

Information and Photos for all Greek Islands!

 

greece-and-islands.blogspot.com