Thursday, September 1, 2011

Astypalea, Dodecanese Islands

In brief
Astypalea (or Astypalaia), with its whitewashed sugar cube house, narrow alleys and windmills, has a more Cycladic character than Dodecanesean where it belongs. Astypalea is a butterfly-shaped island; a narrow isthmus a mere 100 meters wide connecting its two wings, with citrus groves and decent mountainous walking country.

General Information
This most western of the Dodecannese has had many names: Ichthyoessa (abundant in fish) in ancient times; Stampalia or Astropalia, as the locals call it today. The name Astipalea means “old city”.
A mountainous island with an indented coastline concealing numerous delightful coves, Astipalea in fact resembles two islands joined by a ribbon of land only 100 metres wide.
The main village is Hora or Astypalea, built up the side of a steep hill, and presided over by the massive, austere remains of a Venetian castle. Its small,
square houses, painted white with brightly coloured doors and windows, follow the contours of the hill in an almost unbroken band down to the sea. So closely are they packed, that the walls of the uppermost houses form part of the outer fortifications of the castle. According to tradition, Kleomedes -an Olympian boxer- was the island's most famous citizen in antiquity, as he killed in the 71st Olympiad a competitor with a foul blow. He came home so enraged that he demolished the local school, killing all its pupils.
A row of windmills on the pass of the hill provides an additional picturesque
note. One enters the castle from the southwest side of the hill. Inside it are two churches, dedicated to St. George and to the Annunciation (Evangelismos). The former contains a noteworthy carved iconostasis.
Below the castle stands the 18th century church of Our Lady Portaitissa, one of the most beautiful in the Dodecanese. It too has an impressive iconostasis, covered with gold leaf.
Livadia, Analipsi and Vathi are charming fishing hamlets on the south and north coast of the island.

Sightseeing 
In Hora there is a small archeological museum, a few interesting churches and a citadel. The remains of a Roman Villa are to be seen in the village Maltezana (Analipsis). Here, there is also a monument over the perished crew of the French ship Bison that sunk in 1827. In Vathi you can visit the Cave of the Dragon, Dracospilia.

Beaches
Beautiful beaches can be found all around the island for visitors to enjoy. Pera
Yialos, Livadi (with sand and pebbles), Tzanaki, Moura, Pappou and Agios
Konstantinos are some of them while there are more remote beaches at Vatses, Kaminakia, Panormos and Agios Ioannis and Pachia Ammos (accessible by boat).
Moreover, there are also outstanding beaches at Marmari, Schinondas, Karekli, Vrysi, Plakes (a rocky beach), Steno and Psili Ammos.




Useful Information
How to get there
By air from Athens
Olympic Airways: +30 2103550500 
By sea from Pireaus
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22430
Municipality: 61217, 61206
Police: 61207
Port Authority: 61208
Olympic Airways: 61410, 61665 (airport), 61588 (tickets)
Health Center: 61222

http://www.astypalaia.gr

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