Mykonos, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Superb beaches, whitewashed cube houses, sophisticated nightlife, non-stop party can picture Mykonos. Mykonos has something for everyone. Busy beaches as well as quiet beaches, plain local tavernas as well as sophisticated international restaurants. Mykonos town is a picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny streets and whitewashed steps lanes and houses.

General Information
Mykonos is a top class, worldwide destination. It is no coincidence that this, the most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands, attracts so many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals.
Here, the steep mountains to be encountered in most of the Cyclades give way to low, rocky hills which combine with superb beaches to make up the landscape of the island.
 

The capital, Hora, with its colorful harbour in which little fishing-boats nestle happily side by side with luxury yachts, presents quite a different picture from the majority of Aegean island towns. While it is usual for island villages to be built on naturally amphitheatrical sites, Mykonos is spread out over a flat area and conveys an impression of solid aesthetic cohesion.
Along the whitewashed streets stand brilliant white box-shaped houses with stepped walls for sitting on, wooden doors and windows and brightly coloured balconies. These are interspersed with small but impressive churches, pretty little tavernas and shops selling souvenirs and other goods, and the overall sense is of being inside a film set.
 

On the low Kastro hill is the complex of churches known collectively as Our Lady “Paraportiani”, a superb arrangement of whitewashed masses created over the centuries, and now recognized as a national cultural monument.
Of particular historical and aesthetic interest are the medieval houses in this district of the town, which stand like a wall above the sea protecting the west side of Hora.

The countryside of Mykonos is a mixture of grey-green rocks ringed by prickly pear plants and little fertile areas carpeted with wild flowers. Here and there are tiny white-washed chapels and windmills.
Ano Mera is, after Hora, the most important of the older villages on the island. Standing 8 km. to the east of the town, Ano Mera has the interesting monastery of Our Lady Tourliani, ornamented with fine woodcarvings. The church has a collection of valuable ecclesiastical vessels, vestments and embroideries. The courtyard contains an interesting bell-tower and a marble, fountain.
Mykonos is a busy island with all the amenities of a modern resort and with plenty to do – by day or night – for those who want to have a lively time. Yet visitors fond of more peaceful holidays will still find quiet corners to relax.

Sightseeing
The town Hora is a place you should really explore. Walk around, go to the windmills, have a drink in Little Venice (the western little harbour) while watching a seashore sunset and visit the Paraportiani church. And of course, go shopping. 

The village Ano Mera is worth a visit: small, pretty and quiet. Visit the monastery and the little church museum from the 15th century.

There are also museums that worth a visit. The Archeological Museum of Hora contains finds from tombs on the nearby island of Rhenia, sculptures, vases and figurines. The Folklore Museum brings together a number of collections of furniture, icons, pieces of sculpture and folk musical instruments. Mykonos is also the home of the Nautical Museum of the Aegean, which has interest all of its own. 

There are daily excursion to Delos, a small island that used to be the holiest island in ancient Greece. Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis here, holding on to a palm tree. You cannot spend the night on this island, but a daytrip is definitely a must: the island is cluttered with archaeological remains. 

Beaches
Most beaches are quite popular covering all tastes from families to youngsters and are fully equipped with beach bars, tavernas, lounge chairs & parasols. In the southern coast you may find the most crowded ones such as Psarou, Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia, Agia Anna, Agrari. In the eastern side you will find less crowded beaches such as Kalafati, Kalo Livadi & Lia and the smaller ones Draoumia & Tafarnis. In the northern side of the island you may find Fokos, Ftelia, Panormos & Agios Sostis beaches which are less crowded because of their northern winds. The western coast of Mykonos, near Hora has also some options for swimming such as Agios Stefanos, Tourlos, Megali Ammos, Ornos and Agios Ioannis. 

Things to taste & buy
Jewellery
Fashionable Clothing
Salted white cheese "kopanisti"
Almond confectionery "amygdalota"
Fermented almond cordial "soumada"

Useful Information

(Area 85 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 94 nautical miles)

How to get there
By air from Athens
Olympic Airways, Athens: +30 210 9666666
By sea from Piraeus & Rafina
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005
Rafina Port Authority: +30 22940 28888, 22300

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22890
Municipal Office: 23990
Police: 22235
Port Authority: 22218
Olympic Airways, Mykonos: 22490 (ticket office), 22327 (airport)
Health Center: 23998, 23994 
Archeological Museum: 22325
Folklore Museum: 25591
Aegean Maritime Museum: 22700

http://www.mykonos.gr

Kythnos (Kithnos), Cyclades Islands

In brief
Kythnos (Kithnos) or Thermia is an unspoiled and very Greek Island in every aspect. It mostly attracts Greek tourists, locals are very friendly and life is slow. The island is quiet and offers some nice and empty sandy beaches. Kythnos was an icon painting center in 17th century, led by Skordillis family.

General Information
It was on the small island of Kythnos, famous in antiquity for the excellence of its administration (according to Aristode in his “Constitution of Kythnos”) that recent archaeological findings have provided evidence of the earliest presence of man in the Cyclades.
Here, too, the terrain is mainly mountainous, but the harshness of the bare earth is relieved here and there by vines or fig-trees like brushstrokes on it, while pretty little bays form indentations in its coast-line.

Ferries put in at Merihas, the port on the western side of the island.

Hora or Messaria, the island’s capital is 8 km. from Merihas and stands on a hillside plateau. A typical Cycladic village, it is noted for its beautiful churches with their fine woodcarving, sanctuary screens and icons (St Savas, church of the Saviour, Holy Trinity, Theologos). At the monastery of Our Lady “tou Nikous”, which stands on an attractive hill, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on 15 August is observed with the traditional festivities.

A little way to the south is the island’s former capital, which retains its ancient name of Driopida – a picturesque village, very typical of the islands.
In the north-eastern part of the island lies Loutra, with warm sulphurous spa-waters. The tradition says that the water comes undersea from Vesuvious and the radioactive thermal springs have been used since ancient times -and still are used- as a cure from rheumatism, arthritis, dermatitis and gynaecological problems.

In the south-east, the monastery of Our Lady Kanala, the patron saint of the island, stands on a very attractive promontory facing towards Serifos, with a beautiful expanse of sandy beach. The building is of great interest and the scenery is reminiscent of a fjord - in Greek colours.

Sightseeing
Loutra ("Baths") is a small village where there are hot wells, reputed for their healing waters since antiquity.

Hora is the island's capital, and is a picturesque village in medieval style. Here, you can visit the Church of Trinity.
Driopis is also a very pretty village, with typically winding streets and laid-back atmosphere. There is a small folklore museum here.
In Kanala there is a small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with icons of reputed healing powers.

Beaches

Beautiful beaches for swimming can be found at Merihas, Episkopi, Flambouria bay (accessible only by boat), Loutra and Agios Stefanos.

Useful Information

(Area 99 sq km. Distance from Piraeus 52 nautical miles).
How to get there
By sea from Piraeus & Lavrio
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005
Lavrio Port Authority: +30 22920 25249, 60188

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22810
Municipal Office: 61100
Police: 31201
Port Authority: 32290
Health Center: 31202, 32234

http://www.kythnos.gr