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

Milos, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Milos, is a nice volcanic island with spectacular geological and rock formations and super beaches. Milos' port Adamas is located in the flooded interior of an old caldera and is one of the safest natural harbours in the Mediterranean.

General Information
Milos is the most southerly island in the Western Cyclades. It is notable for its volcanic soil and for the rich deposits of minerals that lie beneath. It has a distinctive horseshoe shape.
The civilization of Milos is considered to be as ancient as that of Crete, and spans a period of at least 5,000 years.
Its fame spread throughout the civilized world thanks to the masterpiece of the Venus de Milo, a statue found buried on the island in the 19th century and now in the Louvre's Museum in Paris - a plaster copy can be viewed at the island's archeological museum.

Adamas, one of the safest natural harbours in the Aegean, is a particularly charming spot, with whitewashed houses, cobbled alleys, balconies crammed with flower-pots and fragrant tamarisks which have been extolled by the poets.

Milos or Plaka, capital of the island today stands on a hillside overlooking the sea at the foot of the castle. It is a most attractive town, with architecture in the characteristic Cycladic style.
Among the most notable of its churches are those of Our Lady “Korfiotissa”, Our Lady “Thalassistra” and Our Lady “Messa Panagia”.

Milos Island has a long history and claims to have the oldest town in Cyclades at Phylakope. It became rich from trading obsidian and exporting weapons made of it. Numerous finds are exhibited in the Island's Archaeological Museum, and in the Museum of Athens, but the most important find is Aphrodite of Milos (Venus de Milo), a Hellinistic work of about 150 BC -was discovered in 1820. A plaster copy of this master piece of art can be seen in the island's Archaeological Museum, while the original is in Louvre museum in Paris.

At the north-eastern extremity of Milos is the modern resort of Pollonia or Apollonia. Close by (3 km.) is Phylakope, the most important centre of population in Minoan times; the ancient city was built in three phases. Next to the archeological site is the spectacular Papafranga cave. The sea-cave called Kleftiko is at the south end of the island.

However, the most important monument on Milos is the island’s famous catacombs, now open to the public. They are located at the village of Tripiti, 2 km. from the main town of Plaka and they are among the most important of Early Christian monuments.
The extensive infrastructure for tourism of Milos, its clear waters and its fascinating monuments are helping to attract more and more visitors to the island.
The nearby islets of Antilmilos, Arkadies and Glaronissia are also of interest, each in its own way.

Sightseeing
In Plaka, Milos' capital, there are quite a few things to see. You can visit the archaeological museum where various findings from the excavations on the island are displayed, as well as a copy of Aphrodite of Milos.
The Historical and Folklore Museum has a collection of folk artefacts, samples of the island’s minerals, photographs and historical documents of the greatest interest.

The church dedicated to the Virgin Mary has many icons and here you will also get a wonderful view. The Venetian Kastro is also worth a visit.
Just above Klima there is a big archaeological excavation site, and here you will see many ancient ruins, as well as the spot where Aphrodite of Milos was found.

At Sarakiniko the ancient town Fylakopis is being excavated, and the landscape here resembles the moon. It is believed that this is where the first settlers lived, and there are traces of Minoan civilization here as well as a Roman theatre from the 2nd century PC.
The Christian catacombs from the 1st to 3rd century where about 2000 people were buried are definitely worth a visit.
In Milos' harbour, Adamas, there is a mining museum, as well as an ecclesiastical museum.

Beaches
There are more than 50 different beaches on Milos Island, offering tourists all kinds of setting for a delightful swimming exeprience. Hivadolimni Beach is the longest beach of the island about 1 kilometre. The rest of the beaches are starting from North are Sarakiniko, Papafragas, Kapros, Pachena, Alogomantra, Konstantinos, Mitakas, Mantrakia, Firopotamos, Nerodafni, Lakida, Plathiena, Fourkovouni, Areti, Pollonia, Gourado and Filakopi. South beaches are Firiplaka, Paliochori, Provatas, Tsigrado, Agia Kyriaki, Psaravolada, Kleftiko, Gerontas, Gerakas, Agios Sostis, Mouchlioti, Katergo, Spathi, Firligos, Pialothiafes, Kalamos, Krotiraki, Psathi, Svoronou and Sakelari.Western beaches include Agios Ioannis, Cave of Sikia, Agathia, Triades and Ammoudaraki and Eastern beaches include Voudia, Thalassa, Paliorema, Tria Pagidia and Thiafes.In the Bay Area you may find Hivadolimni, Lagada, Papikinou, Fatourena, Klima, Skinopi and Patrikia. The North and South and the bay beaches are tourists attraction. The east beaches are very quiet and the west are also quiet and lonesome beaches.

Useful Information

(Area 160 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 87 nautical miles)
How to get there
By air from Athens 
Olympic Airways: +30 2103550500
By sea from Piraeus
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22870
Municipal Offices: 21370, 21249
Police: 21378
Port Authority: 23360
Olympic Airways, Milos: 22380
Milos airport: 22381
Health Center: 22700, 22701, 21755
Archaeological Museum: 21620
Historical and Folklore Museum: 21292

http://www.milos.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

Kimolos, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Kimolos, is a nice, small unspoiled quiet island. It is believed that took its name after chalk (chalk=kimolia in Greek), which it once produced. Kimolos was known in antiquity for the chalk, used as detergent and in medicinal baths (fuller's earth). But according to a legend it took its name after its first inhabitant, Kimolos husband of Side.

General Information
Very close to Milos lies Kimolos, the hilliest island in the Cyclades and one  whose predominant color is as white as blinding as the chalk it produces. The necropolis found at Elinika, in the south-west of the island, and the remnants of the ancient city of Kimolos on the islet of Agios Andreas (facing Elinika) are testimony to habitation as far back as the Mycenaean period.
Much later, in the Middle Ages, pirates used the well-concealed caves of Kimolos as places of refuge.

From the quiet harbour of Psathia road leads uphill to the capital of Kimolos or Hora, where almost all the islanders live.

The houses of Hora, in the authentic Cycladic style, are clustered around the nucleus of the castle, which is itself divided into two settlements, Messa Kastro (Inner Castle) and Exo Kastro (Outer Castle). In the former, the outer walls of the houses form a defensive wall with loopholes for windows and four entrance gates.

The overall impression is of a painting in white against a blue background. Flowers are grown in all the courtyards, and the alleyways are cobbled.
Prassa in the north of the island is where the chalk is mined. There are also medicinal springs with sulphurous waters.
In general, Kimolos is a little off the tourist track. Yet it has superb beaches and would be an ideal spot for those who are fond of quiet and solitude in an idyllic setting.

Sightseeing
Most of the people of Kimolos today live in the island's capital Hora. Because of the many pirate attacks the village has been built like a true labyrinth, in order to confuse the enemies. Here, you can visit the archaeological museum with objects mainly from the excavations at Ellinika, and there is also an impressive church with a blue dome, as well as an old castle.

At Ellinika there is a diving school, where they take you on dives around the sunken city. 

The fishing village Goupa is very pretty and definitely worth a visit.
The hot wells of Prassa are reputed for having healing powers.

Beaches

Apart from the beaches at Psathi and Prassa, there is good swimming at Aliki, Limni, Bonatsa, Klima and Monastiria.

Useful Information

(Area 36 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 88 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Piraeus & Milos

Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005
Milos Port Authority: +30 2287022100

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22870
Municipal Office: 51218
Police: 51205
Port Authority: 51071
Health Center: 51222

http://www.kimolos.gr

Kea (Tzia), Cyclades Islands

In brief
Kea (or Tzia as it is also called) could be the next popular island. Maybe not for everybody but for certain types who come to Greece with an open mind and a desire to experience Greece as the Greeks do, Kea has a lot to offer.  
Kea is a strange and slightly mysterious island. It is one of the largest in the Cyclades and there are loads of excellent beaches, many archaeological sites and one of the most amazing traditional villages in Greece.

General Information
This exceptionally picturesque island lies close to the south-east coast of Attica. The mountain masses, which are encountered in most of the Cyclades, are broken up by small valleys sparsely planted with vines and fruit-trees and run right down to the sea, opening out into pretty little bays. On the western side of the island is Agios Nikolaos bay, and deep within it the port of Korissia, which is considered to be one of the safest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. Ferry-boats call at Korissia – also known as Livadi – which stands on the site of the city of Korissia, which in ancient times, with Ioulis, Karthea and Poiessa, was one of the island’s four independent city-states.

The island’s capital, Hora or Ioulida (6 km. from Korissia), has maintained its Cycladic idiom intact.

Built in the shape of an amphitheatre, it presents the visitor with an impressive vista of two-storey houses and tiled roofs, steep cobbled alleyways and splendid churches with elaborately carved wooden icon screens. At the highest point of the village, on the site of the ancient acropolis, is a quarter known as Kastro which commands a breathtaking view of the nearby islands off the coast of Attica.

The interior of the island is dotted with miniature chapels, windmills and monasteries, including that of Our Lady Kastriani, Kea’s patron saint.

Sightseeing
The most famous sight on the island is the Lion of Kea (6th century BC), or Lionda. It is a big, archaic sculpture of the mythical lion.

The Archaeological Museum in Hora contains interesting findings dating from the Cycladic period.
The monastery of Panagia Kastriani is also worth a visit, and you can even stay here in one of its cells. The monastery dates back to the 18th century.
In Ioulis there are also a few interesting churches, as well as an ancient acropolis. There are also ancient remains of temples in Korissia.

Beaches

Easily accessible from Athens, Kea offers those who are seeking a restful holiday clean, uncrowded beaches at Pisses, Korissia, Koundouros, Otzia bay and Poles bay; here everyone can enjoy delicious fresh fish at picturesque little tavernas.

Useful Information

(Area 121 sq. km. Distance from Lavrio 17 nautical miles. Distance from Piraeus 42 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 22880
Municipal Office: 21150, 60000
Police: 21100
Port Authority: 21334
Health Center: 22200

http://www.kea.gr

Ios, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Ios or Nios (Ios Greece) -as it is called by the locals- is a very beautiful and picturesque Greek Island with excellent sandy beaches and hundreds chapels. Its pretty Hora (capital) is a dazzling mix of white washed houses and blue domed churches. Ios island is well know for its nightlife and is a mecca to the youngsters. If you can sleep to the beat of the music, Ios is an island for you.

General Information
The coastline of this predominantly mountainous island with its countless chapels, its olive trees, its vineyards and its limpid air, is adorned with small, attractive coves. Those features combine with the crystal-clear sea, the superb sandy beaches and the good range of amenities to make los a magnet for tourists.
 

Locally called Nios, this is an island whose history goes back to prehistoric times. According to Herodotus, the “poet of poets”, the “god-like” Homer was buried at Plakotos, in the north of the island. Pausanias tells us that there was an inscription at Delphi confirming the poet’s interment on Ios, which was the homeland of his mother, Clymene. On 15th of May each year, the Homer festival -Homeria takes place in Ios Island and a flame is carried from the port to his tomb in Plakoto.
 

Above the pretty harbour of Ormos, where fishing-boats and yachts bob at anchor, stands the capital of Ios or Hora. The town stands on the site of the ancient city of the same name and is a typical Cycladic settlement, with whitewashed houses, narrow alleys and chapels. Among the churches, those of St. Catherine, St. John the Baptist and Sts. Cosmas and Damien stand out.
The whole beautiful image is rounded off with the bulk of the medieval castle and the row of windmills, which top the town.

The authentic Cycladic beauty of Ios, in combination with the island’s rapid development for tourism, has had the effect of attracting ever-increasing numbers of visitors.

Sightseeing
The island's pride is the tomb of Homer, which basically is just a pile of stones. It is difficult to find, but if you manage to locate it, it does tickle the fantasy. Local legend has it that he wanted to be buried on Ios since his mother was from here.
There are a few interesting churches on the island as well, but most visitors like to go to the monastery of St. John (Agios Ioannis).

The sites of Ios include a Hellenistic tower at Plakotos and the remains of an ancient aqueduct at Agia Theodoti, traces of an ancient temple at Psathi and a ruinous Venetian castle at the spot known as Paleokastro.
The Archaeological and Folkloric Museum in Hora and the Museum of Modern Art (Drot-Gaiti) at Kolitsani are also worth a visit.

Beaches
Lovers of the sea will be enraptured by the superb beaches of los. Mylopotas, a busy and favourite for youngsters (formerly beloved by hippies) is located near Hora.
Other beaches equally attractive but much quieter  are Agia Theodoti, Psathi, Kalamas, Plakes, Tzamaria, Kolitsani and Manganari.

Useful Information 

(Area 108 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 107 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Piraeus
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22860
Municipal Offices: 91505, 91028
Police: 91222
Port Authority: 91264
Health Center: 91227

http://www.ios.gr

Folegandros, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Folegandros is a small and rocky island with wild beauty and a spectacular capital perched on a cliff with medieval dwellings. The island is ideal for those seeking genuine Greek island life and the wild beauty.

General Information
Folegandros is a small and rocky island between Sikinos and Milos.
Visitors will be struck by the wild beauty of the barren landscape, where huge rocks alternate with sandy beaches.
On a flat expanse above the pretty harbour of Karavostassis is Hora or Folegandros, which consists of two sections. In the old settlement in the Kastro area, the outer walls of the houses form the sort of defensive precinct to be found elsewhere in the Cyclades. The new quarter is just as pretty, with narrow alleys, stepped walls, courtyards, wooden balconies and typically Aegean churches. The finest church on the island, that of Our Lady, stands above a section of the ancient wall.

Chrissospilia, nearby to the north, with stalactites, stalagmites and traces of ancient occupation, and the small settlements in the Ano Meria district are the sights to be seen around the island’s main village.
Ano Meria also has the Ecological and Folklore Museum, with exhibits of the farming practices of the islanders.

Although Folegandros has little in the way of tourist amenities or roads, it attracts more and more visitors each year – chiefly those in search of solitude close to nature.

Sightseeing
The island has three basic villages, all worth a visit. The capital is Hora, which is a traffic-free little village with many taverns and shops. Here, the Castro lies, which was an area of the town built like a fortress. You can also visit the church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) just above Hora, which has an icon said to have worked many miracles.

In Ano Meria ("upper part") visit the folklore museum for traditional exhibits and showcases of locals’ life. This village is where most of the farmers live, and it is quite striking that you see and smell animals everywhere.
Karavostassis ("boat stop") is the harbour, and here you'll find many little taverns and a few beaches.
You can also visit the Golden Cave, Chrysospilia, but only by boat.

Beaches

Among the best beaches for swimming are Karavostassis, Livadi and Agios Georgios bay.

Useful Information

(Area 32 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 106 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Piraeus
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22860
Commune Office: 41285
Police: 41249
Port Authority: 41530
Health Center: 41222

http://www.folegandros.gr/

Delos, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Delos, in ancient Greek, means Brought to light.  The beautiful myth states that, Delos, the island of sun, appeared from Amid waves when Leto, who was being pursued by Hera, took refuge there and brought Apollo and Artemis into the world. The birth of Apollo, the god of sun, on this island, is undoubtedly related to the morphology of Delos.

General Information
The sacred island of Delos was, in the myths, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Today the island is uninhabited: it is a vast archaeological site whose superb monuments draw thousands of visitors in pilgrimage to what was, for a thousand years or so after the ninth century BC, the political and religious center of the Aegean.

The archaeological site covers almost the entire island, starting on the west side, where the sacred harbour was.
From the harbour, a majestic sacred way led to the Sanctuary of Apollo, where there were temples, altars, votive offerings and other buildings. There are ruins of four temples to Apollo, one of them known as the Temple of the Athenians.
To the east is the Sanctuary of the Bulls, an oblong building, and to the north are the treasuries and the long, narrow Stoa of Antigonus. In the north-west corner is the much smaller Sanctuary of Artemis, with an Ionic temple to the goddess, and the Tomb of the Two Hyperborean Maidens. Still further north is the region of the sacred lake, with the Terrace of the Lions, the Letoon, the Agora of the Italians and the Institution of the Poseidoniasts of Berytos.
A little further along are some fine examples of houses and a palaestra. To the north-east of the lake are the Stadium and the Gymnasium. Some of the houses yielded superb mosaic floors with representations of Dionysus, a dolphin and a trident.

Sightseeing
The entire island is an archeological site and can be divided in monumental groups; Ieros Naos (Temple) Apollon, Lake Sinikia (Neighborhood) and monuments to the northern side. Theater Sinikia (Neighborhood) and Kinthos mountain area with many ancient temples are located to the southern side. In the ancient monuments tour, find also Artemisio, Dionysus and Dimitra Temples, Lito’s sacred monument and the 12 Gods Temple. Visit the Italian Agora (Market), the Lions Street, the sacred lake where Apollon’s swans lived, Poseidon Temple, the Theater Sinikia with the byzantine, roman and Hellenistic decorated houses and the archeological museum. Artemis junction, Apollon statue and mosaic floor are exceptional artworks!   
A narrow channel separates Delos from Rhenia, where there is an important burial ground.
The Museum of Delos has sculptures of the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, together with a collection of vases from various periods.

Useful Information
How to get there
By sea from Mykonos
Mykonos Port Authority: +30 22890 22218

Useful telephone numbers

(Area: 5 sq. km. Distance from Mykonos: 6 nautical miles)
Area Code: +30 22890
Delos Archaelogical site & Museum: 22259

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/530

Antiparos, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Antiparos is a small holiday paradise located southwest from Paros. The calm cycladic landscape, with the scattered churches, the famous cave and the Enetic castle, is ideal for sightseeing. The variety of the coast, where golden sand beaches give way to small remote bays with blue-green waters, offers magical moments.

General Information
Antiparos and Paros are divided by a narrow channel.
The island is notable for its golden, sandy beaches and for its authentic natural beauty. The capital, Antiparos or Kastro, stands around the original nucleus of the medieval castle.

Among the principal attractions of Antiparos is the famous cave of stalactites on Agios Ioannis hill. There is a chapel to St John of the Cave (Agios Ioannis Spiliotis) at the mouth of the cavern.

Every year, more and more visitors come to Antiparos, and as a result the hotels and limited number of rooms to rent have difficulty in meeting demand at peak periods.
All around Antiparos are scores of tiny islands, like guards posted out at sea, inhabited only by wild rabbits and pigeons.
Archaeologists have investigated two of these islets: Despotiko produced traces of tombs of the Early Cycladic period, and Saliangos has the ruins of a Neolithic setting.

Sightseeing
The cave of Antiparos is known since ancient years. It still has stalactites and stalagmites, but Russian soldiers cut many of them during the war 1700-1774 and kept them as souvenirs. Italian soldiers did the same thing during WWII. There are inscriptions in the cave and some of the names that can still be discerned –these include Bishop De Gabrie (1673) and Otto, king of Greece (1840).
Agios Georgios is worth a visit. It is a tiny village with pretty surroundings and great calm.

Beaches

Antiparos has a number of beaches with golden sand and blue-green water.

Useful Information

(Area 35 sq. km. Distance from Paros (Pounda) 1 nautical mile. Distance from Paros (Parikia) 4.5 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Paros
Paros Port Authority: +30 22840 21240

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22840
Commune Offices: 61570
Police: 61202
Port Authority: 61485, 61220
Health Center: 61219

http://www.antiparos-isl.com

Andros, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Andros, the northern most island of Cyclades, resembles a mountain top with lush vegetation and volumes of water. Water gushes from marble drinking fountains and mossy springs in the hill villages. Verdant with flowers and forests in the south, with fields crossed of dry stonewalls, -xerolithies- create a scenery of natural contrasts.

General Information
Andros, the most northerly island in the Cyclades and the second largest in the group, is also among the most beautiful.
Successive ranges of mountains with steep sides, separated by gorges, riverbeds and three large valleys planted with olive trees, figs, oranges, lemons and vines through which run numerous streams go to make this a landscape which often goes beyond what we think of as typically “Cycladic”.
The mountains end as rocky cliffs or steep promontories, while at the mouths of the valleys are sandy beaches.

In the southeast is Andros or Hora, the capital of the island and its second most important harbour.
This is a most attractive town, with neo-classical mansions side-by-side with Cycladic houses, steep and narrow alleys lined with arcades, fine churches and two pretty squares in the centre of a town which will make a lasting impression.
Among the most important monuments of Hora are the castle, now ruined, and the church of Our Lady “Palatiani” within its walls.
Andros is home to many of Greece’s seamen, and interesting cultural events take place there all the year round.

Gavrio is the island’s principal harbour, on the west side of Andros. Among the interesting features in the vicinity is the tower of Agios Petros.
Special mention should be made to the ruins of an ancient city, which have survived at Paleopoli. At Zagora, to the south of Paleopoli, one of the most important Geometric temples to have been discovered anywhere in Greece has come to light.

Andros has good tourist amenities and can easily deal with the steadily increasing numbers of visitors who choose it for its natural beauties, its attractive villages, its historical monuments, its superb beaches and its medicinal springs.

Sightseeing
On the cultural side, there is an Archaeological Museum with findings from the Geometric, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, a Museum of Modern Art with works by the sculptor Michalis Tombros, and a Nautical Museum with a rich collection of ship models, photographs and ship’s instruments. All museums are located ion Hora.

Moreover, Andros has numerous interesting things to see: the church of the Archangel at Messaria, the monasteries of Zoodohos Pigi at Batsi, of St Nicholas at Apikia (which is also the site of the Sariza mineral spring), of Our Lady “Panahrantou” at Falika, and the Apano Kastro or “Tis grias to Kastro” (Upper Castle) to the north of the village of Kohilos.
The Sariza wells are natural wells where you can drink that water straight out of them. Much of the bottled water on Andros comes from here.
Menites is a lovely village to stroll around.

Beaches
Beautiful, unspoilt beaches await visitors in the northern part of Andros: Vlihada, Pirgos, Old lady's jump ("tis grias to pidima"), Vitali and Zorkos.
For party moments, visit Aghios Petros and Psili Ammos beach.
Hard road requiring a 4X4 vehicle is leading to Ahla and Vori beach on the northeast part.

There are beautiful swimming beaches at Nimborio, Paraporti, Korthi bay near Batsi, Gavrio and elsewhere. 

Things to taste & buy
Cheese pies "kaltsounia"
Almond confectionery "amygdalota"
Local dairy products "Kopanisti" cheese & pork sausage

Useful Information

(Area 373 sq. km., distance from Piraeus 89 nautical miles, distance from Rafina 36 nautical miles)
How to get there
By sea from Rafina & Lavrio
Rafina Port Authority: +30 22940 28888, 22300
Lavrio Port Authority: +30 22920 25249, 60188

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22820
Municipal Offices: 22275
Police: 22300
Port Authority: 22250
Health Center: 22222
Archaeological Museum: 23664
Museum of Modern Art: 22650

http://www.andros.gr