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

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