ISLAND INFORMATION

The Mediterranean is renowned for its ancient history, its civilization, its light and beauty. The Greek archipelago is its crowning jewel. These islands, over 3000 of them, crowd the northeast part of the Mediterranean, sparkling in the sun. Most of the islands are in the Aegean, the sea that lies between Greece and Asia Minor. They are noted for their natural beauty, lacy coastlines with dazzling white beaches and the blue sea ruffled in summer by the cooling meltemi wind. Civilization goes back four or five thousand years and is evident to this day in the ancient villages, with castles, churches, and monasteries, that gaze at the sea from high above. All the islands are beautiful, each with its own charm and history, and their simple, good-hearted residents welcome all to their lovely shores.

The islands are divided into seven geographical units yet, in most cases, they share common characteristics. Below are the 7 areas with the most well-known islands listed in each.

1. ARGOSARONIC GULF	Aegina, Angistri, Hydra, Poros, Salamina, & Spetses
2. CYCLADES	Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos(Myconos), Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, & Tinos
3. DODECANESE	Astipalaia (Astypalaia), Chalki(Halki), Kalimnos (Kalymnos), Karpathos, Kassos (Kosos), Kastellorhizo (Megisti), Kos, Leros, Lipsi (Leipsi), Nissyros (Nisyros), Patmos, Rhodes, Symi, & Tilos
4. EUBOEA-SPORADES	Alonissos, Euboea (Evia), Skiathos, Skopelos, & Skyros
5. NORTH & EAST AEGEAN	Ayios Efstratios, Chios, Fourni, Ikaria (Icaria), Inousses (Oinousses), Lesbos, Linmos, Psara, Samos, Samothraki, & Thasos (Thassos)
6. IONIAN ISLANDS	Antikithera (Antikythera), Antipaxi, Corfu, Elafonissos, Ithaca, Kefalonia (Cephalonia), Kithera(Kythera), Lefkada, Meganisi, Paxi, & Zakynthos (Zakinthos)
7. CRETE

CORFU
	Called "the happy isle" by Homer, Corfu is a lush island with idyllic beaches that cover 229 square miles. It has retained its beauty in spite of its popularity and friendliness of its people. Kerkyra (Corfu town) is the largest, most attractive capital in the Ionian islands and has a bustling, cosmopolitan atmosphere and a wealth of architectural treasures.
For aimless wandering on foot, the old town is unbeatable. With its arcaded streets, esplanade, and tall Venetian buildings, the town still has great charm. The Venetians began developing the town in the 14th century and the British later expanded it even more. The Venetian walls were dismantled and elegant Georgian buildings erected.
North of Kerkyra the sweeping bay has been developed to cater to sun and sea activities with every conceivable form of water sport available. Along this strip are Kontokali, Gouvia, Cape Kommeno, and Dassia with its olive tree lined beach. The former fishing villages of Ipsos and Pirgi mark the ends of the island's golden mile.
Along the north coast is the bustling resort of Kassiopi, a town with four small beaches that can be reached by walking paths. Above the village stands a ruined Byzantine fortress on a site rich in historical memories. There was a Hellenistic town here and later a Roman settlement visited by both Cicero and Nero. A half hour walk from Kassiopi, along the cliffs to the south, are some lovely beaches: Avlaki, Kouyevinas and Kalamaki, with its gray sands and views of Albania.

CRETE
	Crete, the largest island in the Aegean Sea, has one of the mildest and healthiest climates in Europe. It is very mountainous, with deep gorges and fertile valleys, and over 3,000 caves. It is not very green but is beautiful nonetheless, with several fairly sandy, pretty beaches.
Some of the towns are: (1) Heraklion (Iraklio), which is the busy capital city, famous for its museums and the unforgettable Knossos ruins 3 miles south, (2) Ayos Nikolas (Ayios Nikolaos), a tourist mecca on the eastern coast, very crowded in mid-summer, with a charming harbor lined by tavernas and shops, (3) Sitia, a lovely small port town, (4) Elounda, located between Heraklion and Ayos Nikolas, a quiet town home to several luxury resorts, (5) Rethymnon (Rethymno), Crete's 3rd largest town and bustling port with a restored Venetian section, and (6) Chania (Hania), a large, attractive town with a Venetian harbor, on the western part of the island.
Western Crete, with soaring mountains, deep gorges, and rolling green lowlands planted with olives and oranges, is much less affected by the growth of mass tourism than is the rest of the island. The island is varied with its surprising beauty and certainly worthy of investigating which can be easily done in a rental car, although there is adequate local bus service to most major areas. It is a good place to go for water sports, including windsurfing, snorkeling, and water skiing. Shops sell folk art, textiles (excellent place to buy embroidery), pottery and leather goods.

Many people consider Ios the most beautiful island in the Cyclades. The pretty little chapel of St. Irene, located at the entrance of the harbor, along with the white-washed town of Chora climbing up the hillside to another chapel certainly helps with that impression. The island is located between Naxos and Santorini, and is serviced by ferries from Piraeus (Athens port) all year round.

Ios is the up and coming island in the Cyclades. Since the 60's this island has been a mecca for the young. They come from all over Greece, Europe, and beyond to enjoy the wonderful beaches and social scene. One of the best beaches is Milopotamos (Milopatos), within easy reach from Gialos (the main port of the island). A road goes from the port to Chora (Hora), a little more than a mile walk or you can take the bus. A stroll around Chora is worthwhile, with its narrow alleys, shops, bars, pubs, hotels, clubs, and tavernas. From here you can walk outside the town to see the line of old windmills. A downhill walk to the beach reveals a delightful bay at Milopatos Beach.

Manganari is a settlement in a large bay with an excellent beach at the southern extremity of the island. Ayia Theodoti, which has a beach and a camping site, is on the east coast of the island and can be reached by a dirt road.

KEFALONIA (Cephalonia)
	Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionean Sea with the highest mountain, Mt. Ainos (5,341 feet) and a area of 301 square miles. It has a population of 27,000, most of whom are fishermen. Kefalonia is a wealthy and fertile island, famed for its wine called robola, the production which cannot keep up with the demand, as well as its honey and a soft myzithra cheese.
It is an island of contrasts with Roman, Venetian, and Byzantine ruins right next to beautiful beaches. There are picturesque villages and small beautiful towns, but it is not really a popular island with Americans. The capital of the island, Argostoli, was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1953 on the site of the old town. It is on the southwest coast on the side of a bay and next to a salt lake. The main sites in Argostoli are the Archaeological Museum in which are housed the exciting finds from the excavations on the island and the Koryialenios Library which houses the Folk Museum and a collection of Byzantine icons.
The Paliki peninsula, reached by ferry from Argostoli, has a scattering of pretty villages and very nice sandy beaches at Ayios Spyridon, Michalitsata, Lepeda, and Xi. The small (37 square miles) island of Ithaca is right next to Kefalonia, separated only by a strait about 2 1/2 miles wide.

MYKONOS

Mykonos (Myconos) is one of the islands that you see in all the pictures and advertisements. It has white-washed houses, winding cobblestone streets, beautiful azure water, windmills, blue-domed churches, sleeping cats, and brilliant flowers. Although one of the smallest of the islands in the Cyclades (10 miles long and 7 miles wide), it is one of the most popular with tourists from around the world.

The natives welcome the tourists and there are many wonderful hotels and villas in which to stay. The shopping is endless and the restaurants and nightlife can't be beat. The only drawback is the hordes of people that descend in July and August. Mykonos town (Chora) is the Saint-Tropez of the Greek islands, with its wonderful setting next to several old windmills, a waterfront area called Little Venice, and the Kastro, the town's medieval quarter. In addition to the bars and restaurants, the town contains the Archaeological Museum with finds from Rhinia (the cemetery island for Delos), the famous windmills on the hill (one is a museum), and an open air fish market where Petros the Pelican (or his descendents) preen and look for fresh fish.

Beaches abound. Near the town is Platis Gialos, the main family beach where the boats leave for Delos, once one of the most sacred Greek islands and now a popular place to visit the many archaeological ruins. Paradise and Super Paradise are for those looking for an "all over" tan, although nudity is not obligatory. On the south coast is Psarou, protected from the wind by hills, and surrounded by restaurants. It offers a wide selection of water sports and is considered by some to be the nicest beach.

Naxos (Chora), the main port and town, is a maze of narrow, twisting streets, Venetian elegance, and picturesque blind alleys. The lower part of the town, Bourgos, has a beautiful Orthodox cathedral (Metropolis of Zoodochos Pigi) that was built from the remains of earlier churches. In Kastro, the upper part, 19 stone houses still bear their coats-of-arms. Naxos has a lively waterfront and promenade replete with cafes. The most famous landmark is the Portara, a massive doorway that goes nowhere, located at the harbor's edge on the islet of Palatia.

Traces of Greek antiquity can be seen everywhere and each part of the island has something of interest. Near the pretty coastal village of Apolonas, on the north side of the island, is a half-finished outsized "kouros" (statue of a youth) dating from the 6th century BC still lying in the marble quarry where it was abandoned. An interesting archaeological museum can be found at Apirathos, a village where a number of strange customs and habits have survived. Among churches of interest are those of Our Lady "Protothroni" at Tragea and Our Lady "Filotitissa" in the village of Filoti.

The southern coast, facing Paros and the sunset, offers the longest stretches of fine beaches in the Cyclades. Among them are Ayios Georgios, part of a town and very developed, Ayios Prokopios with a small leeward harbor and lagoons with waterfowl, Ayia Anna, with a small crowded harbor, Plaka, ringed with sand dunes and bamboo groves, Kastraki, with its white marble sand, and the least developed, Pyrgaki, with its beautiful clear water. All of these beaches have tavernas and lodging.

The superb beaches of Naxos, its attractive villages, and its wealth of monuments draw thousands of visitors each year. The island is a good place to buy embroideries, honey, woven goods, and cheese.

Paros is noted for its marble which was used in many ancient sculptures including Venus di Milo and the Nikea of Samonthraki, both in the Louvre in Paris. The island is popular with tourists for its reasonable prices, golden beaches, and charming fishing villages. It may not have the top-notch hotels of Mykonos or Santorini, but it rivals Ios for its abundance and energy of its nightlife. The island is beautiful with its lush valleys and gorges, perfect for hiking all year round.

There are three main inhabited areas, Parikia (the main town also called Hora), Naousa and Lefkes. Parikia, in particular, recaptures Cycladic charm with its windmill, narrow streets filled with white-washed houses, and blue-domed buildings. West of the town is the fascinating Church of a Hundred Doors (Ekantotapiliani). Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of the church in the 6th century but earthquakes have forced rebuilding several times since. Above the town is a castle built by the Venetians in 1260. Hora has a population of 3,000 which expands greatly in the summer.

Naousa is a small fishing village favored by jet-setters that has been overrun with hotels to serve the thousands of tourists descending upon it. It is located in a large bay and gets hit by the meltemi wind from the north, preventing it from being a consistently ideal vacation spot. Lefkes is a beautiful village built in an amphitheatrical style up the main mountain with wonderful vistas all around. The town hall, built from the famous Parian marble, is especially nice.

SAMOS

Samos, the Aegean island that is the legendary birthplace of the goddess Hera, nearly touches Turkey near Ephosos. Samos means "high" in Phoenician, and its abrupt volcanic mountains soar dramatically from the rock surface. The island's attraction lies in its beauty, green wooded hills, clear sparkling water, tall cypress trees and white-washed buildings. It has always been a special place to the Greeks, for its Samian wines, boat building, and the skills of its sailors.

Most of the tourism is concentrated away from the capital Vathi (Samos town), an elegant and rather up-market town. East of Vathi, on cliffs above the fishing village of Mourtia, stands the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi where on a clear day Turkey seems almost close enough to touch. To Vathi's west is Kokkari with its white-washed houses spread over twin headlands and beaches at Lemonakia and Tsamadou. Avlakia, further west, is a quiet resort and the perfect base for walking on Mt. Ampelos.

Pithagorio was once the island's capital and is today the island's biggest tourist resort. Excavations begun in 1985 have uncovered vast lengths of walls plus traces of a theatre, Roman baths, and the remarkable Efplinion Tunnel that carried water to the city. Picturesque Limani, the old part of Karlovassi, the island's second port, is a good base from which to explore the western part of the island with its ravines and idyllic beaches such as those at Mikro Seitani and Megalo Seitani. Local beaches are excellent, such as Votsalakia with its white sands and Psili Ammos with its shallow seas.

	Santorini (Thira) is one of the most spectacular and romantic Greek islands. Its geological particularities, its past, and its imposing scenery single out Santorini from the rest of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. It has many charming towns in addition to interesting beaches covered with black sand and dark pebbles. There are several archaeological sites to see, including the prehistoric city of Akrotiri, and Messa Vouno where the ruins of Ancient Thira lie.
The capital and largest town, Fira, clings nearly 1,000 feet up on the lip of a huge sunken volcano. The charming town, accessible by funicular railway or donkey if you arrive by boat, has white-washed houses, narrow streets, open air cafes and boutiques clinging to the cliffs. It is a bit touristy, and may be crowded with cruise ship passengers, but there is plenty to do and it has a lively nightlife. You can always rent a moped or car to explore the small island. If you want to be near a beach, there are villas located on the famous black sand beach of Kamari, a tourist town on the southeastern coast.
To the north of Fira, the largest town, are Firostefani and Imerovigli which can be reached by car or foot along the dramatic footpath along the rim of the caldera. These towns are quieter than Fira and are well known for the traditional barrel-roofed cave houses (skafta) that have been turned into hotels and apartments. Ia (Oia), on the northern part of the island, has many wonderful craft shops, restaurants, and traditional villas and apartments. It is noted for its spectacular sunsets and people from all over the island congregate here each night.

SKIATHOS
	Skiathos, one of the greenest islands in the Sporades chain, boasts some of the best beaches in the Aegean with its golden sand backed by pine forests. The island has an area of only 16 square miles, but it has some 70 beaches and sandy coves. The one main settlement, Skiathos town, with its red roofs and sparkling white buildings, sits on a bay strewn with islets covered with numerous waterfront restaurants. The town is famed for its nightlife with beach tavernas and pubs run by the Brits. The Bourtzi is a piney islet that was once a fortress. It divides the harbor and is now a cultural center with numerous summertime activities. There are 17th century churches (some with frescoes) and a museum devoted to Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851-1911), one of Greece's finest writers.
The beautiful 9-mile stretch of coast running south of town to the golden sands of Koukounaries is now covered with villas, hotels, and tavernas. The beaches run together and the traffic on the coast road can become congested with cars, buses, and motorbikes. Skiathos is popular with Greeks as well as foreigners, many of whom come on tour packages.

	On the west coast of Greece lies the best kept secret, the island of Zakynthos (Zante). This sleepy island offers some breathtaking beaches that can only be reached by boat. Beautiful coastlines of cliffs and beaches surround fields of bright colored wildflowers and red poppies. The warmth and hospitality of the locals is unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
The main town, Zakynthos, is home to many outdoor tavernas, unique craft shops, and alleys of charming homes. The church of St. Dionysios should be a stop on your visit.
The Nobelos Villas on the north coast are a cluster of deluxe villas overlooking the island of Kefalonia. The accommodations, which range from 1-2 bedrooms, offer spectacular views of the sunset. Zakynthos is certainly the highlight of any Grecian experience.

CRETE