Cyclades Islands
Sit on the beach side and enjoy the azure Aegean sea. Forget your daily routines and pamper your sight with buildings dominated by white and blue accent of their roofs. Taste the authentic wine of Naxos island, enjoy the natural beauty created by volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, sweeping golden coastline all under the warmth of the sun on Cyclades Islands off the southeastern coast of Greece’s mainland.
The three most popular islands as tourist destinations are Santorini, Ios, and Mykonos. The islands is packed in summer time when you will find parties and water sports everywhere. However a donkey ride through zigzag stairs to the capital of Santorini, Fira, will be an unforgettable experience. Riding such a very natural transportation mode is definitely giving a different feeling. Far apart from fuel pollution, getting closer to the nature, especially with the views which are completely different from metropolitan’s glass-walled skyscrapers. Unique combination of Venetian and Cyclades architecture will welcome you to Fira in various forms, shops, hotels, and taverns to enjoy your time.
Santorini itself is a volcanic islands located at the southern end of Cyclades. Given by a Latin monarch back in the 13th century, the name of Santorini was taken from the name of St. Irene. Once in the past, Santorini was a single round-shaped island. Volcanic eruption torn it apart into a number of separated smaller islands. Looking into the remaining giant caldera will remind you to magnitude power of the God.
The eruption of Thera about 3,600 years ago during the age of Minoan civilization is believed as the biggest eruption ever happened on earth. The eruption is believed to initiate very strong tsunami which swept away Minoan people centralized in Crete, the home of Atlantis legend. Natural beauty in combination with dynamic nightlife makes Santorini one of favorite island destinations in Europe.
If you are searching quietness for better contemplation in Cyclades you can go to less popular islands such as Andros, Amorgos, Folegandros, and Serifos, where tourism industry grows in a slower pace. In this quieter islands you can have relaxed time on the beaches, have a walk along the valleys, or taste authentic Greek’s foods and drinks at the taverns whilst enjoying the sweeping scene of charming church, houses, and other buildings. At night these islands are definitely quieter than Santorini.
There are many historic artifacts on the islands which have been inhabited since more than 7,000 years ago. Delos island is one of the most important historical sites in Greek, and therefore tourists are not allowed to stay overnight. Boats transporting tourists are only allowed to land for 6 to 7 hours. Legend says that Apollo the god of the sun and his twin sister Artemis the god of the moon were born here. Among historical evidences are the holly lake, the temple of Delia, the temple of Isis, the temple of Hera, the house of Dionysus, the Lion terrace, synagogue of Delos, Minoan fountain, and Poseidon convention hall.
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