|
Cyclades Islands - Area Information |
Introduction
The Cyclades glow with bare
sunbaked rocks, spectacular sunsets and partying till the sun wakes up. With
whitewashed sugarcube houses, potted geraniums and golden beaches, they're
more than a match for the glossiest island-holiday brochures.
Full country name: Cyclades Islands
Area: 2,572 sq km
Population: 113,050
Language: Greek
When to Go
The Cyclades have a typically Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers
and milder winters. Any season period has its own beuty and it can be a great
time to visit these islands. However avoid to visit them in winter time.
Festivals-Events
The year's festivities begin on 1 January with the Feast of Agios Vasilis, a
church ceremony followed by a gift swap, singing, dancing and plenty of
pigging out. The person who gets the slice from the vasilopitta (New Year
pie) that contains a coin is promised a favourable year ahead. The Greek
carnival season runs for three weeks in February or March before Lent. Fancy
dress, feasting and all-around merrymaking are the order of the day. The
most important festival in the Greek Orthodox religion is Easter, and a
moving candlelit procession can be witnessed in towns and villages on the
night of Good Friday. On 1 May, May Day, there is a mass exodus from towns
to the countryside, where people picnic and collect wildflowers to make into
wreaths. The whole population is also on the move on 15 August for
Assumption Day family reunions; this is a very good time to avoid taking
public transport. Christmas isn't as huge as Easter, but it's still an
excuse to celebrate a little with - you guessed it - more feasting.
Activities
Most visitors to the Cyclades spend much of their time lying in the sun,
beach-hopping and recovering from too much nightlife. For something a little
more active, check out water sports such as windsurfing. Hsrysi Akti on
Paros is one of the best spots in the country to learn the sport, and other
prime locations include Ormos Korthiou on Andros, Kalafatis Beach on Mykonos,
Agios Giorgios Beach on Naxos and Mylopotas Beach on Ios. If you want to try
a little boating, yachts and sailboats can be chartered on Paros and Syros.
Paros also offers excellent water-skiing. Snorkelling is enjoyable just
about anywhere in the Cyclades - an especially good place is Monastiri on
Paros. Diving is another story: to protect antiquities, any underwater
activity involving breathing apparatus is forbidden, unless you're
supervised by a diving school; you can find instruction in Mykonos,
Santorini and Paros. For foot-on-the-ground activity, the Cyclades offer
plenty of trekking opportunities, particularly on Naxos and Andros. On the
smaller islands it's fun to explore and discover goat paths for yourself.
History
The Cyclades have been
inhabited since at least 7000 BC, and there's evidence that Milos' obsidian
(volcanic glass used to create sharp blades) was being collected as early as
7500 BC. The Cycladic seafaring civilisation appeared in around 3000 BC.
During the Early Cycladic period (3000-2000 BC) there were settlements on
Keros, Syros, Milos, Naxos, Sifnos and Amorgos. It was during this period
that the famous Cycladic marble figurines were sculpted.
Many of the islands were occupied by the Minoans in the Middle Cycladic
period (2000-1500 BC); a Minoan town has been excavated at Akrotiri on
Santorini. The Cyclades were taken by the Mycenaeans at the beginning of the
Late Cycladic period (1500-1100 BC), and the Dorians followed in the 8th
century BC.
Most of the Cyclades joined the Delian League in 478 BC, and by the middle
of the 5th century the islands were members of a fully fledged Athenian
empire. In the Hellenistic era (323-146 BC) the islands fell under the
control of Egypt's Ptolemies and, later, the Macedonians. In 146 BC the
islands became a Roman province and trade links were established with many
parts of the Mediterranean, bringing prosperity to the Cyclades.
After the division of the Roman Empire into western and eastern entities in
395 AD, the Cyclades were ruled from Constantinople. Following the sacking
of Constantinople in 1204, the Franks gave the Cyclades to Venice, which in
turn parcelled the islands out to opportunistic aristocrats. The most
powerful of these nabobs was Marco Sanudo (self-styled Duke of Naxos), who
acquired Naxos, Paros, Ios, Santorini, Anafi, Sifnos, Milos, Amorgos and
Folegandros.
The islands came under Turkish rule in 1537 and became neglected backwaters,
prone to pirate raids. The labyrinthine, hilltop character of their towns
dates from this period, as the mazes of narrow lanes were designed to
confuse invaders. The impact of piracy led to massive depopulation; in 1563,
only five out of 16 islands were still inhabited. In 1771 the Cyclades were
annexed by the Russians during the Russian-Turkish War, but were reclaimed
by the Ottomans a few years later. The Cyclades' participation in the Greek
War of Independence was minimal, but they became havens for people fleeing
islands where insurrections against the Turks had led to massacres.
During WWII the islands were occupied by the Italians. Thereafter, following
a period of depopulation, the fortunes of the Cycladic islands were revived
by the tourism boom that began in the 1970s. Until that time, many islanders
lived in abject poverty and many more gave up the battle altogether and
headed for the mainland in search of work.
These days some of the islands in the Cyclades group - such as Mykonos,
Santorini and Ios - are playpens for visitors from across the world. The
beaches are awash with the packaged hedonism of the sun lounger, dance
culture and fun water-sports. Their main towns seethe with commercialism and
exploitation. In the quiter islands, many native islanders still struggle
for a living, raising livestock on the more barren islands, or chasing a
diminishing supply of fish from seas that are not always mirror-calm.
Environment
Population:113,050;
Amorgos 1869, Anafi 273, Andros 9999, Antiparos 1037, Folegandros 667, Ios
1838, Kythnos 1608, Little Cyclades 833, Milos 4771, Mykonos 9360, Naxos
18,168, Paros 12,853, Santorini 13,402, Serifos 1414, Sifnos 2900, Sikinos
238, Syros 16,776, Tinos 8574
The Cyclades are scattered across the southern Aegean Sea between the
Peloponnese and Turkey, trickling down towards Crete and bordered by the
Saronic Gulf Islands to the west and the Dodecanese to the east. The group
is made up 39 islands, but the major destinations are Amorgos, Anafi, Andros,
Folegandros, Ios, Kythnos, Little Cyclades, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros,
Santorini, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros and Tinos. Santorini is the
southernmost island, Andros the furthest north and Amorgos the most easterly,
and the Cyclades' historic core is the ancient site of Delos, lying off
Mykonos. Naxos and Andros are the largest and most fertile islands, while
Anafi and the Little Cyclades are little more than clumps of rock dotted
with tiny, depopulated villages.
The islands are not known for their native fauna, and introduced animals
like goats, sheep, pigs and cattle predominate. Fortunately, the bird and
sea life is impressive, making walking and snorkelling a joy, and the
islands' flora can also be hugely rewarding. At first sight, the majority of
the Cyclades islands appear to be little more than arid, rocky outcrops, but
most have a surprisingly fertile heart.
Getting There & Away
Olympic Airways links
Athens with Naxos, Syros, Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Milos. Santorini has
direct flights to/from Mykonos, Thessaloniki, Iraklio (Crete) and Rhodes;
Mykonos has flights to/from Thessaloniki and Rhodes.
Ferry routes tend to separate the Cyclades into western, northern, central
and eastern subgroups. Most ferries serving the Cyclades connect one of
these subgroups with Piraeus, Lavrio or Rafina on the mainland. The central
Cyclades (Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini) are the most visited and have the
best links with the mainland, usually Piraeus. The northern Cyclades (Andros,
Tinos, Syros and Mykonos) also have good connections. The western Cyclades (Kea,
Kythnos, Milos, Serifos, Sifnos, Folegandros and Sikinos) have less frequent
connections with the mainland, and the less-visited eastern Cyclades (Anafi,
Amorgos, Iraklia, Shinousa, Koufonisia and Donousa) have the fewest links.
Ferries from Piraeus to Cyprus and Israel stop at Santorini and Tinos.
In summer, there are daily hydrofoils from Piraeus to Kythnos, Serifos,
Sifnos, Milos and Kea; there are daily hydrofoils from Iraklio (Crete) to
Santorini. Although hydrofoils can travel faster than ferries, they often
take longer to get to their destination because of the many stops they make
and their sensitivity to weather. Large high-speed catamarans are very
popular. Cats travel daily between Piraeus, Syros, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos;
daily from Rafina to Tinos and Mykonos; weekly to Syros, Paros, Naxos and
Amorgos; daily between Rafina, Tinos and Mykonos, continuing to Andros twice
weekly and to Paros, Naxos and Amorgos once a week.
Getting Around
Olympic Airways flights
between Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Syros, Paros and Milos provide the
islands' only inter-island air link. There are usually relatively good ferry
connections within each of the western, northern, central and eastern
subgroups, but infrequent connections between the different subgroups via
Paros, the ferry hub of the island group.
In summer, there are daily hydrofoils between Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos and
Milos, as well as frequent connections between Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and
Syros. There are daily cats between Syros, Mykonos, Tinos, Paros, Naxos, Ios
and Santorini.
Amorgos
Enticing Amorgos makes an attractive alternative to the well-worn
Mykonos-Paros-Santorini route. Its principal port, Katapola, occupies a
large, dramatic bay in the most verdant part of the island. A smattering of
remains from ancient Minoa, as well as a Mycenaean cemetery, lie above the
port.
Hora, the beautiful, unspoilt capital, is 400m (1312ft) above sea level, and
is often shrouded in clouds when everywhere else is sunny. For breathtaking
views, walk down the steep hillside that leads to Moni Hozoviotissis, a
dazzling-white 11th-century monastery that dangles off the cliffside.
Andros
Top-notch drinking water, dovecotes, mulberry woods and nut sweets are just
a few of the attractions of Andros, the northernmost island of the Cyclades
and the second largest after Naxos. Its main port is Gavrio, on the beachy
west coast, but nearby Batsi is the island's major resort.
It's an eye-pleasing town around a bay, with a fishing harbour at one end
and a sandy beach at the other. Island tours leave from here, following old
paths through beautiful countryside. On the east coast, Hora is an
enchanting place with some fine old neoclassical mansions and museums.
Delos
It may be tiny, but Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites
in Greece. The sacred island is the mythical birthplace of famous twins
Apollo and Artemis, and it developed as a centre of Apollo worship in the
8th century BC. Mykonos excursion boats give you six hours to take it all in.
During Hellenistic times this was one of the three most important religious
centres in Greece, populated by wealthy merchants and bankers. Most of the
significant historical finds from the island are in the National
Archaeological Museum in Athens, but the site museum has a modest collection.
Folegandros
Gorgeous Folegandros bridges the gap between tourist traps and
underpopulated islands on the brink of total abandonment. The number of
visitors is increasing every year, but most locals still make a living from
fishing and farming rather than serving visitors ouzo.
Ios
Sultry Ios sizzles with sun, sea and sex. By day you can dive, windsurf or
water-ski, while at night the teenage-to-twenties alcohol-swilling brigade
party on in Hora's tiny central square. People stop by to party hard, but
the island also offers plenty of quiet beauty to explore.
Hora is a charming village filled with myriad laneways, cute houses and
shops. But, if it's not the drink that lures you to Ios, chances are it's
the beaches. Manganari, on the south coast, is in the running for best beach;
on the northeast coast, Agia Theodoti, Psathi and Kalamos are more remote.
Mykonos
The undisputed gay capital of Greece, Mykonos attracts visitors of all
persuasions who love the nightlife and the disco round. It's the most
pretentious and pricy of the Greek islands, so don't come to Mykonos if
you're looking for unspoilt island beauty or authentic cuisine.
Mykonos has a couple of decent beaches, and is the jumping-off point for the
sacred island of Delos, but the real reason people come here is to pose and
party til dawn. Even if you're disenchanted by the nightclubbing scene, you
can't help but be a little impressed by the port town of Hora.
Naxos
One of the most beautiful islands in the chain, its rugged mountains and
lush green valley are cloaked with olives, grapes, figs and citrus trees.
Naxos was an important Byzantine centre, and the island is dotted with more
than 500 churches and monasteries, many boasting notable frescoes.
Naxos is the biggest island in the Cyclades, as well as the most fertile.
It's a terrific island to explore on foot; an ancient network of country
pathways link its villages and churches. Hora, with its Venetian kastro (walled
town) of winding alleyways and manicured gardens, is the main town.
Paros
Pretty Paros' softly contoured hills are the source of the island's famously
pure white marble, which brought it prosperity from the Early Cycladic
period onwards; both the Venus de Milo and Napoleon's tomb were carved from
Parian marble. Nowadays its the main ferry hub for the Greek islands.
The port town of Parikia is awash with ferry travellers, but it's well worth
stepping back from the waterfront to visit the old town and its 13th-century
Venetian kastro. If you're into splendid churches don't miss the Panagia
Ekatontapyliani, which dates from 325.
Santorini (Thira)
Santorini is regarded by many as the most spectacular of the Greek islands.
Thousands come to marvel at its sea-filled caldera, a vestige of what was
probably the world's largest volcanic eruption. Its landscapes of blue-domed
roofs, dazzling white walls and black-sand beaches contrast the charming
with the unearthly.
The eruption that caused the caldera is believed by some myth-makers to have
caused the disappearance of Atlantis. The island's violent volcanic history
is visible everywhere you look - in its black beaches, earthquake-damaged
dwellings and raw cliffs of lava plunging into the sea. Volcanic activity
has been low-key for the past few decades, but minor tremors occur pretty
frequently and experts reckon the caldera could bubble up once again at any
moment. For lovers of impermanence and drama, no other place even comes
close.
To get some background into this island's extraordinary history, head to the
Megaron Gyzi museum of local memorabilia in Fira, with fascinating photos of
the town before and after the disastrous 1956 quake. The Museum of
Prehistoric Thira houses impressive finds from the ancient site of Akrotiri,
destroyed in the 1650 BC eruption. Look out for the gold ibex figurine,
found in mint condition in 1999 and dating from the 17th century BC.
Sifnos
From the ferry Sifnos looks like an arid write-off, but a sniff around
reveals an abundantly attractive landscape of terraced olive groves and
almond trees, valleys filled with oleander and hills clad with wild juniper.
Sifnos is known for its olive oil and produces some of Greece's best chefs.
The island is dotted with dovecotes, white-washed houses and chapels, and
it's a magical place to go walking as there are plenty of old paths linking
the villages. Local treats to sample include revithia (baked chickpeas),
revithokeftedes (falafel-like veggie balls) and some truly delectable sweets.
Sikinos
If you like your islands quiet and unspoilt, you'll find Sikinos fits the
bill perfectly. There's not even a bank or petrol station on the island -
but plenty of nice beaches and beautiful terraced landscapes dropping down
to the sea. Beaches to hit include Agios Georgios, Malta, Karra and Katergo.
The Kastro is a cute and compact place with some lovely old houses and a
fortified monastery above the town. The main excursion on this island is a
one-hour scenic trek southwest to Episkopi and its church and monastery.
Sikinos has good ferry connections to Piraeus and neighbouring islands.
Syros
People who stop in at Syros just to change ferries are missing out:
Ermoupolis, capital of both the island and the Cyclades group, is a
beautiful city whose occupants are busy with things other than tourism,
which adds immeasurable workaday charm to the place.
It's an affluent, lively place, and its wealth is evident in the many
restored neoclassical mansions, marble-paved streets and chic backstreet
boutiques. The city's hub is Plateia Miaouli, flanked by palm trees and open-air
cafes, and dominated by the magnificent neoclassical town hall.
|
