Cypria

Tinos,Greece

The windswept island of Tinos, located in the Cyclades archipelago and five hours by ferryboat from Athens, has been settled for well over twenty-five hundred years. An island of many battles and different peoples, mountainous Tinos has been ruled by Ionians, Persians, Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians, Venetians, Franks, Turks, and Russians and has experienced the ravages of Arab and Barbary pirates. Now a peaceful island of forty whitewashed villages and more than 700 churches and monasteries, Tinos is famous throughout the Greek Orthodox world for its miraculous healing icon of the Virgin Mary.

In antiquity, Tinos was well known as a sacred place in the eastern Mediterranean, visited frequently for its temples of Poseidon and Dionysos. No historical sources shed light on the initial Christian presence on the island yet it is known that an early church, a Byzantine structure, was built directly upon the foundations of the temple of Dionysos. The middle of the 10^th century AD saw the invasion of Moslem raiders, their destruction of the Byzantine church, and the abandonment of the site. Eight centuries later, in June  1822 at the nunnery of Kechrovounion, a nun by the name of Pelagia had a series of visions of the Holy Virgin. Mary instructed Pelagia to inform the elders of Tinos village that they were to begin excavations in an uncultivated field, where they would find a sacred icon. Excavations began and on January 30, 1823, a worker digging in the soil discovered the icon. Subsequent archaeological excavations have determined the area of the icon's discovery to have been the site of the ancient Byzantine church and, before that, the temple of Dionysos.

 The icon, called Panagia Evangelistria, meaning Our Lady of Good Tidings, is a beautiful portrayal of Mary kneeling with her head bent in prayer. Regarded by scholars as being older than the Byzantine period, it may perhaps be the work of the Apostle and Evangelist St. Luke. It is assumed that the icon was a sacred object in the Byzantine church and was hidden or lost around the time of the Moslem invasions. Shortly after the discovery of the icon, the construction of a new church was begun. Before the church was completed in 1830, large numbers of pilgrims had begun to come to the island from throughout Greece. Numerous reports of miracles of healing rapidly increased the fame of the Church of the Megalohari, with the result that today the sacred icon is the most venerated pilgrimage item of the Greek nation. Four major festival days are celebrated at the shrine: January 30, the anniversary of the finding of the icon; March 25, the Annunciation of Mary; July 23, the anniversary of the vision of the nun Pelagia; and August 15, the Assumption of Mary. On each of these days the normally quiet town of Tinos is filled with many thousands of celebrating pilgrims. Besides the church, the tallest peak on Tinos, Mt. Prophet Elias, is also a fine place to spend a day of quiet meditation.

Readers interested in more detailed information on the Island of Tinos and its pilgrimage tradition will enjoy the excellent anthropological study by Jill Dubisch: In a Different Place: Pilgrimage, Gender, and Politics at a Greek Island Shrine.

Cephalonia, Greece

How does one do justice to this island in just a few lines? Majestic, green, clean, fascinating and idyllic are only a few words that come to mind. This is an island you can return to again and again, and still discover something new.

It is an island of many miracles: on the day of the Virgin Mary, the 15th of August snakes come into the village Markopoulo, blessing the Church of Our Lady with their presence.There is a flower on the island that only blossoms on this day. The patron saint Gerasimos' well preserved body is sometimes said to have seaweed on his feet - local folklore has it that he visits his friends St. Spyridon and Nectarios on the neighbouring island Zakynthos (Zante) and Corfu. The sea water that disappears under the ground at Katavothres and pours out on the other side of the island.

 A paradise for nature lovers, this lush island has a special kind of fir which grows only here and nowhere else in the world. There are wild horses on the mountainside, and goats and rabbits with golden teeth because of the minerals in the ground. In the sea swims the turtle Caretta Caretta, dolphins and the monk seal Monachus Monachus, and the waters of the island are considered amongst the cleanest in the world.

  Marvelous beaches, an underground cave and lake, the tomb of Odysseus, the fishing village Fiscardo, the Robola and Calliga wine, Lord Byron's view...Cephalonia is truly an island of much variety, and anyone who enjoyed Louis de Bernier's "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and wants to see what the island is really like will not be disappointed.

There are many places to stay on Cephalonia. You can stay in the areaof  Lassi for close access to some of the best beaches and the capital Argostoli. In Argostoli you have most of the nightlife, cafes, the cinema, banks, bus station and harbour. Lixouri and Sami are quite large places, and here you will find many bars and taverns as well. Fiscardo offers the perfect idyll, it is small and very cozy, and so is Ag Efimia, Skala and Poros. There are many more places to stay but they won't all fit in here.

The beach of Myrtos - a secluded beach - has been rated as the 5th best beach in the world.

 

Samos, Greece

Samos is one of the most beautiful  Greek islands  in the eastern Aegean. It is a green island with forests and with many places to visit. It is very close to Turkey, only about 1km, and has become many peoples' favourite Greek island. It is a fairly large island, and the people on the island live on tourism and agriculture consisting of mainly olives and fruit. The local wine is well known and worth a try. The ouzo also from Samos is one of the best in Greece. Samos is famous as well for its shipbuilding of Greek fishing boats the "kaikia" or trehantiria.Most holidaymakers stay in Pythagoreon (which was the ancient capital of the island) or Kokkari. Both places have many shops, restaurants and bars but they have still not been over commercialised. The latter is considered to be a very good spot for surfing since it is situated at the windy north coast.Because of its past, Samos has many places of interest which can be best explored by renting a car or a bike .

History

Samos is historically a very interesting place. It was an important island during ancient times since it was a rich island that traded with the rest of Greece, the Phoenicians and Persians.According to mythology, the goddess Hera was born here, and there are still ruins of her temple to be seen, the Heraion.It was also an intellectual centre with various famous people living and working there. One of ancient Greece's best known scientists, Pythagoras, was from this island, but Aristarchus, Epicurus, Herodotos and Aesop also lived here. The island flourished economically and culturally during the 6th and 5th centuries, but had a drawback when it tried to revolt against Athens in 440 BC to which it was forced to pay yearly tributes.Later on, Samos was to be a Roman province, and during Byzantine years the island kept its prosperity. When the Turks invaded in the 15th century, Samos lost its freedom and was uninhabited for a century. The island was not to be Greek again until 1931, even though the Greek revolution had started in 1821.

What to See in Samos :

The capital of Samos, Vathy, is very beautiful, situated in a bay, with neoclassic architecture, historical churches like Agios Spyridonas and Agia Irini, a painting exhibition and little, winding streets, an archaeological museum with many artifacts from the excavation of the temple to Hera , as well as a Byzantine museum.

Pythagoreon is the third largest village, and is in itself worth visiting. Here, there is a small archaeological museum, as well as some interesting churches. There is also a Venetian citadel here, and a little further away you can visit the monastery of Panagia Spiliani (The Virgin Mary of the Cave). Ancient ruins of the old town can be seen here, as well as the water tunnel/pipe of Eupalinus from the 6th century BC.

You can also visit the ruins of the Hera temple, Heraion. What you see today dates back to the 6th century BC, but the first temple built to her honour  was actually constructed in the 13th century BC and was made of wood.

What to Do :

Try to explore the villages on the island, especially the ones in the mountains. You'll also find watersports on the island as well as great opportunities for snorkelling and fishing. Boat trips to Turkey are also offered, as well as to neighbouring islands. There is a daily hydrofoil that connects the island with the Dodecanese islands of Patmos, Lipsi, Leros,Kalymnos and Kos ,so you can go on a day trip to one of those islands.

Samos Beaches

  Surfers love the north side because of its winds, so most go to the village Kokkari. It is not well suited for children since it is stony and the waves are often high. The beaches of Psili Ammos and Potokaki are ideal for families. Samos's beaches are either pebble or sand ones. Although not a beach, the waterfalls near Karlovassi are wonderful for swimming.

Samos Nighttlife:

For  most bars and discos Samos town, Vathy, is the best place to go. There is also a quite good nightlife in Karlovassi and Pythagorion.

Food:

Samos has both international and Greek restaurants. The widest variety is in Vathy. Give the local wine a try. "Samiotiko" wine is reputed all over Greece. There are also many traditional taverns in the smaller villages, and they often have their very own specialties. Sometimes, you may need to ask for the local dishes available as they don't always appear on the menu.

Shopping:

The local wine and Ouzo is a nice souvenir to enjoy during cold winter nights at home. Samos also produces a lot of ceramics as well as religious items like icons which are good buys. The island offers a wide variety of handicrafts, clothes, leatherware and jewellery. Samos also has a special kind of rugs which are called Flokati.

Getting Around

Apart from  renting a car or a bike, you can also get around quite easily by using the local buses. There are also boats that can take you to some of the beaches, as well as the little island Samiopoula.

Getting There:

Samos has its own airport. If you are travelling on your own you can also take the ferry from Piraeus (Athens). There are about five a week, during high season. From Samos you can also get to other islands like Paros, Naxos, Leros, Kalymnos, Patmos and Kos. The hydrofoils run mainly during high season.

For more info on Samos island : FOTINI'S BLOG

Source : in2greece.com

Skyros, Greece

Skyros - my grandmother's island-  is an unspoilt and attractive Greekisland part of the archipelago called the Sporades. It lies north-east of the peninsula of Evia, at a distance from the other islands of the group, Alonissos, Skiathos and Skopelos. The capital of the island is called Skyros Town and is a lovely settlement full of whitewashed  houses. Skyros also has a lot of unspoilt, semi-deserted  beaches and a beautiful landscape.

On the island of Skyros visitors will find a lot of beautiful sandy beaches and picturesque hidden coves with crystal-clear waters. Some of them propose various rentals and sea sports activities but the majority are unequipped and left to their natural beauty. Around some of the beaches of Skyros visitors will find excellent fish tavernas serving fresh lobster with ladolemono (olive oil and lemon sauce). Rooms for rent are also available.

Skyros is home to a wonderful selection of beaches, spread out around the northern half of the island. From the popular beaches around the capital of Chora, to some hidden and isolated beaches along the coast, Skyros is perfect for your summer holidays if you hate crowded touristy resorts, loud music, noise  or night life..

The coastal resorts of Molos and Magazia, located below the town of Chora is one of the largest and most popular beaches on Skyros.

Corfu,Greece

The island of Corfu is located just off the West coast of Greece. Corfu enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate along with excellent beaches making it a popular destination for holiday makers. The island is very green compared to other Greek islands: hot and dry summers along with winter rain creates lush vegetation dominated by over 2 million olive trees. These olive trees on Corfu are the main cultivation, although Corfu's tourism now provides the most income.

Corfu has seen a colourful past where Greek, Roman, Venetian and French occupations have left their marks, including two forts. Many myths and legends feature Corfu including: Hercules, Homer, Odysseus and Jason with his Argonauts. Not surprisingly, Corfu town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and this has helped to protect and preserve the architecture and monuments on Corfu.

  The most important part of any Greek island holiday, and Corfu is no exception, is the food and wine. Corfu's Tavernas will not disappoint. Modern Greek food is fresh and exciting. Gone are the soggy Mousakas served with chips. Now days you will find Modern Greek food - fresh and exciting. Corfu Food and Wine

Samothraki, Greece

Samothraki is one of the Greek North Eastern Aegean Islands located 32 kilometres south west of the mainland port of Alexandroupolis in Thrace. It's a remote, under-developed and awe-inspiring island dominated by the highest peak in the Aegean Sea - mighty Mount Fengari with its 1,611-metre summit from which the god Poseidon reputedly watched the Trojan War. The island's remoteness has protected it from the ravages of package holiday tourism but independent travellers who make their own way here will be delighted to find an enchanting land of majestic mountain scenery, lush valleys, wooded glades and cascading waterfalls.

  Don't come to Samothraki for endless stretches of golden sand and frantic all-night clubbing. This is a place for hikers, explorers and those seeking an island break free from all the glitz of the more popular Aegean hot spots. In the summer there are daily ferry and hydrofoil connections between Samothraki and Alexandroupolis. Less frequent ferries connect the island with the island of Limnos to the south and the mainland port of Kavala in Macedonia.

See - MQSEARCH for the latest advertised hotels - self catering apartments - villas - package holidays.

Boats arrive at the port of Kamariotissa, on the north west coast, where you'll find a plentiful supply of hotels, domatia (rooms for rent), bars, tavernas and essential tourist facilities. The island's capital, Hora, is five kilometres inland from the port. This is Samothothraki's prettiest village - a totally unspoilt confection of cobbled streets and red-tiled houses tucked away in a hidden hollow cloaked with pine trees. The town is topped by the ruins of a Genoese castle which has dramatic views of the sea and port below.

  The island's premier resort since Roman times has been Loutra, 14 kilometres east of Kamariotissa, where the therapeutic hot springs and lush scenery attract hordes of visitors in July and August. The presence of two nearby camp sites makes Loutra (also known as Therma) a popular spot among backpackers as well as ailing Greeks who come here to bathe in the curative waters of the local thermal baths.

Loutra is also the favoured starting point for the challenging hike up to the summit of Mount Fengari. The name of this forbidding mountain means moon and according to legend if you reach its peak when there's a full moon your wish will come true. Don't let the local police catch you trying it because the mountain has claimed numerous lives and over-zealous, ill-equipped hikers are injured on it every year.

There are some lovely inland villages to explore and delightful riverside walks culminating in cooling rock pools and gushing waterfalls. But the island's top visitor attraction is the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, set in a dramatic location in a canyon on the north eastern slope of Mount Fengari.

  The Great Gods were worshipped by early settlers from Thrace in the 10th century BC and later became asSymilated with the Greeks' Olympian gods. By the 5th century BC the Samothraki sanctuary had become one of the most important religious centres of ancient Greece attracting luminaries and more humble pilgrims from far and wide. The ruins of the sanctuary have refused to yield the secrets of the mysterious initiation rites and sacrifices which took place here until paganism was banned by the Romans in the 4th century AD. But treasures unearthed here have included the magnificent Winged Victory of Samothraki - discovered by the French in 1863 and now one of the most prized exhibits in the Louvre Museum in Paris

Naxos, Greece

Naxos is the largest island of Cyclades -almost in the centre of Cyclades- and very close to Paros. Naxos is 103 nautical miles from Piraeus, it has an area of 428 sq. km, a shoreline of 148 km. and a population of 18,000.
The island of Naxos can be reached by air from Athens and by ferry from Piraeus and Rafina (on the east coast of Attica), with large, modern passenger and car ferries. Some services go directly to the island and others make previous stops at Paros, Ios, Santorini and Tinos.
There are regular- though not daily- sailings from Naxos for the other Cycladic islands and for Herakleio in Crete. In the summer there are local sailings for the smaller islands of the Eastern Cyclades (Koufonisia, Irakleia, Donousa).

Naxos has always been a crossroad, where archaeologists, historians, scholars of all kinds, artists and ordinary people with interests in history, archaeology and folklore can meet, drawn by the importance of the culture which has flourished on the island down the centuries.Its size, its central position in the Aegean, the fertility of its soil and the prosperity that those factors created helped to assure Naxos of self sufficiency down the ages.

In mythology, Naxos is the island of Bacchus and Ariadne.
Bacchus (or Dionysus), the god of wine, was living here when Theseus, returning from Crete, abandoned Ariadne, the daughter of cretean King Minos, who had helped him to slay the Minotaur, on the island.
But Ariadne finally found consolation in the arms of Bacchus and became his wife.Their marriage, her death and the rebirth which that death foreshadows were in antiquity the focus of wild celebrations on Naxos, where this cult, focusing on the ripening, death and regenaration of nature was most highly developed.

It is a feeling of security and stability which one feels when one first sees Naxos from the boat, as a dim line on the horizon. There are towering mountains and if you are lucky enough to arrive on a clear day the summit of Mt Za- the tallest in the Cyclades at 1004 metres- can be seen.

When the voyage is over, you find yourself in a bustling little town. Naxos has a wide choice of beaches, from those which are only sandy to those which have pebbles mixed in with the sand. Any visitor who wants really to get to know Naxos will have to be prepared to move around exploring the island. Naxos has a night life at certain times of the year, and it is aimed chiefly at visitors. It centres naturally enough at Chora, where there are clubs, bars, piano bars and night clubs with Greek popular music. Apart from entertainment of this kind, the summer Sundays see semi- religious festivals in the villages. Here there will be live folk music, and if the visitor is lucky, a taste of the real Naxos "feast", with the most characteristic form of recreation, the complets known as "kotsakia". The majority of the people of Apeiranthos or other villages, both women and men, compose for every occasion, in times of joy or sadness, these songs, which are either sung immediately or noted down to be sent to friends or relatives who have left the island. In Naxos there are eating- places of all kinds: the typically Greek restaurants ("estiatoria'), serving mostly Greek dishes, tavernas which specialise in grilled meats, souvlaki shops, and seaside restaurants that serve fresh fish daily. One should try the local specialities, such as wild rabbit, patridge, "kaloyeros" (a preparation with aubergines), "kefalopodia" (the Apeiranthos version of tripe), the wide variety of local cheeses, the fresh and tasty vegetables and the sweet wine. Finally dont miss 'patouda', the traditional Easter dish, that will only be found in Naxos.

Patmos, Greece

Located on the eastern borderline of the Aegean Sea, Patmos is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese island group.Its interesting landscape features low barren hills succeeded by small plateaux, while its lacy coastline is deeply intended by tens of promontories forming countless picturesque bays and coves. With a mostly dry climate, the island is regularly visited by north winds, bathing into the sunrays for 3000 hours out of a year. Situated at a distance of 158 nautical miles from the mainland port of Piraeus, it covers an area of 34 square kilometres with greatest length of about 25 kilometres.

Patmos, as the other islands of Greece, is full of beaches and every one of them offers something different. The best for each visitor of the island is to go around and find their very own favourite.

Kambos Beach is perhaps the most organised beach. Several bars and tavernas around, where you can find spinach pie(the best in Greece!) and other delicacies. Sun beds and umbrellas are for rent and water sports as windsurfing and waterskiing are available. You can easily reach Kambos Beach with the local bus, boat or taxi. The most beautiful beach of the island is Psili Ammos. The atmosphere here is exotic with the enormous waves and the sandy beach surrounded by wild beauty. No sun beds or umbrellas. A few local tavernas serve traditional  Greek food. Try their stuffed "bifteki" and their calamari !

   It is not so easy to reach Psili Ammos, it is one of the most remote beaches of the island. The road reaches to Diakofti and then you take the little foot path over the mountain. It is about 20-30 minutes walk. But believe me! It's worth it ! You can also reach Psili Ammos by boat. The boats depart from Skala and the trip takes about one hour. Nudism is prohibited all over the island but at Psili Ammos, if you are discreet (*wink*), no one minds if you drop your swim suit.

Agriolivadi is one of the best organised beaches. All the comforts you can ask for exist here. It is a long beach and you can choose if you want to rent a sun bed and umbrella or if you just want to lie down on your towel in the shadow of a tree. Waterskiing and pedal boats for rent. Two tavernas, one traditional at the beach and one fish taverna 150 m along the road. Bar/cafeteria that remains open all day. Agriolivadi is easy to reach on foot (3 km walk from Skala), local bus or taxi.

  Lampi beach is situated at the north part of Patmos. It is famous because of the many coloured stones that cover the beach. Their number has decreased though, they are very popular souvenirs. On Lambi beach you can not find any facilities except a very popular fish tavern. Try their gavros ! The main road leads to Lampi beach, but the bus stops 2 km away. You will enjoy the walk to the beach!

Meloi beach (photo) is quite close to Skala (1.5 km), next to the camping site. Because of this short distance from the centre it is an easy choice for your swim. No facilities, but here you can enjoy ouzo and fresh fish from the fiherman's basket at two traditional tavernas.

  The beach of Grikos is a combination of harbour and beach. Where the first one finishes the other one begins. Grikos is a stretched - out tourist settlement that consists of hotels, rooms for rent and restaurants. There are facilities  such as sun beds, umbrellas and canoes. Opposite you can find a stony beach that separates the rock of Kalikatsou from Grikos. Livadi Geranou is a distant pebble and sand beach in the north-east of Patmos. It mainly assembles guests that want to combine their excursion with a swim. There is a fish taverna, but no other facilities. In a very short distance from the beach, there is a small islet with a little church on. These are not the only beaches that exist on Patmos. There are so many small wonderful places where the sea meets the land - small paradises that invite you to get to know them.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  ~ BLUE BAY HOTEL - PATMOS

For a truly sacred travel experience, make your way to Patmos (Jerusalem of the Aegean). It was on this island that St John wrote his divinely inspired Revelation the Apocalypse, the last book of the New Testament. Today it is a place of pilgrimage for both Orthodox and western Christians, as well as the more profane sun and sand worshippers. Instantly palatable, Patmos entices visitors to linger and to almost certainly return.

Ithaca, Greece

The island of Ithaca, beloved homeland of the mythical Odysseus-the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey-has become a synonym for the love one feels for the land of one’s birth. The island’s atmosphere is one of romantic charm and nostalgia. It is an ideal place for a quiet holiday, for enjoying pleasant walks in nature, for discovering isolated beaches and crystal-clear seas, which does not mean that it does not also offer opportunities for various sports and leisure activities.

Location
Ithaca is the fifth largest island in the group of the Ionian Islands, covering an area of 96 square kilometers. Its coastline measures about 100kms. It lies at a distance of 2 nautical miles west of Cephalonia and 23 n.m. east of Astakos, on the western coast of mainland Greece.

There are lovely pebbly beaches, washed by clear, turquoise seas. The temperate climate of Ionian Islands makes the summers on Ithaca relatively cool and the winters fairly mild.
Dense olive groves, among which nestle picturesque villages, cover the island, which produces olive oil of excellent quality and very good wine.

The inhabitants of Ithaca are very sociable and cosmopolitan in spirit; they, like their famous forebear, are great travelers, and many of them are sailors, or have sought their fortune in foreign lands, but all of them, again like Odysseus, love their homeland dearly and dream only of returning there some day.

Vathy town is the capital of the island. It’s a beautiful traditional town built in a panoramic way at the hill sides of the souring mountains.

Its permanent population is about three thousand people but in the summer it can get up to ten thousand. You can find plenty of accommodation from a simple house to a five star hotel and villas with private pools. It’s got very cosmopolitan flair and is the first port of the Ionian in private boats arrivals. Seeing Madonna jogging next to you in the coastal road is not an unusual sight! Bars, coffee shops, restaurants, taverns, clubs, e.t.c can all be found there. The talk of the town is the evening drink at the coastal road of the town just opposite the ships quay. Vathy is the main port of Ithaca and anything a guest might need will can be found there.

Santorini

Santorini is the last of the Cyclades islands to the South. The closests islands are Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos to the North, Anafi and Amorgos to the East and Crete to the South.

We refer to it as one, but actually it is a complex of five islands. Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

It was one island named Stroggili (circle in Greek) until about 1645 BC, when the volcano in the middle of the island erupted and Caldera was created. The two volcanic islands appeared much later from various eruptions starting from 157 BC until the last one in the 20th century (1950).

Many reasons made this island famous worldwide and more or less we all have seen a picture of it (it was that picture the travel agency used for Greece). There is a talk about the connection between Thira and mythical Atlantis. Also Jules Verne made Santorini famous with its books "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and "The mysterious island" where captain Nemo and his crew watch the volcano eruption. He was one of the visitors and scientists that came to Thira during the eruptions of 1866 - 1870 and wrote the well known book just after it. It is realy the mysterious island, the volcano rules, the caldera view is the most breathtaking one on the planet!

If you are after the caldera view have a look at Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Akrotiri.
For the best beaches check Perissa, Kamari, Perivolos, Vlihada and Red beach.

Santorini is connected to Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Kos and all the major Cyclades islands (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Sifnos, Milos, Tinos, Syros) by boat and Athens and many countries direct by plane.