by Stella Tsolakidou
The Greek islands have long been a symbol of
beauty, sunny summer vacations and relaxation. With more than 3,000 islands in
total and only 130 estimated to be inhabited, it would take approximately 80
years to visit all of them bigger and smaller islands and spend a week in each
one of them. The natural beauties of the Greek islands have been praised for
centuries and have been attracting thousands of tourists but some travel
destinations have been better promoted than others or have simply not been
fully explored yet. Yet perhaps this is part of their splendor, what really
makes them worth visiting not only during the summer but all year long.
Cythera
Subject to the strong winds of Cape Malea, the
island of Cythera has been one one of the most dangerous points in the
Mediterranean and its shores are steep rocky cliffs with deep bays that
inspired many artists over time.
With a decreased population due to external and
internal migration, the island offers a peaceful refuge for those who want a
vacation close to nature and away from noise and crowds. Pebbled beaches with
crystal clear waters, newly constructed amenities, dozens of small villages and
cultural events taking place in high season are some of the island’s
highlights.
The capital city called Chora features the
impressive venetian Castle, while all around the small island you can find
museums, churches and monasteries of great architectural value. Another major
attraction of the island is the Cave of Aghia Sofia near Milopotamos village
and the Nordland shipwreck just outside the harbor of Avlemonas village.
The port of Diakofti in Cythera currently
serves scheduled routes to/from Gythion, Kalamata, Antikythera, Piraeus, Crete
and Neapolis – Vatika, while there is also a small airport.
Kastellorizo
The smallest island of the Dodecanese complex,
Kastellorizo most probably translates as Red Castle but there are numerous
hypotheses concerning its origins. Kastellorizo is the easternmost island of
Greece located 125km east of Rhodes island and 2km off the Turkish coast.
It is connected with Rhodes by ferry and is
served by Kastellorizo Airport. Kastellorizo has 4 boats to Kas, Turkey. There
is one small bus in service on Kastellorizo usually employed to pick up
tourists from the airport. Its current population is less than 500 permanent
residents all living in the town of Megisti.
The picturesque houses set around the small
port of Megisti, the archaiological sights of the Palaiokastro from the 3rd
Century B.C. and the Lycean Tomb from the 4th century BC, the catacombs of
Aghios Charalambos leading to the church of St. George of the Mountain are some
of the places one should visit in Kastellorizo. Although there are no organized
beaches, the waters surrounding the islet are clear. The island is also famous
for its sea cave and its serenity, which makes it ideal for anyone wishing to
spend their vacation in private.
Samothrace
Samothrace is located in the northern Aegean
Sea and is one of the most rugged Greek islands, with Mt. Saos rising to 1,611
m. Lately the island has been promoted as a paradise for those interested in
alternative forms of tourism because it offers countless activities and
possibilities as well as a breathtaking
landscape combining mountainous terrain and the blue sea.
The island is full of beaches, archaeological
sites, rivers and streams that make it an idyllic choice for the summer time.
The Sanctuary of the Great Gods, the Archaeological Museum, the medieval castle
of the Gateluzi family are among the top attractions to pay visit to besides of
the numerous natural beauties spread across the island.
The rich vegetation and naturally formed
waterfalls of the island add to its beauty, with the most famous waterfalls
being Kleidosi (created by the stream Fonias) and Kremasto and its cave.
Birdwatchers can enjoy their time in the lagoon of Aghios Andreas, while the
beach of the Gardens is unique due to its black and grey colored pebbles.
The port of Kamariotissa, the most crowded
point of the island, is connected to Alexandroupolis via ferry boats. The
island is also popular for hosting psychedelic trance festivals and its thermal
springs in the village of Therma. Extreme sports fans will definitely find
something new and interesting to try out in Samothrace.
usa.greekreporter.com
