Tinos
Tinos lies very close to the southern tip of Andros. This is the holy
island of Our Lady, which in August is swamped by pilgrims who have come
to pray in Her church or in fulfilment of a vow. As Our Lady's feast day
on 15 August approaches, the church and the town of Tinos become crammed
with people, and religious services take place next to the commercial
fair being held in the surrounding streets.
A line of mountains, whose highest peak is Mt. Tsiknias (in the myths,
the home of the wind-god Aeolus), runs the length of the island. On its
lower slopes, walls like the fortifications of old castles divide the
terraced fields. The coast of the island is mostly steep, but there are
also numerous coves with sandy or pebbly beaches. Among the special characteristics
of Tinos are its dovecotes. These structures developed from simple roosts
for pigeons into works of art - and the stone-built fountains to be seen
in the villages evolved in a similar manner.
Tinos, capital of the island and its port, is where most of the population
lives. A broad paved street leads from the harbour to the low hill on
which stands the magnificent church of Our Lady. Built in marble from
Paros and Tinos itself, the church stands overlooking the town on the
site where a miraculous icon of Our Lady was discovered. Next to the church
is the Gallery of Tiniot Artists and Modern Greek Painter's, which has
a very interesting collection. Close by is the Archaeological Museum of
Tinos. It houses finds from the temple of Poseidon and Amphitrite (at
Kionia beach) and from the Geometric burials of Exo Meria.
At Xombourgo, we can admire the ruins of the medieval castle, on the
south side of which is a sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone. The interior
of the island has been little affected by tourism, and the 45 villages
have retained much of their traditional character and distinctive vernacular
architecture. Among the most interesting villages are the large settlements
of Falatado, Steni and Pirgos, the latter of which has a museum dedicated
to the sculptor Halepas, the house of the artist Lytras and numerous marble-sculptors'
workshops. Among the monasteries of the island, many of them built on
superb sites, we could single out that of Our Lady of the Angels at Kehrovouni
(Panagia ton Angelon) which has the appearance of a Tinos village in medieval
times.There are plenty of good beaches, too, notably at Agios Fokas near
the town, Kionia, Porto, Panormos bay, Kolimbithra, Agios Sostis and Pahia
Amos. The lunar landscape at the spot known as 'Volax', with its peculiar
boulders, is probably unique anywhere in the world. The beauties of Tinos
are gradually making a name for themselves. Although amenities for tourists
outside the town are scanty, they are constantly expanding.
Kythnos
It was on the small island of Kithnos, famous in antiquity for the excellence
of its administration (according to Aristotle in his "Constitution
of Kithnos") that recent archaeological finds have provided evidence
of the earliest presence of man in the Cyclades. Here, too, the terrain
is mainly mountainous, but the harshness of the bare earth is relieved
here and there by vines or fig trees like brushstrokes on it, while pretty
little bays form indentations in its cost-line. Ferries put in at Merihas,
the port on the western side of the island.
Hora or Messaria, the island's capital is 8 Km. From Merihas and stands
on a hillside plateau. A typical Cycladic village, it is noted for its
beautiful churches with their fine woodcarving, sanctuary screens and
icons (St. Savas, church of the Saviour, Holy Trinity, Teologos). At the
monastery of Our Lady "tou Nikous", which stands on an attractive
hill, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on 15 August is observed
with the traditional festivities.
A little way to the south is the island's former capital, which retains
its ancient name of Driopida - a picturesque village, very typical islands.
In the northeastern part of the island lies Loutra, renowned for its radioactive
thermal springs, which are considered beneficial to sufferers from arthritis,
dermatitis and genealogical problems. In the southeast, the monastery
of Our Lady Kanala, the patron saint of the island, stands on a very attractive
promontory facing towards Serifos, with a beautiful expanse of sandy beach.
The building is of great interest and the scenery is reminiscent of a
fjord - in Greek colors.
Other good beaches for swimming can be found at Merihas, Episkopi, Flambouria
bay (accessible only by boat), Loutra and Agios Stefanos.
Syros
The northern part of Syros is mountainous and the island stands out in
general for the variety of the landscape in its hinterland, where hills
alternate with low-lying farming areas. The coastline is indented with
inlets of all sizes between capes. There are two large bays, of Ermoupoli
to the east and Finikas to the west. Archaeological excavations have shown
that Syros was inhabited in Neolithic times. Digs at Kastri and Halandriani
have revealed a prehistoric acropolis, a settlement and a burial ground,
and yielded artefacts of the Early Cycladic period.
Ermoupoli, "Queen of the Cyclades", is the capital and main
harbour of Syros. It is also without doubt the capital of all the Cyclades.
Ermoupoli stands on a naturally amphitheatrical site, with neo-classical
buildings, old mansions and white houses in the island style cascading
down to the harbour. The centre of the town, where Miaouli Square stands
ringed with cafes, has a grandeur all its own.
Among the most important buildings are the Town Hall (to plans by Ziller)
and the Apollo Municipal Theatre, which is a copy in miniature of La Scala,
Milan. There is also a statue of Admiral Miaoulis. Ermoupoli has numerous
magnificent churches, the most interesting of which are those dedicated
to the Transfiguration, the Dormition of Our Lady, St Demetrius, the Three
Hierarchs, and the St Nicolas. The Archaeological Museum has a collection
of notable finds, and the Municipal Library contains numerous interesting
and rare editions. The quarter of the town known as Vaporia, where the
sea-captains lived, is of a special interest. Along its narrow streets
stand neo-classical mansions.
On the north-east side of the island are Halandriani and Kastri hill,
where important prehistoric finds have been made. The beaches of north-west
Syros are difficult to reach. Among places of interest here is Gramata,
where inscriptions dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods are to
be found carved on the rocks. The southern and western parts of Syros
are the most densley-inhabited. The best beaches are also here, including
Galissas, a fine, large resort with a long sandy beach; Possidonia or
Delagratsia, a coastal area with a good beach at Agathopes and neo-classical
houses of great architectural interest; Vari, with an attractive beach,
Finikas bay, Kini and Gialos.
There are more good swimming beaches at Kimata, Agios Nikolaos, Ermoupoli,
Ambela, Delfini and Ahladi. Syros is well-supplied with tourist amenities
and its natural beauties and interesting monuments make it an ideal holiday
destination. The ease of availability of products and services give the
island an advantage over its more isolated neighbours.
Myconos
Mykonos is world famous. It is no coincidence that this, the most cosmopolitan
of all Greek islands, attracts so many visitors from all over the globe,
including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Here, the steep
mountains to be encountered in most of the Cyclades give way to low, rocky
hills which combine with superb beaches to make up the landscape of the
island.
The capital, Hora, with its colorful harbor in which little fishing-boats
nestle happily side by side with luxury yachts, presents quite a different
picture from the majority of Aegean island towns. While it is usual for
island villages to be built on naturally amphitheatrical sites, Mykonos
is spread out over a flat area and conveys an impression of solid aesthetic
cohesion.
Along the whitewashed streets stand brilliant white box-shaped houses
with stepped walls for sitting on, wooden doors and windows and brightly-colored
balconies. These are interspersed with small and impressive churches,
pretty little tavernas and shops selling souvenirs and other goods, and
the overall sense is of being inside a film set. On the low Kastro hill
is the complex of churches known collectively as Our Lady , a superb arrangement
of whitewashed masses created over the centuries and now recognized as
a national cultural monument. Of particular historical and aesthetic interest
are the medieval houses in this district of the town, which stand like
a wall above the sea protecting the west side of Hora.
The Archaeological Museum of Hora contains finds from tombs on the nearby
island of Rhenia, sculptures, vases and figurines. The Folklore Museum
brings together a number of collections of furniture, icons, pieces of
sculpture and folk musical instruments. Mykonos is also the home of the
Nautical Museum of the Aegean, which has interest all of its own.The countryside
of Mykonos is a mixture of gray-green rocks ringed by prickly pear plants
and little fertile areas carpeted with wild flowers. Here and there are
tiny white-washed chapels and windmills.
Serifos
Bare, undulating hills interspersed with small, fertile valleys cover
this picturesque island. The rocky coastline is deeply indented with a
succession of coves and bays. The curious rock formations resemble human
figures which call to mind the myth of Danae, Perseus and Medusa, as if
these prehistoric inhabitants of the island had been turned to stone.
Ferries call at Livadi, the sheltered port on the eastern side of the
island, where there is a long, horse- shoe-shaped sandy beach.
Perched on the top of a steep hill, Hora or Serifos, the main town of
the island, with its little cube-shaped houses and churches in the island
style, with its Venetian castle above, looks like a fairytale town. The
fortress-like monastery of the Archangels (moni Taxiarhon), near the village
of Galani, which houses some fine wall-paintings and important books and
manuscripts, is of special interest. The village of Panagia (which takes
its name - meaning "Our Lady" - from the dedication of a fine
10th century church) commands a panoramic view of the whole island. The
greatest attraction of Serifos is its magnificent beaches (Mega Livadi,
Koutalas, Agios Sostis. Psili Amos, Agios Ioanis, Sikamia).
However, it is a charm all of its own, something in the unique "atmosphere"
of the island, which attracts an ever-increasing number of visitors from
Greece and abroad.
Paros
Paros, the third largest of Cyclades after Naxos and Andros has developed
into an important center of tourism in recent years.
Gently rolling hills surround the center and south-east of the island
which is predominately agricultural and is occupied by endless vineyards,
and lock within themselves the famous Parian marble. The coastline is
indented, with numerous small inlets and two large bays, those of Naoussa
in the north and Parikia in the west. Paros has been inhabited since very
ancient times, and was one of the centers of the Cycladic civilization.
Parikia (or Paros), the island capital and port, stands on the site of
an ancient city. There is a picturesque and ruinous Venetian castle and
the courtyards of the houses of the town -all of them painted white- are
full of pots of basil and hung with jasmine and honeysuckle. A broad paved
avenue leads to the church of Ekantondapiliani or Katapoliani, one of
the most important Byzantine monuments in the whole of Greece and a place
that figures largely in legend. It is dedicated to the Dormition of our
Lady, and on her feast day (15 August) there is a great celebration on
the sea-front with fireworks and songs of the sea.
Naoussa, one of the prettiest villages in Cyclades, with white washed
houses, narrow paved alleys, arches and tiny chapels can also offer a
range of excellent beaches and attracts many visitors each summer.
Among the beaches near Naoussa, special mention should be made of Kolibithres,
where huge rocks eroded into strange shapes remind the visitors of sculptures
embedded in the sand. The chapels and monasteries of Paros are famed for
their picturesqueness among the most characteristic are the monastery
of Zoodohos Pigi 'Longovarda' and that of Christ of the Forest (Hristos
tou Dassous).
Marpissa is an attractive large village with a Venetian castle and beautiful
churches. Among the best swimming beaches are Livadia, Krios, Agios Fokas,
(at Parikia), Mikro Piperi and Megalo Piperi, Limnes, Kolimbithres (at
Naoussa), Agii Anargiri, Langeri, Aliki, (with an interesting exhibition
of traditional crafts), Santa Maria, Ambelas, Pisso Livadi, and Drios
(on the eastern side).
Naxos
Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands, lies almost
at the centre of the Aegean. Meadows running down to vast beaches, cliffs
sinking suddenly into the sea, rocky mountains side-by-side with fertile
valleys, abundant springs and streams these are just some of the features
of a natural environment marked for its variety. The coastline of Naxos
is abrupt on the south side and more sheltered to the west, with numerous
inlets and sandy beaches.
The island is first heard of in the myths and then mentioned throughout
every period of history, though it was at the peak of its glory during
the period of the Cycladic civilisation. Naxos or Hora stands on a naturally
amphitheatrical site on a hillside on the north-west side of the island
and is one of the most attractive towns in the Cyclades. As the visitor
walks from the harbour high up to the Venetian castle, he will be struck
by the beauty of the narrow winding lanes and the old stone houses lining
them. Interesting monuments from vari- ous periods are to be found all
over the town. They include fine Byzantine churches, the castle itself
(with its tower and battlements), and traces of Mycenean buildings in
the spot known as Grota. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos has some notable
exhibits.
Given that traces of Greek antiquity are to be seen everywhere, each
part of the island has somethirig of interest. Near the pretty coastal
village of Apolonas, for instance - on the north side of the island is
a half-finished outsize 'kouros' (statue of a youth), dating from the
6th century BC, still lying in the marble quarry where it was abandoned.
Another such statue can be seen at Melanes. An interesting archaeological
museum is to be found at Apirathos, a village where a number of strange
customs and habits have survived.
Sifnos
A monotonous gray landscape of rock, broken up here and there by a gleaming
white chapel, is the first impression made on visitors. But this gives
them no idea of the beauty - spots waiting to be discovered in-land, which
together with the island's superb architecture, rank it among the jewels
of the Aegean.
The island was famous in ancient times for the wealth, which came from
its gold and silver mines and the quarries of Sifnos stone. It enjoyed
great prosperity in Classical times, as can be seen from its Treasure,
dedicated to Apollo at Delphi. An attractive drive from the port of Kamares,
a modern town with pottery workshops, brings us to the island's capital,
Apolonia. Standing on three hillsides, with its typical Cycladic style
of architecture, it is breathtakingly beautiful. It ahs an interesting
folklore museum, while the churches of the greatest interest are those
of Our Lady 'Ouranofora' and St Sozon. Like that of the villages round
about (Artemonas, Exambela, Kato Petali), the architecture of Apolonia
is an odd assemblage in which walls, terraces, courtyards and alleyways
form large cubes in a continuous complex, in total harmony with the natural
environment.
The sole exception to this is the old capital of Kastro, which remains
an example of medieval town planning. A collection of Archaic and Hellenistic
sculpture and of ceramics from the Geometric to the Byzantine period is
on display in its Archaeological Museum.
Picturesque windmills surrender their sails to the vagaries of the wind,
while no fewer than 365 churches and chapels spout all over the island
white mushrooms from the gray carpet of the island's terrain. The Monasteries
of Sifnos, such as that of St Symeon, of Ailias, The Vrissi Monastery
with an interesting little Byzantine museum and that of Our Lady 'Hryssopigi',
the patron saint of the island are held in high esteem. The strong local
color of the mountainous island with its strips of coastal plain in further
heightened by its picturesque fairs and festival. There are clean and
attractive beaches at Kamares, Faros and Platis Gialos, as well as quieter
and lesser-known ones, such as those at Hersonissos, Vroulidia, and Fikiada
Fassolou.
Antiparos
Antiparos and Paros are divided by a narrow channel. The island is notable
for its golden, sandy beaches and for its authentic natural beauty. The
capital, Antiparos or Kastro, stands around the original nucleus of the
medieval castle.
Among the principal attractions of Antiparos is the famous cave of stalactites
on Agios Ioannis hill. There is a chapel to St. John of the Cave (Agios
Ioannis Spiliotis) at the mouth of the cavern. Antiparos has a number
of beaches with golden sand and blue-green water. Every year, more and
more visitors come to Antiparos, and as a result the hotels and limited
number of rooms to rent have difficulty in meeting demand at peak periods.
All around Antiparos are scores of tiny islands, like guards posted out
at sea, inhabited only by wild rabbits and pigeons.
Archaeologists have investigated two of these islets: Despotiko produced
traces of tombs of the Early Cycladic period, and Saliangos has the ruins
of a Neolithic settlement.
Sikinos
Sikinos has retained all of its island character, and this adds to its
attractions for those in search of peace and an authentic atmosphere.
The island has been inhabited since ancient times, as has been proved
by the finds made in the Episkopi district.
The only road on Sikinos links Alopronia, the island's harbour, with
Hora or Kastro, one of the most beautiful villages anywhere in the Cyclades.
There are fine stone mansions to admire, and a church of Our Lady 'Pantanassa'.
The Zoodohos Pigi monastery, built on the peak of a rock, is more reminiscent
of an impregnable castle from a distance. As on all the more isolated
Cycladic islands, the local religious feasts are celebrated with great
enthusiasm.
Amorgos
At Katapola, the main harbour of the island today and the location of
the interesting church of Our Lady 'Katapoliani' (built on the site of
a temple of Apollo), traces of ancient Minoa have come to light. Swimmers
will be delighted by the superb beaches to be found in the vicinity.The
whitewashed houses of the capital of the island, Hora or Amorgos, spread
out beneath the Venetian castle which stands on the peak of the hill.
The typical Cycladic architectural style of the double or 'twin' church
is much in evidence here. The Archaeological Museum has finds from all
over the island and is well worth a visit.To the north-east of Hora, at
the foot of a rock, is the Byzantine monastery of Our Lady 'Hozoviotissa',
one of the most important monuments of its kind. The second port of Amorgos,
Egiali, is a pretty village famed for its superb sandy beaches and consisting
of three distinct 'quarters'. It is easier to reach Egiali by sea than
32 along the poor and steep road linking it to Hora. In the south of the
island, Arkessini stands near the site of the ancient city of the same
name, amid a group of picturesque whitewashed hamlets. The road network
of Amorgos is nearing completion, and will link up all the villages on
the island. Amorgos has few hotels or rooms to rent. Yet despite the limited
facilities available for visitors, the fine beaches and particular beauty
of the island attract more and more tourists each year.
Milos
Milos is the most southerly island in the Western Cyclades. It is notable
for its volcanic soil and for the rich deposits of minerals that lie beneath.
It has a distinctive horseshoe shape. The civilisation of Milos is considered
to be as ancient as that of Crete, and spans a period of at least 5,000
years.
Adamas, one of the safest natural harbours in the Aegean, is a particularly
charming spot, with white-washed houses, cobbled alleys, balconies crammed
with flower-pots and fragrant tamarisks which have been extolled by the
poets.
Among the most notable of its churches are those of Our Lady 'Korfiotissa',
Our Lady 'Thalassistra' and Our Lady 'Mlessa Panagia'. The Archaeological
Museum has a copy of the Venus de Milo as well as other finds from various
periods. The Historical and Folklore Museum has a collection of folk artefacts,
samples of the island's minerals, photographs and historical documents
of the greatest interest.
At the north-eastern extremity of Milos is the modern resort of Polonia
or Apolonia. Close by (3 km.) is Phylakope, the most important centre
of population in Minoan times; the ancient city was built in three phases.
'Next to the archaeological site is the spectacular Papafranga cave. The
sea-cave called Kleftiko is at the south end of the island.
However, the most important monument on Milos is the island's famous
catacombs, now open to the public. They are located at the village of
Tripiti, 2 km, from the main town of Plaka and they are among the most
important of Early Christian monuments. Milos has excellent beaches at
Hivadolimni, Polonia. Adamas, Emborio, Provatas, Paleohori and Agia Kiriaki.
The extensive infrastructure for tourism of Milos, its clear waters and
its fascinating monuments are helping to attract more and more visitors
to the island. The nearby islets of Antimilos, Arkadies and Glaronissia
are also of interest, each in its own way.
Ios
The coastline of this predominantly mountainous island with its countless
chapels, its olive trees, its vineyards and its limpid air, is adorned
with small, attractive coves. Those features combine with the crystal-clear
sea, the superb sandy beaches and the good range of amenities to make
Ios a magnet for tourists.
Locally called Nios, this is an island whose history goes back to prehistoric
times. According to Herodotus, the "poet of poets", the "god-like"
Homer was buried at Plakotos, in the north of the island. Pausanias tells
us that there was an inscription at Delphi confirming the poet's interment
on Ios, which was the, homeland ofhis mother, Clymene. Above the pretty
harbour of Ormos, where fishing-boats and yachts bob at anchor, stands
the capital of Ios or Hora. The town stands on the site of the ancient
city of the same name and is a typical Cycladic settlement, with white-
washed houses, narrow alleys and chapels. Among the churches, those of
St Catherine, St John the Baptist and Sts. Cosmas and Damien stand out.
The whole beautiful image is rounded off with the bulk of the medieval
castle and the row of windmills which top the town.
The sites of Ios include a Hellenistic tower and the remains of an ancient
aqueduct at Agia Theodoti, traces of an ancient temple at Psathi, a ruinous
Venetian castle at the spot known as Paleokastro, and the Hellenistic
tower at Plakotos which we have already mentioned. The Archaeological
and Folkloric Museum in Hora and the Museum of Modern Art (Drot-Gaiti)
at Kolitsani are also worth a visit.
Lovers of the sea will be enraptured by the superb beaches of Ios, some
of them busy (such as Milopotas, near Hora), and others no less attractive
but much quieter (Agia Theodoti, Psathi, Kalamas, Plates, Tzamaria, Kolitsani
and Manganari). The authentic Cycladic beauty of Ios.
Folegandros
Folegandros is a small and rocky island between Sikinos and Milos. The
wild beauty of the barren landscape will strike visitors, where huge rocks
alternate with sandy beaches.
On a flat expanse above the pretty harbour of Karavostassis is Hora or
Folegandros, which consist of two sections. In the old settlement in the
Kastro area, the outer walls of the houses form the sort of defensive
precinct to be found elsewhere in the Cyclades. The new quarter is just
as pretty, with narrow alleys, stepped walls, courtyards, wooden balconies
and typically Aegean churches. The finest church on the island, that Our
Lady, stands above a section of the ancient wall.
Chrissospilia, nearby to the north, which stalagmites and traces of ancient
occupation, and the small settlements in the Ano Meria district are the
sights to be seen around the island's main village. Ano Meria also has
the Ecological and Folklore Museum, with exhibits, which reconstruct the
farming practices of the islanders. Among the best beaches for swimming
are Karavostassis, Livadi and Agios Georgios bay.
Although Folegandros has a little in the way of tourist amenities or
roads, in attracts more and more visitors each year - chiefly those in
search of solitude close to nature.
Anafi
Anafi is situated in the southeast corner of the Cyclades. According
to the myths, the Argonauts sought refufe from astorm on the island. Archeological
finds have demonstrated that Anafi was inhabited in antiquity. A road
leads from the picturesque harbour of Agios Nikolaos up to Hora, the only
settlement of any size, built on a natural amphitheatrical site in the
centre of the island . The monastery of Lady 'Kalamiotissa', the Venetian
Castle near Hora and the church of St. Athanasius are among the special
sights.
The beaches of Anafi, whether sandy or pebbly, are lapped by crystal
clear water. The local religious feasts are very lively and so are the
island dances.
Santorini
Santorini, one of the best-known of the Cyclades, differs from the other
islands in the group thanks to its geological morphology, the result of
action by a volcano now dormant. The landscape on the western side of
the island, where towering cliffs crowned by tiny and blindingly- white
houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. The steep coastline
of the west is countered by the vast beaches of the east side, some of
them sandy and others with pebbles.
From the landing-place, Skala, we can climb up to Fira, the capital,
on foot or on donkey-back. There is a funicular railway for those who
wish to avoid the hundreds of steps. Fira is very attractive, with winding
narrow streets, arcades and a quarter where the Catholic nobility once
dwelt. There is a most important Museum, with prehistoric finds (mostly
pottery), a large collection of vases dating from the 7th and 6th centuries
BC (including the pieces known as 'Thera ware'), a few Archaic and Classical
pieces, and some Hellenistic and Roman sculptures and portraits. There
is a superb view out from Fira to the Kamenes, the two islets of black
stone created by the volcano. The islets can be visited by launch. Ancient
Thira is a site of great archaeological interest which was occupied by
Phoenicians, Dorians, Romans and Byzantines. Down the centre of the city
runs the Sacred Way. The buildings include groups of houses, market-places,
baths, theatres, sanctuaries, the residence of Ptolemy Euergetes, tombs
of the Archaic and Classical periods and Early Christian remains. On the
surrounding rocks the names of the god Apollo and of men and boys are
inscribed in the ancient alphabet of Thira. The site at Akrotiri has yielded
the remains of a Minoan city destroyed around 1500 BC by an eruption of
the volcano on Thira. In effect, this is a prehistoric version of Pompeii
buried beneath volcanic ash, with two and three-storeyed houses, with
squares, shops, workshops and so on. Among the finds from the houses were
marvelous murals (on display in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens),
vases, and everyday utensils.
On the highest peak of Santorini is a monastery of the Prophet Elijah
(Profitis Ilias), where there is a picturesque religious feast on 20 July
each year. The old-world village of Ia, 11 km. to the north of Fira, is
a place of incomparable beauty. The unique appeal of Ia lies in its little
houses hewn out of the soft rock (some of them whitewashed, others painted
blue or ochre), its neo-classical mansions with their courtyards, its
narrow paved alleys. There is a superb view out to sea. Among the best
bathing beaches - some of them with black sand and others with pebbles
- are Kamari or Armeni, Amoudi, Baxedes Perissa, Monolithos and Kokini
Paralia. The striking landscape, the peculiarities of the natural environment,
the unusual architecture and the outstanding monuments of Santorini attract
very large numbers of visitors in the summer.
Thirassia, off Santorini near Ia, is the largest of a chain of islets
formed by volcanic activity and the only one inhabited. Its sole village,
Horio, is a pretty place with whitewashed houses, reached by a flight
of 250 steps from the landing-place.
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