Santorini

Santorini

Photogenic and adventurous Santorini

The world-famous island of Santorini is called "Thira" by the Greeks. Santorini is the Italian name, which was given during the Venetian administration, after the patron saint of the island, Agia Irini (Saint Irene). Santorini is unique both in form and landscape, which are the result of centuries of volcanic activity. Actually, the entire island is a volcano, which is still active to this day. The island is partly mountainous, with very steep ridges on the west coast but there are also flat areas, mainly in the eastern part. The volcanic soil is very fertile and is used for growing fruit and vegetables and produces high quality wines with a special taste. The island has a unique architecture that brilliantly made use of the natural conditions. The picturesque villages, the rugged nature, and the special sights, including the excavations at Akrotiri and Ancient Thira, in combination with the black lava beaches, make the island an ideal place for tourists.

Santorini travel guide

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Skyros

Skyros

Unique and harmonious Skyros

Skyros, with its varied undulating countryside, overgrown with fragrant vegetation in the north and rugged and pristine in the south, with numerous chapels and all the breath-taking sea views, offers the traveller a slice of authentic Greece. The island belongs to the Sporades in the North Aegean Sea and has about 3,000 inhabitants. Chora, the capital of the island is like an amphitheatre on a steep hillside on the east coast of the island. It is an interesting mixture of block-shaped white houses and Byzantine and Venetian influences, such as the Kastro, situated high above the town. In the north part is the archaeological excavation of Palamari, a fairly large walled city with heavy bastions from 2800 BCE, and to the south lies the tomb of the poet Rupert Brooke. Here, apart from the many thousands of goats grazing on the little vegetation, you can also encounter the wild Skyrian horses. The nearly 130 km long coastline consists mainly of rocks, alternated by beautiful beaches in large and small bays.

Skyros travel guide

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Tinos

Tinos

Friendly, peaceful, and pious Tinos

Tinos is a versatile island. It has a rugged nature and traditional picturesque villages. Remarkable are the numerous characteristic dovecotes and at least as many churches and chapels, scattered all over the island. In the capital, Chora, you find the most important pilgrimage church of Greece, the Evangelistria Church. Chora is a friendly place with narrow streets and alleys, where the typical Cycladic houses are interspersed with modern construction. Tinos is world famous for its green marble that is being extracted since ancient times and is long been known as an artists' island. It also has many beautiful sandy and pebbled beaches along the coastline. Since the island has no airport, it is a traditional, peaceful destination. From Rafina, on the Greek mainland, not far from the airport of Athens, several daily ferries as well as fast ferries sail to Tinos. The crossing time varies from about 2 to 4 hours. Tinos is a lovely island for those who want to enjoy peace and quiet, nature, art and culture.

Tinos travel guide

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