SERIFOS ISLAND
Serifos, with its rugged mining sites, ladened with history, has its own distinct Cycladic flair. The island exudes a calm atmosphere and speaks directly to your senses. Despite its arid and wild land characteristics, Serifos is gracefully embraced by the deep blue colors of the Aegean Sea and has some magnificent beaches. The locals have respected the Cycladic architectural tradition by building white and blue houses making the islands towns and villages all the more wonderful.
Chora town is built amphitheatrically on a rocky hill commanding the island from the top. It is one of the most elegant Cycladic towns that will inspire you, even before the ship docks, on your arrival to Serifos. You’ll get to visit two neighborhoods; Pano (meaning upper) Chora and Kato (meaning lower) Chora connected by a stairway. You’ll find some bars, cafés and tavernas in the town’s narrow streets blending in with the whole scene harmoniously. It is worth taking a 10 minutes walk up to the Venetian castle, built in the 15th century, to drink in the view of the blue sea! An ideal place for taking a stroll or making a stop by the nearby cafés, fish tavernas and pastry shops located next to the seashore is the Serifos main Port, also know as Livadi. This area has a beautiful sandy beach
but is also very close to Avlomonas and Livadakia beaches.
Serifos’ cuisine bursts with aromas and flavors! On your vacation here don’t miss: delicious meat products such as louzes, syglina (traditional cured pork) and sausages, as well as the islands rich aromatic spices. Taste marathopites and marathotiganites (fennel pies baked or fried), revythada (traditionally cooked chickpeas) with a local variety of raisins,sun-dried octopus, local cheeses such as myzithres and xinomyzithres. Make sure to accompany your meal with the islands local wines. If you have a sweet tooth then try pasteli (sesame bar) which is cut in a diamond shape, with an almond in its middle and usually laid down on a lemon leaf as well as their delicious sweet wines.
RHODES ISLAND
Welcome to Rhodes, the capital of the Dodecanese, an island which is ideal not only for those who want to relax but also for those looking for an action-packed holiday! With its bright green hills, rich green valleys and uninterrupted line of golden beaches, Rhodes is truly a blessed place. Add in the excellent facilities for tourism, the island’s special blend of cosmopolitan and traditional, and numerous cultural and archaeological sites and you’ve got the perfect holiday destination.
KEA ISLAND
Due to its proximity to Athens, Kea (also called “Tzia”) is an easily accessible beauty with a scenery variety: steep mountains, small fields, olive groves, vineyards, valleys, picturesque coves, exciting hiking trails and off-the-beaten-track beaches. On the island with the largest oak forest in the Cyclades birdwatching is a real delight. For those who are into geology, there are plenty of small caves (like in Kálamos and in Áyios Timótheos). 36 km long cobbled trails will lead you to the four city-states of the ancient times: Ioulis, Karthaia, Koressia, Poiessa).
Situated in the centre of the island, at the site of the ancient citystate by the same name, the capital of Kea, Ioulis, is a very picturesque town with ceramic-tile roofed houses, cobbled streets, arched passages, steps and squares. The island was named after Ceos, a hero from Nafpaktos who settled on the island in the 12th century BC. The island was later named Tzia during the Venetian occupation. Kea played an important role in the flourishing of the Cycladic civilization and was homeland to great figures of ancient Greece, such as the poet Simonides.
For hikers, Kea is a paradise. Paths with a total length of 36 kilometres, 65% of which are stone-paved, cross dreamy routes through dense forests of tall oaks and lead to beautiful isolated beaches.
FOLEGANDROS ISLAND
Shining under the Aegean sun, Folegandros was named after the son of king Minos. This off-the-beaten-path destination captivates the visitors with the untouched beauty of its beaches, the luminous blue of its waters, and the unadulterated style of its architecture.
At 200m above sea level travelers will discover Kastro, a Venetian castle. Chora, the capital town of the island, it's been built partially in it. Bougainvillea leaning over the balconies, sugar-cube whitewashed houses, and sheer cliff drops convey the island’s ethereal, yet wild, beauty.
Walk along the cobblestone narrow streets of Chora past white houses with multi-colored doors and windows, timeless creations of the traditional Cycladic architecture. If you need to take a rest, plane trees will offer you their cool, welcome shade. Wait until the sun sets into the eternal blue of the Aegean and join the locals in the village’s squares.
This small island in Cyclades is full of pebbly beaches covered with tamarisk trees. The scenic harbor of Karavostássis with its beautiful beach is the perfect starting point for an exploration of the glorious beaches of Hohlidia, Vitzetzo, Latinaki, Pountaki and Livadaki, a village with a sandy beach, turquoise waters and a camping site. Those of you, who don't feel like walking, can take a caique from Karavostássis to Kátergo, the most beautiful beach on the island, with thin pebbles and crystal-clear waters. Sheer cliff drops and azure waters embrace Agali beach to the west of the island.
NAFPLIO
A special place, mysterious, blessed, full of natural beauty and culture. Spectacular scenery meets gorgeous beaches and medieval atmosphere. It was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic, since the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Its beauty is well known worldwide.
Most important sites are Palamidi Castle with 913 steps leading you from the town to the fortress, built by the Venetians circa 1711, and used much later as a prison for Theodoros Kolokotronis himself, hero of the Greek revolution, and Bourtzi Island, a tiny islet facing the Nafplio port, where Antonio Gambello built a fortress designed to fit the narrow shape of the island in 1417.
