This exceptionally picturesque island lies close to the south-east coast of Attica. Due to its vicinity to Athens, it has become a popular weekend resort, with many nice tavernas and bars, but still unspoilt by massive tourism.
Its mountain masses, which are encountered in most of the Cyclades, are broken up by small valleys sparsely planted with vines and fruit-trees and run right down to the sea, opening out into pretty little bays. On the western side of the island is Agios Nikolaos bay, and deep within it the port of Korissia, which is considered to be one of the safest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. The islands capital, Hora or Ioulis, has maintained its Cycladic idiom intact. Built in the shape of an amphitheatre, it presents the visitor with an impressive vista of two-storey houses and tiled roofs, steep cobbled alleyways and splendid churches with elaborately carved wooden icon screens.
A long, sandy beach is at the port of Korissia, but there are other beaches, too: Gialiskari beach, Otzias, Koundouros, Sykamia, Kambi and Pisses. The last one is probably the best on the island. |
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