MYKONOS  island Mikonos

Cyclades islands Greek Grecia Greece Griechenland

Mikonos is word -Famous island. Is no coincidence that this , most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands attracts so many visitors  from all  over the globe ,including large  members of artists and intellectuals. Here ,the steep mountains   to be  encountered  in most of cyclades give way to low, rocky hills  which combine with superb  beaches  to make  up the landscape of the island. The capital Hora with it’s colorful  harbour  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 , Mikonos 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 coloured  balconies. These are interspersed  with small but impressive churches ,pretty little tavernas ,and shops selling souvenirs and other goods ,and overal sense is of being inside a film set.    On the low Kastro hill  is the complex of churches know collectivelly as our Lady Paraportiani ,a  superb arrangement of  whitewashed masses created over the centuries and now recognised 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 near by island of Rhenia ,sculptures ,vases, and figurines. The  Folklore Museum  brings together a number of collections of furniture ,icons, pieces of sculpure and folk musical instruments. Mykonos is also home of the Nautical Museum of the AEGEAN ,which has interest all of its own .  The country  side of Mikonos is   a Mixture of grey 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.    Ano Mera  is after Hora ,the most important of the villages on the island of Mykonos. Standing 8km to the east of the town ,Ano Mera has the interesting monastery of Our LadyTourliani  .ornamented with fine  wood carvings . Beaches of Mykonos Here lovers of the sea  will Find  out-standing golden beaches such as Agios Stefanos.Psarou, Kalafatis ,Platis Gialos, Ormos , Elia and Panormos.