Milos - The Island

Milos is the 5th largest island of the Cyclades and it is located approximately in the middle of the route from the port of Piraeus to the island of Crete. The mineral wealth and the port of Adamas, one of the largest natural ports in Mediterranean, contributed to the financial, cultural and historical development of the island.

The capital Plaka, Plakes, Triovasalos, Pera Triovasalos, Tripiti with the stone-mills, Pollonia, Zephyria and Adamas are the villages of the island. There are approximately 5,000 permanent inhabitants, but in summer a lot of travellers and holidaymakers visit the island to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of Milos.

Boat lines connect the island of Milos with the port of Piraeus on a daily basis. Milos is also connected by boat with the Cycladic islands of Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos and Syros, and also with the islands of Kasos, Karpathos, Halki, Rhodes and the cities of Heraklion and Sitia in Crete.

There is also an airport (9,7 km from Pahena) with daily flights during summer.
The volcanic soil and unique clear beaches, the rocks with their odd shapes and impressive colors will astonish you.

History of Milos

According to Greek mythology, goddess Aphrodite sent prince Milos to inhabit the island for the first time, so he gave his name to it.

The hard black rock, obsidian, was excavated from the land of Milos and was mainly used to stonework weapons, since the Neolithic Age(7000 B.C). During the Bronze Age (2800 BC - 1000 BC), the island was an important node in the Cycladic world. In 1000 BC the ethnic group of Dorians also settled on the island. One of the most important plantation of the Bronze Age was discovered in Filakopi.

The inhabitants were allies with the other Greek cities versus the Persians, but Athenians destroyed the island, as punishment for their non-alignment during the Peloponnesian War. Until 311 BC the island belonged to Macedonia, then to Egypt. Thanks to the powerful Ptolemaic fleet, freedom and security at sea helped the island's economic growth and the flourishing of the arts. Representative examples of this era are the Venus of Milos (Louvre Museum) and the imposing Poseidon, 2.5m high (Archaeological Museum of Athens).

The marble ancient theatre of Milos stands as a witness of the Roman civilization and, since the 1st century AD, as Christianity spread, the Catacombs, the largest in Greece and among the most remarkable in the world. The Venetians dominated the island from 1207 until 1580, when Milos, together with the other islands of the Aegean Sea, was occupied by the Turks. At that time, pirates often found shelter in the famous caves of the island. In 1832 Milos was united with Greece.

SIGHT-SEEING

There is a 9 km hiking path which starts from Filakopi and across Papafraga, with the sequential cave gulfs, goes by Pahena. A little way along is Agios Konstantinos, with the homonymous church chiseled on the rock, Mitakas, the amazing Sarakiniko and Mandrakia, with the graphical "sirmata", that is to say the storage places for small boats.

You can make the tour round the island with boat so you can admire even the most inaccessible gulfs of Milos.

Alternatively, you can spend your day visiting the unique gulfs Kleftiko and Geronta where you will be enthralled observing the amazing rocks, the sculptures of the nature, and swimming in sapphire-blue Aegean sea, after catching a boat from settlement Kipos.

To learn more about the mainland, the Archaeological Museum of Milos is housed in a neoclassical building designed and constructed in 1870 by the famous German architect Ernest Chiller and offers a variety of exhibits.

You will be amazed by a copy of the exceptional statue of Venus of Milos which is in the Louvre Museum, but also impressive vases, obsidian tools and weapons, coins from the 6th century BC, as well as plaques with the ancient alphabet of Milos, consisted of 21 letters, and many more, that will travel you back to antiquity.

The Church of Aghia Triada, near the beach of Adamas, built in 824 AD, hosts the Ecclesiastical Museum. The remarkable hagiography gallery found in the temple dates from the 14th century.

The Folklore and Historical Museum of Milos, in Plaka, is housed in a building characteristic of the 19th century traditional architecture. Wax figures with traditional costumes, hand-woven textiles, utensils and tools, make up the scenery of old times.

The Milos Mining Museum, located in Adamas, aims to highlight the mining history of Milos, which dates from the Neolithic era. Information and images on mining, instruments and tools used throughout the centuries, as well as minerals and fossils will certainly make a lasting impression on you.

Carefully collected by old seamen, the Naval Museum of Milos presents exhibits, dating from the Neolithic period with tools made of obsidian stone and the naval battles versus Persians , to the newer years.

On a slope near the village of Tripiti you will find the Catacombs; unique in size( 185 m) in Greece and one of the most remarkable catacombs, along with Rome and the Holy Land. Awed, you can walk along there where the first Christians had their rituals, dug graves, dedicated dictums.

Between the villages Tripiti and Klima the ancient Roman theater still stands overlooking the gulf of Milos, where many cultural happenings take place. Summer festivals will give you the chance to enjoy traditional hospitality and entertainment.

Water sports are also available, whether to relax or for more adrenaline; diving, water- skiing, canoe- kayak, sailing, wind- surfing, kite surfing and last but not least fishing.

Beaches

Thanks to the volcanic rocks , each one of the about 70 beaches are simply fancinating; bright blue waters, golden sand and unique colors.

Starting from the big natural harbor, Adamantas which consists of the beaches of Papikinos and Achivadolimni. At the entrance of the natural harbor, the beautiful fishing village of Klima welcomes you with its picturesque buildings and dazzling colors.

As for the beaches in the west of the island, the road network is without tarmac and you need to have water with you. This part of Milos is recommended for the lovers of the beauty of the wild landscape: the Triades with the three sandy beaches and excellent sea caves, Ammoudaraki and Aghios Ioannis with its two beaches, accessible only by sea.

Depending on your mood and also the wind, you can visit one of the north beaches when the wind comes from the southwest. The beaches there are mostly rocky. Justifiably, the most famous is the Sarakiniko, with its otherworldly scenery, but Pahena, Mytakas, Alogomandra, Papafragas and Aghios Konstantinos are also wonderful with caves, natural bridges and small beaches.

Beaches in the east are accessible by land through Pollonia. Most beaches have pebbles, but there are also many small ones with golden sand, that are accessible by boat. If you choose to take a boat, in a small distance from Pollonia there is the island of Kimolos, as well as the islet Polyaigos.

In contrast, for the beaches in the south the road network is very good. There are sandy beaches protected by steep rocks. To get to the very picturesque beach of Gherontas, you need to walk, but the dreamy scenery will definitely make up for it. On the beautiful beach of Aghia Kyriaki you can enjoy your swimming especially when the wind blows from North. The beach in Paliochori has restaurants and bars. Provatas has golden red sand and shallow waters. In Provatas you will find restaurants, taverns and cafes. In Fyriplaka, where there is an organized beach, and in Tsigrado (the access to the beach by land is possible only with rope, which makes it quite dangerous) you will enjoy crystal blue waters, grey sand and a dreamy scenery.