Mykonos
With worldwide fame and glamour, Mykonos is one of the most beautiful Greek islands, located in the northeastern point of the Cyclades. According to Greek mythology, Mykonos arose from the fossilized bodies of the giants who were killed by Hercules, while, according to the tradition, the island owes its name to the hero Mykonos, a descendant of Anios, the mythical King of Delos. The island is dry and barren with scarce plantation and very few green spaces, due to the composition of the soil and the dry climate with warm winds. Due to those winds, the island is also called "the island of the winds".
Some of the best beaches of the island include the cosmopolitan Psarou, Paradise and Super Paradise, while the quieter beaches of Ornos, Platis Yialos, Agios Ioannis, Agios Stefanos and the Megali Ammos are ideal for relaxation away from the crowded beaches of the island. For the lovers of windsurfing and other water sports, we recommend Kalafatis Beach, because of the favourable winds in the open sea.
Mykonos is one of the most popular summer destinations worldwide because of its intense nightlife, which excites young people; a large number of international celebrities visits the island every year, adding to its fame.
Accomodation options include luxurious hotels and modern tourist complexes with high standard facilities, complexes of rooms-to-let of all kinds but also camping sites for nature lovers. Stores with a wide variety of products, restaurants with Greek and international cuisine and cosmopolitan clubs, complete the excellent tourist infrastructure of Mykonos
A stroll through the picturesque alleys of Chora (the main village) reveals to the visitor picturesque winding alleys with traditional cobblestone streets, while there are many traditional whitewashed houses with blue windows and wooden balconies, following the patterns of aegean nobility and architecture as well as old churches that attract the visitors’ interest.
The most impressive Byzantine Church on the island, which has been declared a national monument, is the all-white Church of Panagia Paraportiani in the Castle District, one of the most remarkable architectural edifices, consisting of five churches, four of which form the basis of the fifth church! The beautiful, historic windmills on the hill near the port, which can be seen from every corner in the village of Mykonos, are another well-known attraction. Finally the visitor should be toured around Mikri Venetia (Little Venice), where buildings are situated right next to the sea with their balconies built above the water, where visitors can enjoy traditional Greek and international dishes.
What is more, the visitors’ tour can be combined with shopping at the beautiful shops of the famous market of the island. In Matogianni Street, the most commercial street of Mykonos, and in the small streets around it, the visitor will discover an abundance of shops with folk art, souvenirs, jewellery and designer clothes
In Ano Mera, the second most important village of the island, it is worth visiting the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, featuring a collection of precious sacred artifacts, vestments and embroidery.
