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Aegina

Aegina is a Greek island of triangular form, in the center of the Saronic Gulf, 20 km south-west of Athens. Mount Oros dominates the island. The ruins of a temple of Zeus stand in the midst of other ancient sites. In the center stands a mountain of conical form, Mount St. Elias or Profitis Ilias in Greek (534 m).

Due to its important position in antiquity, there are still many ancient sites to see in Aegina, the most famous being the temple of Athena Aphaia, dating from the 6th century BC. The temple is close to the town of Agia Marina.

Aphaia is one of the three temples of the sacred triangle which also includes the Parthenon and the Sounion. It was for a long time a great rival of Athens, in antiquity as at the beginning of the 19th century. Aegina was one of the first maritime and commercial cities of ancient Greece. It had the first navy of Greece and was the first city to mint money. In 1828-1829 it was the first capital of Greece struggling for independence, and the first pieces of the young Greek state were issued. The island is also the main producer of pistachios from Greece.

According to mythology, Aegina was a beautiful princess whom Zeus fell in love with. To be alone with her, he took her in this uninhabited island, and they had a son, Easter, who became the first king.

In the town of Aegina you can visit the Archaeological Museum and the Monastery of Agios Nektarios. Paleochora is an abandoned Byzantine town which can also be visited. You will also be able to see the house where the publisher of Zorbas the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis, lived for a few years or the mansion that hosted the first government of Greece, under the direction of Ioannis Kapodistrias.

Agia Marina is the only place in Aegina that attracts mass tourism because of the proximity of the ancient temple and the developed tourist infrastructures. In Souvala, 10 km from the town of Aegina, there is the famous spa resort as well as beautiful beaches. The picturesque seaside village of Perdika with its small typical houses whose courtyards are connected to each other is built around the port. On the pedestrian area there are the famous tavernas of fresh fish and seafood. The waters are clear and the beaches are suitable for diving. In spring, the village is green and the hills full of flowers. Paléochora is the ancient capital of Aegina. It is here that the monastery of Agios Nektarios is located, and nearby, the ruins of a medieval castle.

The city has many buildings and houses in neoclassical style.

On the quay, you can visit the small white church of Agios Nikolaos and close to the church of Agios Dionysios, Aegina’s cathedral.

There are many pleasant sandy beaches with clear waters. The majority are equipped and quite frequented. The long beach of Agia Marina is probably the most popular.

The most pleasant are Marathonas, Souvala, Agios Vassilios, Kolona and Avra.

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