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Astypalaia

Astypalea or Astipalea is one of the main islands of the Dodecanese. Its surface area is 114 km and it has 1200 inhabitants. The coasts of the island are rocky, with many bays and beaches and the island is surrounded by islets. Situated exactly where the Dodecanese meets the Cyclades, the island of Astypalaia has a century-old history, whitewashed villages and sunny beaches.

In Greek mythology, Astypaleus was carried off by Poseidon, in the form of a winged leopard with a fish’s tail, at the same time as his sister Europe, abducted by Zeus. She would then have been finally petrified to form the island. The island takes its name from Astypalaia, the daughter of Phoenix and Perimede.

In the past, the island was also called Ichthyoessa because of its abundant fishing areas. It was inhabited for the first time in prehistory. As is the case with the other islands of the Dodecanese, Astypalaia remained under Turkish rule until 1912. It was later conquered by the Italians, the British and the Germans until it was finally reunited with Greece in March 1948.

Since antiquity, its port has always been safe thanks to its ‘serrated’ aspect. The first houses, the remains of which are found in Messa-Vathi (tower), appeared in Cycladic times. There are also vestiges of the Mycenaean period (tombs built in dome) in the area of Arménochori-Sigairo.

Astypalaia, the westernmost island of the group, is naturally separated into Mesa Nisi (the inner island and the western part) and Exo Nisi (the outer island and eastern part) by an isthmus of 100 m. It has the very characteristic shape of the island in butterfly. Today, Astipalaia has 4 villages: Chora and Livadi in the south-west of the island, Analipsi in the center and Vathi in the northeast.

Chora is the capital and port of the island. It is one of the most picturesque towns in the Aegean Sea. It is perched on a rock that overlooks the sea forming two bays. At the top of the hill you will see the Venetian citadel of Chora which overlooks the city.

All around the castle are the two-storey houses with their whitewashed walls, blue doors and windows and small balconies. The stairs are made of stone or wood and two small churches (St Georges and Evangelismou) are part of the decor. You will also see windmills, characteristic of the capital.

The church of Panagia Portaitissa just at the foot of the castle is among the most beautiful on the island. It was built in 1764. The icon of the Virgin Mary is a faithful reproduction of the icon of Panagia Portaitissa of the Iberian convent of Mount Athos (northeast of Greece).

Livadia is a seaside village 2 km from Chora with few residents, built on a fertile valley (vineyards, mandarin trees, vegetable gardens …) creating a relaxing setting, next to a beautiful beach.

The village of Analipsi is 9.5 km from Chora. It is a resort that attracts most of the island’s tourism. Maltezana takes its name from the Maltese pirates who made their hiding place on the island. It was there that the French admiral Bigot set fire to his ship in 1827, in order not to be captured by the pirates.

It lies on a small fertile plain on the north side of the island. There are many sights to see on the island, including the Analipsi chapel, at the end of the village and the Agia Varvara chapel, built on the site of the ancient temple of Artemis. There are some beautiful mosaics from the 3rd century in the chapel.

The village also has a monastery called Panagia Poulariani and a beautiful beach. There are also beaches around the village, in Vryssi and Shinonta. Makrigialos is a village adjacent to the village of Analipsi. Excavations in the area have brought out a Minoan villa. A villa from the Roman period was also found in the area.

From Maltezana creek, take a small sightseeing boat and visit the islands of Diaporia, Ligno, Chondro, Kounoupoi and Koutsomyri as well as Agia Kyriaki Island and its beautiful beach. Farther north-east of Astypalaia, visit Fokionisia. Then Panormos and Katsagreli to the northwest and Pontikousa and Ofidousa to the east. And finally the islands Syrna, Katsikoulia, Tria Nisia, Meso, Stefania and Zafora in the Southeast.

Vathy is a fishing village located north-east of Astypalea, 21 km from Chora. It includes two districts: Exo [outside] Vathy with a small quay to moor boats; And Mesa [inside] Vathy, next to cultivated land, vegetation and vineyards. In Vathy there are beautiful and calm beaches with crystal clear waters.

Near Vathi, there are two old caves. The first known as the Dragon Cave with magnificent deposits of stalactites and stalagmites and the second is the Black Cave.

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